Taps

Taps are an important part of any plumbing system, both domestically and commercially. Today, most are made from chrome plated brass, and are easily looked after with soap and water. Brass can be used, though requires a little more maintenance as they are not as easily cleaned.

However good the taps in your home are, they are always susceptible to wear and tear, and can easily leak. Not only is a dripping tap an annoyance, it is also a waste of water - a tap dripping 60 drips per minute can waste up to 2,299 gallons of water in a year. The drip can also stain a bath or sink in the long term.

There are four standard types of tap - compression, disc, cartridge and lever. A compression tap is the standard tap found in homes around the world. Disc, cartridge and lever taps, often referred to as washerless taps. These types of tap are often a little more expensive, and have many brand-specific parts, which can make repairs a little harder. These taps work on the basis of a lever type mechanism as opposed to a screw, and work on the basis of aligning holes in seals. While this makes them less likely to drip, it does also mean that once they do, simply tightening the tap will not stop the leak.

For standard compression taps, if a leak occurs, it probably requires a replacement washer. This is normally a fairly simple job, and probably won't require a plumber. A basic competence with tools will suffice in most cases.

To open up a standard compression tap, you must first remove the cross head, by unscrewing it, before unscrewing the shroud below to expose the mechanism of the tap. Above the tap body will be the headgear nut, which can be unscrewed, enabling the headgear to be lifted. At the bottom of the headgear will be the washer, which can now be replaced. Ensure that the washer is replaced with a part of the exact same size, or else the washer will either not fit, or will create an even bigger leak once the water is turned back on. Before replacing the head unit, ensure that the washer is seated correctly upon the tap seat. If there is friction while putting the washer in place, then the tap may need reseating - this can be done with a reseating tool, or by purchasing a plastic seat, which sits on top of the former seat.

When performing any work on taps, ensure that the water supply is switched off. For kitchen taps, there is usually a tap or stopcock beneath the sink which will turn off the supply, though most other taps in the home will be controlled from a main valve in the house, which is typically located in a cellar, or under the stairs.