Dripping or stiff tap? Fixed properly, not just tightened
A dripping tap is never just annoying — it is wasted water, a stained basin and, in the worst cases, a warning that something behind the wall is starting to fail. We repair and replace taps across Greater Manchester, from a five-minute washer job to a full mixer swap.
Signs a tap needs attention
Most tap problems fall into a handful of patterns we hear every week:
- A steady drip from the spout that won't stop no matter how hard it's turned
- Water seeping from around the base of the tap onto the worktop or basin
- The handle spins loosely without shutting the water off properly
- A mixer tap that only gives hot or only cold, whatever position it's in
- A stiff, seized handle that needs both hands to move
- Screeching or juddering noise when the tap is turned on
- Low pressure from one tap while the rest of the house is fine
- Green or white staining building up around the spout or base
Clear quote before any work starts. A call-out fee may apply — always confirmed on the phone before we travel.
How we sort it
Most taps can be repaired rather than replaced — we only recommend a new one where the body itself has failed.
- 01
Isolate and diagnose
We turn off the supply at the isolation valve under the sink (or the stopcock if there isn't one) and work out whether the fault is a worn washer, a failed ceramic disc cartridge, a perished O-ring, or a cracked tap body. - 02
Replace the worn part
Older taps usually just need a new washer or jumper valve. Modern mixer taps almost always use ceramic disc cartridges — these don't wear gradually, they fail suddenly, and swapping the cartridge is usually cheaper and quicker than a new tap. - 03
Check the seating and threads
A tap that keeps dripping after a washer change often has a scored valve seat. We can sometimes re-seat it; if the tap body itself is corroded or cracked, we'll say so rather than keep patching it. - 04
Fit a replacement where needed
If the tap is beyond economical repair, we supply and fit a replacement, matching the tap holes and connections you already have wherever possible so it isn't a bigger job than it needs to be. - 05
Test under full pressure
We run hot and cold through fully, check for drips at the base and under the sink, and make sure the handle or lever operates smoothly before we leave.
Why taps in this area fail the way they do
Hard water is a big part of it across Greater Manchester. Limescale builds up inside cartridges and around moving parts, which is why a tap that was fine six months ago suddenly starts sticking or dripping — it's not sudden wear, it's scale finally jamming something that was already tight.
The other common issue is mismatched replacement parts. A lot of tap bodies look similar but use different cartridge sizes or thread patterns between brands and even between models from the same manufacturer. Fitting the wrong cartridge gets you a tap that drips again within weeks, so we take the old part out and match it properly rather than guessing from a catalogue photo.
Kitchen taps take more punishment than bathroom ones — pans banged against the spout, the lever used one-handed while the other holds a plate — so they tend to fail at the body or the swivel joint rather than just the cartridge. Worth knowing before you pay for a repair that a new tap would have solved for a similar cost.
Is this an emergency, or can it be booked in?
Both are fine — but it helps us prioritise if you know which one you're describing.
- Water is coming from the base of the tap onto the floor or into a cupboard
- The tap won't shut off at all and there's no isolation valve nearby
- A stiff or seized valve has been forced and has started leaking
- Water is tracking down into a cupboard or through a ceiling below
- A slow, steady drip that isn't causing damage
- A stiff handle that still turns the water off
- Reduced pressure from one tap only
- Cosmetic staining or a tap you'd like replaced before it fails
Emergency? Here's what to send us
A photo or short video helps too. The more we know before setting off, the less time is wasted when we get there.
Your postcode
So we can tell you straight away whether you're inside the radius we cover.
What the problem is
In your own words — where the water is coming from and how long it's been going on.
A phone number
The best number to reach you on when we're close, so nobody is left waiting at the wrong door.
House or flat
Flats, shared risers and upstairs neighbours change how a leak has to be isolated.
Tap Repairs — common questions
Can you repair any make of tap?
Most, yes. Some tap manufacturers use proprietary cartridges that need to be sourced from that brand specifically — if that's the case, we'll tell you and either source the part or recommend a straight swap for a standard tap.
Is it cheaper to repair or replace?
Depends on the tap. A cartridge or washer is usually the cheaper route. If the body is cracked, corroded, or it's an old tap where parts are hard to get, replacement often works out better value and you get a clear quote for either before we start.
Why has my tap started dripping suddenly with no warning?
Ceramic disc cartridges tend to fail suddenly rather than wear out gradually — one day it's fine, the next it drips constantly. That's a cartridge issue in the large majority of cases, not a sign of a bigger problem.
Do you fit kitchen mixer taps and boiling water taps?
We fit standard kitchen mixers and bathroom taps. We don't work on boiler or gas-fed systems, so if a tap is connected to a gas-heated boiling water unit, check the electric or standalone-heater type before booking.
What if the isolation valve under my sink won't turn?
Seized isolation valves are common on taps that have been in for years. We can usually free it or replace it as part of the same visit — worth mentioning when you call so we bring the right parts.
More answers on our plumbing FAQ page and in how it works.
Related jobs we take on
Areas we cover for this
Plumbing emergency right now?
Call and speak to the plumber who will be doing the job — not a call centre. Lines are open 24 hours a day, every day.
You get a clear quote before work starts. A call-out fee may apply — confirmed on the phone before we travel.