Save your cash - and learn a simple DIY skill that will save a visit from the plumber. Most taps can be fixed with a new washer, costing just a few pence.
Time required:
10 minutes and you should be able to cure most drips
Cost:
£1 for a pack of washers. Ceramic cartridges may cost up to £10
Skill level:
Easy!
You'll need:
Two adjustable wrenches, slot head screwdriver, cloth
To change the washer you must turn off the water supply. Look for a valve underneath the sink and turn until the tap runs dry. On very old plumbing, without individual washers for each tap, you may need to turn off the mains stopcock. This is usually located under the kitchen sink.
Turn on the dripping tap until the water stops running. For hot taps, make sure the immersion heater and boiler are also switched off. Turn off the valve on the cold feed pipe to your cylinder and run the hot taps. Turn on all the cold water taps in the bathroom to empty the tank. When no more water comes out, run the hot taps until these run dry as well.
Use our service to find a reputable local builder, based on the ratings of their real-life clients
Our presenter could be popping round to your house for a consultation and a cuppa
Get advice on all of those DIY jobs from the experts at B&Q
Your Comments
Post your comment
Please note: In order to post a comment you need to be registered and logged in to Channel 4:
Sign In Here or Register Here
Comments closed
Comments are closed at the present time
Comments
Thank you for your comment!
Your message will be reviewed and the best ones will be published below.
If you intended to make an official comment to Channel 4 please contact us.