Pipes

A-Z of DIY & Building Guides How to Solve Plumbing Problems

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Date Published:
23/05/2008

Nothing's more annoying in a kitchen or bathroom than a dripping tap. Fixing the problem is a simple DIY job that will save you a hefty plumber's call out charge and only takes 15 minutes to fix.

First, turn off the water supply, either at the mains or at the service valve on the pipe to the faulty tap. Put the plug in so that small bits can't be lost down the waste pipe. Take off the top of the tap either by pulling it or removing the centre cover on the handle and undoing the small retaining screw. Wrap a tea towel around the body of the tap and hold it firmly with an adjustable wrench. Use a second wrench to unscrew the large brass headgear nut. If it's stuck, spray with penetrating oil, such as WD40, and wait a few minutes.

Dripping tap

On the underside of the headgear nut is the washer that you can prise off with a screwdriver. Push the new washer into place and screw the headgear back on to the tap but don't over-tighten it. Replace the tap top and turn on the water supply to check for drips.

If the tap still drips, the area underneath the washer may be worn, coated with limescale or scratched. This can be fixed with a special re-seating tool available from plumber's merchants or DIY stores. Push the end of the tool into the tap and twist it round to clean the metal. Even easier is to buy a combined washer and seating pack from a plumber's merchant.

Ceramic disc taps

If your taps are reasonably new and only need a quarter twist to turn off or on, they will have ceramic discs instead of washers. Undo the top of the tap and unscrew the brass valve to reach the ceramic cartridge. Take the whole piece along to a plumbing centre for a replacement as the discs come in various sizes and are right-handed (cold) or left-handed (hot). You may also need to replace the thin rubber seal around the cartridge.

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  1. I have cold water from downstairs taps but all cold water upstairs has stopped flowing. Any suggestions?
    Posted by John on 04/07/2009 14:24:28
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  2. We recently had a leak from the cold water reservoir tank following the installation of a new hot water tank and CH boiler. The ball cock broke and we have been informed by the installers that this would not have been their fault and that this would have been down to wear and tear. It seems a great coincidence that this has happened within days of the installation? Are the installers correct in saying they would not have needed to be near the cold water tank and also does the ballcock break following wear and tear.
    Posted by GrahamF on 25/06/2009 15:07:39
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  3. My radiators get hot but the hot water is cold. The pump is running ok as is the tri-valve and thermostat,the rads have been bled and the header tank is full,any ideas?
    Posted by sooloo48 on 24/06/2009 11:58:17
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  4. why is only a small trickle of water comming out of my cold water taps in the bathroom
    Posted by pauline humphreys on 10/06/2009 07:43:20
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  5. i have brass bathroom taps that ae very tarnished how do i clean them
    Posted by sandra o doherty on 31/05/2009 00:57:18
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  6. we recently had a new bathroom suite fitted which was done to a very professional standard,but we have a very small leak from the sink waiste which is partialy boxed in and tiled at base,is there some way of sealing the waiste pipe internaly,rather than rip out what has been fitted.
    Posted by Tony Coleman on 22/05/2009 11:32:06
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  7. my shower drips at certain times, it can go for a day or two without problems but then it may drip for a full day. I have changed the seals but it didnt stop the drips. Any ideas
    Posted by johnc on 13/05/2009 21:14:35
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  8. I primed my mira shower after replacing the flow valve.Water came from the shower head as required but also came from the primer button.Is this normal?
    Posted by daveblonder@tiscali.co.uk on 09/05/2009 19:44:18
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  9. I HAVE A SUNNIER DUVAL SD 30 E I HAVE HOT WATER THE HEATING TRIES TO FIRE UP AND CUTS AFTER 30 SECONDS I HAVE JUST REPLACED TH PUMP DOES ANYONE HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM THANKS
    Posted by david meighan on 06/05/2009 12:16:07
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  10. After changing taps in bathroom before which I shut off the water and drained pipes I have no water from cold taps in bathroom or toilet cistern. There is a combi fitted however the bathroom cold supply is from a loft tank which has filled again but no water is getting through. Please help if possible with some advice. Thanks.
    Posted by a jones on 04/05/2009 20:28:33
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  11. Hello there, The hot tap on our bathroom WB has will not work i.e water coming from it. Can anyone tell me what the problem is??
    Posted by Pete on 29/04/2009 20:20:02
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  12. Hi I have oil central heating, Iv got one long big raditor that is stone cold when the heating is on,the other raditor are ok. Iv tried bleeding them all and turn all the other raditors off that are working and leave the one that is working. What could be wrong and what else can I try to get it working thanks
    Posted by lorna on 29/04/2009 11:59:18
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  13. continual moisture forming on toilet cistern despite ventilating bathroom after showers (i.e. opening bathroom window and other precautions such as keeping towel-rail heating on without much success,we seem to spend all our time drying off the cistern,is there any solution to this problem.
    Posted by william donnachie on 09/04/2009 16:04:26
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  14. iv got heating but no hot water,cylinder dosnt seem to get hot either,any ideas?
    Posted by robin on 06/04/2009 18:24:30
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  15. i keep getting an air lock in water pipes from loft tank,supplying water to toilet,bath and washbasin.the tank is seperate from kitchen/combi boiler supply.can you help. asap
    Posted by alan brown on 03/04/2009 14:11:30
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  16. Hi I fixed a leek in small bore copper pipe in my loft it took all day, but now I find I have very low pressure in my hot water taps it then trickles out to nothing , I have a back boiler hot water system. How do I fix this ,,, thanks
    Posted by mike on 03/04/2009 13:07:51
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  17. Hi Upstairs at the bathroom ..when I walk over a certain area at the bathroom door, there is a clanking of the pipes under the floor boards....it is not a sqeeky floor board it is the water pipes, they have been clamped to keep them apart...but the clanking I can hear is in other areas in the bathroom...any advise. D
    Posted by danthespan on 28/03/2009 18:01:16
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  18. i am not getting hot water i replaced the 3 port valve 6 months ago and have had no trouble until today ?
    Posted by steve barber on 15/03/2009 19:41:57
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  19. Why wont my downstairs shower get warmer then lukewarm? rest of house has no problem gets warm water just fine? The shower is also close to the water heater. The sink get hot water but not the shower. What can I do to fix this?
    Posted by Sam on 11/03/2009 18:56:37
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  20. every time i flush i get a loud noise and vibration?
    Posted by micky on 08/03/2009 13:17:34
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  21. Forseveral months now every time i flush the toilet there is a loud noise it lasts for about 45 seconds but seems to be getting worse. can't pinpoint where it is comming from
    Posted by june wilkie on 07/03/2009 14:46:03
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  22. Our wall mounted bathroom raiator is leaking from one of the valves at the bootom & is currently not heating up. Can anyone advise how to stop the leak & explain why the radiator has stopped heating up?
    Posted by RONNIE on 07/03/2009 08:00:13
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  23. I need to find out why I get air balasting out of my cold water taps when I flush the toilets or open the cold water taps. This is only a shot of air followed by normal water flow - very irritating.
    Posted by norbert turcotte on 06/03/2009 13:46:18
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  24. I live in a block of flats and I'm on the 1st floor and anytime I flush the toilet, after 2 mins there is a loud buzzing noise from the water tank also under the kitchen sink which lasts for about 4 minutes and it only stops when I run the hot and cold tap to-gether. The noise also occurs if I run the bath or tap in the kitchen. I'm not sure what this is and asked a friend for advice and he said that I might have a lose pipe under the floor although he hasn't checked this out yet.I have tenants above and below me. It's so annoying but wondered if anyone had any idea what causes this. can you help!!!!
    Posted by ebony on 20/02/2009 16:26:50
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  25. There appears to be an airlock in my downstairs toilet. The water runs out very slowly and there is no blockage. When I turn on the washhand basin bubbles come out of the water in the toilet but washhand basin water runs away normally.?????
    Posted by Hannes on 16/02/2009 14:10:49
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  26. Hi guys I have a glass bath screen on my bath to prevent water escaping when showering. This screen has a rubber seal at the bottom which runs along the edge of the bath so making it a watertight fit. This seal has perished and despite making extensive enquiries at various plumbers merchants nobody can sell me a replacement; most of them suggesting I will have to buy a new screen because the rubber seal is not sold separately. Surely I am not the first person with this problem. HELP please! Brian
    Posted by ShiresHouse on 13/02/2009 23:28:38
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  27. Even after a full 9L. flush my WC pan seems to suck the water out. I can't see any leaks.
    Posted by Tony Hindle on 09/02/2009 12:11:48
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  28. I have a Moen single lever faucet in my kitchen. One day the hot water went from normal to a weak flow, while the cold water stayed the same. I took the faucet apart and looked at the cartridge, and it looked fine. However, I don't really know what I'm looking at, so it may not be. Help!
    Posted by Thunderball5 on 07/02/2009 18:25:37
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  29. why has my hot water supply just stopped but the cold water suply is running fine
    Posted by nick on 05/02/2009 22:25:00
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  30. In the kitchen (only) my tap for the cold water has stop running, however, my hot water is fine.
    Posted by Ovie on 03/02/2009 20:20:25
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  31. hi, im fitting a shower,but it doesnt come with a u-bend, comes with a cheap flexi pipe to connect into the stack, but im getting smells thru it, ive tried bending it to create a u-bend out of it, but then the flow out of the waste is poor, i acnt use a proper u-bend as there isnt enough room to fit 1,
    Posted by chris on 31/01/2009 11:17:27
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  32. Problem with airlocks Could anyone help with the following problem regarding the cold feed from the loft tank to the toilet and sink in the bathroom The original bath had 22mm runs of hot and cold water feed with 15mm branches off to toilet and washbasin. The new bath has no taps as it is filled from the new shower unit, which is a combined Shower and bath filler system with completely separate pumped feeds of hot and cold water. The toilet and washbasin uses the original pipe modified to suit new units The old feeds to the bath where capped off at the bath end, and the pipe still feeds the toilet And washbasin, also the down stair cloakroom (toilet and basin) which has no problem they still work fine. The problem is about every 3 - 4 weeks the supply to the washbasin in bathroom stops, which also stops the toilet from filling. In order to get the system working again I disconnect cold tap tail from the 15mm feed and connect A piece of pipe fixed to my wetvac and suck out till the water runs at full bore again, this always works And it also gets the toilet working, but the problems back after a month. The hot water supply works perfectly ok The new tape at washbasin is a Axor Citterio single lever operation tap for hot and cold The tails from the tap head are only 10mm dia giving about a 5mm hole for the water to pass And the same for the toilet one inside the system. I am wondering if the feed hole size is part of the problem and do they work well on gravity systems On the other hand the hot feed to the same tap with same size hole has never stopped working since Installed and the cylinder is on the same level.
    Posted by barker41 on 29/01/2009 14:38:42
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  33. Hi! I have a radiator that doesn't work in my lounge and the cold water bath tap that will only give out a weak flow of water, becoming none existent if you flush the toilet! I have bled the radiator but it hasn't made a difference. Ant ideas for either problem. Many Thanks
    Posted by Lisa Crossland on 06/12/2008 17:10:59
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  34. hi, i have a combi boiler, heating works fine, hotwater works fine downstairs but upstairs only luke warm thanks.
    Posted by petrob on 03/12/2008 11:31:22
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  35. HELP EVERY TIME I TURN OFF THE COLD TAP THE PIPES BANG
    Posted by KENNETH on 29/11/2008 10:18:32
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  36. Thanks for your comments and questions everyone. In the majority of cases, it's just not safe/advisable for me to answer your plumbing queries, simply because I would have to be on the spot to diagnose properly. Can I suggest that those with pressing plumbing problems call out a plumber... not helpful I know, but there's no point in messing about. Anyone interested in getting hold of information about the Home Show and its suppliers, go to the relevant pages within this section: http://www.channel4.com/4homes/on-tv/the-home-show/index.html. Thanks!
    Posted by Lucy 4Homes Ed on 12/11/2008 14:24:07
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  37. The radiator in my spare bedroom is only heating up at the bottom, i have already try bleeding it. Any suggestions Many thanks
    Posted by Mark on 11/11/2008 20:42:06
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  38. I have one rad that is only gets lukewarm, the rest heat up as normal, and its close to the boiler. Also my hot water tap has reduced to a trickle but the cold runs well though the mixer tap. cheers Mike
    Posted by mike on 11/11/2008 16:39:38
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  39. Have clicking problems theres no air in rads but still clicks when heating up quite loud is this normal cheers
    Posted by mick on 09/11/2008 17:14:36
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  40. Hi George, am just in process of updating my heating system and was intrigued with the boiler you used in the Dorking project, can you give me any information on it, manufacturer, model etc. regards John.
    Posted by john on 09/11/2008 15:35:57
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  41. Hi I have a problem with my shower in main bathroom. When I run shower in different room main shower pipes clang & bang & water comes from head. Also if turning on bath taps in maih bathroom shower lets out water. Showere is not a mixer
    Posted by Tony on 28/10/2008 09:50:42
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  42. My house is 2 years old. when we bought it the showers ran fast now two years later they are running slow. they are not power showers and the heads have been removed and cleaned..any idea's
    Posted by Steve on 13/10/2008 11:46:45
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  43. I have a problem with the kitchen cold water (hot perfect), it barely trickles first thing in the morning, if you leave it running it flows a bit quicker but not as it used to, all other taps in the house are ok hot and cold.(this is a recent occurance.
    Posted by Billy on 09/10/2008 18:37:53
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  44. cold water feed pipe from tank in loft to bathroom appears blocked. Possibly caused by some lagging getting into water. Posible block may be in about 1m on a bend. There is no water to sink/shower/bath but some seems to be getting through to toilet.
    Posted by allan on 05/10/2008 15:37:47
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  45. In my mobile home, cloudy water comes out of the cold water spigot in the sink and bathtub, but not the hot. Clear water comes out of the cold water spigot in the kitchen and half bath sink in other end of trailer. It must be air in the line because I filled up a glass and a few hours later water is clear. But, if air in line, why only those in the bathroom?
    Posted by Jim on 28/09/2008 02:22:30
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  46. my toilet won`t always flush unlees i pull the chain down hard a couple of times. can you help.
    Posted by steve on 22/09/2008 19:45:05
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  47. I have just changed a washer in a kitchen cold tap but once I turned the mains back on it makes a loud vibration at the opening of the tap and sometimes as I close it
    Posted by harrison on 22/09/2008 18:42:44
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  48. We have got air in the pipes, every time we flush the toilet it starts it off and can get very loud, although running the bath tap for a couple seconds stops it. So i was wondering if there was anything i could do to fix this irritating problem of mine on my own, look forward to hearing from u as i desperately need ur advice, thnx.
    Posted by Dave on 18/09/2008 16:39:45
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  49. air in the system all the time please reply asap
    Posted by mark withers on 12/09/2008 13:54:46
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  50. I have a problem whith my hot water and heating. I cant have hot water only and no heating even when the programer is set for hot water only
    Posted by John Mayhew on 12/09/2008 11:01:38
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  51. mains cold water runs slow.mains tap full open,what to do!!
    Posted by brian on 01/09/2008 09:17:19
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  52. Hi Terry Assume you've read through all the pages of this feature and tried all these options? Time to call in a plumber then... Unless anyone else can help?
    Posted by Lucy 4Homes Ed on 26/08/2008 14:52:34
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  53. Hi Derek Meant to say - it could be this too - http://www.channel4.com/4homes/diy-self-build/diy-build-advice/a-z-of-diy-building-guides/plumbing-problems-and-how-to-solve-them-08-05-23_p_3.html (if you read down). Try the foam first, then the plumber...
    Posted by Lucy 4Homes Ed on 26/08/2008 14:51:41
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  54. Hi Derek I've suffered similar and it was to do with the water pressure and the size of the pipes (ie, the pressure was too great for the pipes to cope with it, which made them rattle when taps were turned off). Sorry to say this can only be solved by a good plumber - get one in, it's not a DIY job.
    Posted by Lucy 4Homes on 26/08/2008 14:48:52
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  55. Over the last 6 months a noisy vibration has developed in the plumbing pipes of our house. It happens everytime we open and shut a tap or flush the toilet. The vibration last up to 10 seconds before dissipating and is made worse if you open a tap whilst it is happening. It is hard to pinpoint the exact location of the noise, but it may well be coming from the roof void. We had a new combi boiler fitted 2 years ago and a power mira shower over a year ago. I have tried shutting the main water tap slightly but it makes no difference. Can you please help. Derek.
    Posted by Derek Cooper on 26/08/2008 07:25:34
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  56. i have one rad that will not heat up at all i have replaced it with a new rad but that will not heat either i looks as if there is no flow through the rad although i do get a fluid flow thriugh the bleed screw but only cold water any ideas befor i pull what is left of my hair out thamks terryp
    Posted by terry puckrin on 23/08/2008 21:18:27
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