Leaking tap

Leaking tap

Leaking taps are a pesky nuisance and one that every single Adelaide resident has faced.  If you’ve ever woken up to hear tap water dripping down your drains, you understand how inconvenient and annoying leaking taps can be.

Royal Flush Plumbing is your expert for any leaking repairs inside and outside, including tap leaks, roof and gutter leaks, burst and leaking pipes, and leaking toilets.

What are the common causes of leaking taps?

There can be many reasons why your tap is dripping. It’s best to call an Adelaide plumber if you come across this issue. Some of the most frequent causes for a dripping tap or faucet are:

Bad O-ring

If you’re experiencing a leak coming from the faucet handle, check if it’s due to a damaged O-ring. The O-ring is a small, round piece attached to the screw that holds the handle in place. A worn out or loose O-ring can cause leakage, so replacing it may solve the problem.

Worn-out cartridge

A cartridge faucet leak could also be caused by the cartridge itself, which may need to be replaced. Make sure you have a compatible replacement cartridge to swap it with.

Valve seat corrosion

If the leak appears to be coming from the spout, the problem could be with the valve seat, which acts as the connector between the faucet and the spout. Water sediments can corrode the valve seat, resulting in a leak. You can keep this from happening by regularly cleaning the valve seat, preferably with the help of a professional.

Worn-out washers

Another common cause of spout leakage is problems with the washer that rests against the valve seat. The friction between these two parts can cause the washer to wear out over time. Faucet leaks can also occur if the washer is improperly installed or is the incorrect size. This is most common in compression faucets.

Deteriorated seals

Inlet and outlet seals, like valve seats, can become corroded as water sediments accumulate.

Water pressure

If the faucet only drips at certain times of the day or when you move the handles in a certain way, your home’s water pressure could be to blame.

Loose parts

The stream screw’s adjusting ring and packing nuts can become loose over time, causing your sink handle to leak. Tightening or replacing the packing nut will usually solve the problem.

Broken parts

If the leak is coming from pipes beneath the sink, the most likely cause is a broken pipe or fitting. When this happens, you should call us.

How to identify where a tap is leaking from?

To identify where a leaking tap is coming from, start by shutting off all your faucets and checking the water meter. If it’s still running then you have a plumbing leak somewhere in your house that needs to be repaired by a professional. After this, inspect the areas around sinks, toilets and tubs for any damp spots. Next, turn on the tap to see if water is coming out of the spout when it’s off – this would mean that the washer or cartridge needs replacing or reseating. Finally, look for water dripping from the handle when it’s turned on as this means that there is a faulty O-ring or rubber seal needing to be replaced. Depending on the type of tap you own, the repair process can vary in terms of cost and difficulty – traditional taps (with washers), ceramic disc taps (with cartridges), ball taps (with ball valves) and cartridge taps (with cartridges) are all different in their associated pros and cons.

How to prevent leaking taps in the future?

Install water softeners if you live in a hard water area. Hard water contains minerals that can build up limescale inside your pipes and taps, which can damage them over time and cause leaks. Water softeners remove these minerals and make your water softer and safer for your plumbing system.

Replace worn out or damaged parts of your taps regularly. The most common parts that cause leaks are washers, cartridges, O-rings and rubber seals. These parts can wear out due to friction or corrosion and fail to seal the water flow properly. You can replace them yourself by following some simple steps or call a plumber if you are unsure how to do it.

Install aerators on your faucets. Aerators are small devices that reduce water flow by mixing air with water. This can save water consumption by up to 50% and also reduce wear and tear on your taps by lowering the pressure of the water stream.

Monitor your water usage and bill regularly. This can help you detect any unusual spikes or changes in your water consumption that may indicate a leak somewhere in your plumbing system. You can also use smart devices such as leak detectors or sensors that alert you when they detect a leak in real time.

It is important to be knowledgeable about your plumbing system and to have a basic understanding of how to shut off your water supply in case of an emergency. Familiarize yourself with where the stopcock and isolation valves that control the water flow are located. Make sure everyone living in your house knows how to turn off these valves if they sense any leaking or unusual noises coming from the pipes.

Why should I fix my leaking tap?

Many people often let many seemingly small and minor plumbing issues get away without calling a plumbing service. One of the biggest problems that people let off the hook is a leaking tap. In fact, more homes than you’d know have a leaking tap or faucet.

You will avoid an increase in your water bill

Every dripping faucet drop counts. Due to the leak, you may be overpaying your water bill, so take immediate action. A plumber should replace or repair your faucet for more than just your water bill. A leaking tap wastes resources. By hiring a plumber, you’ll save resources and improve the world. The average household wastes hundreds of gallons of water per year.

You will have cleaner air

Fixing a leaking tap improves air quality and the home’s environment. A dripping faucet creates a moist environment that can promote mold and fungal growth. Molds and fungi can produce harmful spores. If respiratory problems have increased, dehumidify your home. Mold and moisture problems in the home can cause breathing problems and asthma, nasal stuffiness and sinus issues, and skin, eye, and throat irritation. If your immune system is weak, fungus and mold can worsen your health.

Leaking tap repairs & services

Leaking faucets cause more problems than they’re worth. It may reduce your quality of life, such as drips keeping you awake at night. Even worse, a strong leak may cause you to spray yourself with water and ruin your day. Overall, fixing your leak will improve your quality of life. Royal Flush is here to help you solve the issue quickly and affordably.

How to prevent leaks and bursts

Pay attention to your plumbing and take care of your sewage systems – it can be as small a leak from a tap, but any abnormal water activity needs inspection from experts. Don’t neglect the importance of taking care of your sewage systems.

Our water leak services

Areas we serve

Adelaide
Onkaringa
Salisbury
Port Adelaide Enfield
See All Suburbs

Quality services

Our experienced plumbers in Adelaide, SA can service the entire region, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Greater Adelaide

Onkaparinga

Salisbury

Port Adelaide Enfield

Charles Sturt

Playford

Mount Barker

And much more!

reviews

Matt is definitely one of the best plumbers in Adelaide. When you can solve a myriad of problems with one phone call, who wouldn’t you want it? Royal Flush Plumbing does all that and more. And that’s guaranteed.
Luis M., Alberton
Promina Inc
I’d just like to send a little thank you note. After months of a variety of plumbing problems, you saved my pipes. After the team you sent was done with their work, sure enough, my drains were draining perfectly. I’m very grateful and I’ll certainly be recommending your plumbing services to my friends!
Helen A., Highbury
Promina Inc
Here’s my honest feedback; Royal Flush Plumbing has saved me thousands of dollars in repair costs in my business. Water from the sink and toilets is no longer leaking and is holding up well.

Geoff S., Royal Park
Promina Inc
Very honest and professional service at a great price. Matt and the team were called to fix another plumbers dodgy (& expensive) job and completed on time with minimal fuss. Would definitely go directly to Matt first and would recommend others to do too – you wont be disappointed!
Aaron Mohtar
Promina Inc
Royal Flush is far more than a plumbing service and repair company, they are people that care.
They care about the well-being of my business and family home. The professionalism and high quality of work is the best I’ve seen...


Andrew Fantasia
Promina Inc
I have used Royal Flush plumbing on three separate occasions at various premises. They have been professional, responsive and thorough on each occasion and leave the jobsite tidy and clean. I would highly recommend Matt and his team. Well done guys.
David Neilson
Promina Inc
Matt and his boys did the fabulous job for my backyard plumbing. They are so professional and nice team. The job has been done promptly and efficiently. I love the way they worked and keep the site tidy and organized. I have recommended them to all of my friends. Good job, boys, the most trusty plumbing team forever!!!
Harvey Wang
Promina Inc
Friendly, honest and absolutely a pleasure to deal with. We had a leak in the ceiling from a bathroom upstairs and we received great advice and service. The team knew exactly what the issue was and was able to sort us out quickly. I highly recommend Royal Flush Plumbing and will use them again. Thanks!
Dillon Chang
Promina Inc
I had issues with my toilet drain blocking up at my place of business, Royal Flush came out and saved the day on a Sunday morning before an event I had planned Later on in the evening. I had a chat to Matt about renovating the toilet and adding on an additional toilet and a new shower/bathroom and to my amazement he made this happen and I couldn’t be happier. Royal Flush, nit only provided the plumbing removal and install of this little project….
Phuc Nguyen
Promina Inc

2000+

jobs completed

1000+

happy clients

5000+

hours /project

Message us

HELLO@ROYALFLUSHSA.COM.AU

Office

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA 5000
Every single one of Royal Flush plumbing licensed plumbers are skilled with a variety of services, ranging from emergency hot water repairs and blocked drains, to leak detection and gas heater services. Additionally, they will arrive fully outfitted with the most cutting-edge equipment to guarantee that the service is done properly and swiftly.

Plumbing & gas fitting license No #PGE263618

Royal Flush Plumbing Adelaide PTY LTD © 2023