--- title: "Leaking Tap Repair in Kent & Surrey | Vision Plumbing" url: https://visionplumbing.co.uk/services/leaking-tap-repair/ --- # Stop That Dripping Tap for Good Worn washers, failed ceramic cartridges and leaking spindles repaired, or the tap replaced when repair is no longer worth it. [4.8 out of 5 · 49 reviews on Trustpilot (opens Trustpilot)](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/visionplumbing.co.uk)[24 reviews on Checkatrade (opens Checkatrade)](https://www.checkatrade.com/trades/VisionPlumbingLimited) ## Don’t just take our word for it Read every review on the [reviews](https://visionplumbing.co.uk/reviews/) page. JJustin 5 out of 5 stars, review from Trustpilot > Superb service, came same day and did an amazing job sorting out my blocked sink. Definitely would use again. [via Trustpilot (opens Trustpilot)](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/visionplumbing.co.uk) DDavid Page 5 out of 5 stars, review from Trustpilot > Norbert was very helpful and friendly. He fixed a leak I had in my bathroom very quickly. Definitely will use again! [via Trustpilot (opens Trustpilot)](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/visionplumbing.co.uk) Verified reviewer, job in TN13 **10**/10 on Checkatrade Replace broken toilet cistern > Very speedy response to job request on this website, Norbert called within seconds and agreed to call in for quote later today. Came when said he… [via Checkatrade (opens Checkatrade)](https://www.checkatrade.com/trades/VisionPlumbingLimited) RRob 5 out of 5 stars, review from Trustpilot > True definition of 24/7 great service. Very helpful used his services on 2 occasions went above and beyond each time. Great guy keep up the good work. [via Trustpilot (opens Trustpilot)](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/visionplumbing.co.uk) AAnna 5 out of 5 stars, review from Trustpilot > Excellent communication, explained issue well, supplied a clear itemized quote, good workmanship and overall high efficiency. Would hire again. [via Trustpilot (opens Trustpilot)](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/visionplumbing.co.uk) Verified reviewer, job in TN13 **10**/10 on Checkatrade Unblocked of blocked sewerage drains > Emergency call out on a Sunday evening. Very prompt and came straight away. Sorted the problem straight away and at a fair price for a Sunday night… [via Checkatrade (opens Checkatrade)](https://www.checkatrade.com/trades/VisionPlumbingLimited) DDi 5 out of 5 stars, review from Trustpilot > We always use Norbert’s plumbing service at our restaurant. He is always on time and fully understand what needs to be done. Highly recommend ! [via Trustpilot (opens Trustpilot)](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/visionplumbing.co.uk) TThomas Dixon 5 out of 5 stars, review from Trustpilot > Excellent work - very efficient. Friendly service. I would highly recommend to others. [via Trustpilot (opens Trustpilot)](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/visionplumbing.co.uk) Verified reviewer, job in E16 **10**/10 on Checkatrade Leaking pipe behind a laundry machine > Norbert did the job well and efficiently. He was available at short notice to help. [via Checkatrade (opens Checkatrade)](https://www.checkatrade.com/trades/VisionPlumbingLimited) AAnia Hampton 5 out of 5 stars, review from Trustpilot > Excellent service. Work undertaken in a timely thorough and clean manner. Operator was friendly informative and totally professional. Highly… [via Trustpilot (opens Trustpilot)](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/visionplumbing.co.uk) JJoe 5 out of 5 stars, review from Trustpilot Knowledgable and trustworthy > This firm is professional and do the job well. They turned up on time and they are very knowledgeable. Very trustworthy. I highly recommend them. [via Trustpilot (opens Trustpilot)](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/visionplumbing.co.uk) Verified reviewer, job in TN4 **10**/10 on Checkatrade Clean out blocked drain, used camera to ensure pipework was in good condition. > The quality of the work completed was extremely high, the engineer did not finish the job until he was satisfied the drain was completely clean as… [via Checkatrade (opens Checkatrade)](https://www.checkatrade.com/trades/VisionPlumbingLimited) HHarriet Boulding 5 out of 5 stars, review from Trustpilot > Great service! Norbert is very professional and I am very pleased with the result. Will be recommending him. [via Trustpilot (opens Trustpilot)](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/visionplumbing.co.uk) CCsaba Nyako 5 out of 5 stars, review from Trustpilot > Very professional service from start to finish. Norbert was friendly and knowledgeable and kept me informed at all stages. [via Trustpilot (opens Trustpilot)](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/visionplumbing.co.uk) Verified reviewer, job in TN15 **10**/10 on Checkatrade Fixing a new radiator to the wall and updating pipe work to remove valves on our open heating system > Norbert was absolutely brilliant. He offered great advice, worked efficiently and left everything tidy and well completed. He was also friendly and… [via Checkatrade (opens Checkatrade)](https://www.checkatrade.com/trades/VisionPlumbingLimited) LLauren Ford 5 out of 5 stars, review from Trustpilot Great service for emergency work > I called Vision Plumbing as I could hear water gushing underneath my kitchen. He was able to attend quickly, and found and resolved the issue at a… [via Trustpilot (opens Trustpilot)](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/visionplumbing.co.uk) TTunde Ogunniyi 5 out of 5 stars, review from Trustpilot Prompt emergency response > Norbert was one of several emergency plumbing services I rang overnight after being disappointed by another plumber when seeking assistance for a… [via Trustpilot (opens Trustpilot)](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/visionplumbing.co.uk) Verified reviewer, job in SE15 **10**/10 on Checkatrade Replacing kitchen tap AND replacing pipes under kitchen sink > After exchanging a few text messages Norbert turned up the following day on time with the replacement parts and completed the work in a very… [via Checkatrade (opens Checkatrade)](https://www.checkatrade.com/trades/VisionPlumbingLimited) Vision Plumbing is a **SafeContractor approved** business - [Home](https://visionplumbing.co.uk/) - [Services](https://visionplumbing.co.uk/services/) - Leaking Tap Repair ## Washer, Cartridge or a New Tap Worn washers, failed ceramic cartridges and leaking spindles repaired, or the tap replaced when repair is no longer worth it. Norbert tells you which your tap needs before starting. ## Signs It Is Time To Call - A steady drip from the spout after turning it off - Water pooling around the base of the tap - A handle that has to be forced to stop the flow - Limescale staining under the spout - Water in the cupboard under the sink ## Why taps start to drip Every tap shuts off the water with a seal. Older pillar and bib taps use a rubber washer on a brass seat. Quarter-turn taps and mixers use ceramic discs inside a cartridge. - Washers harden, split and flatten until the spout drips - Ceramic discs pick up grit scratches and limescale, worse in hard water - Worn O-rings or gland let water out at the handle or base ## What a tap repair involves Norbert isolates the tap, takes it apart and finds which seal has failed. Most repairs take one visit, with common washers and cartridges on the van. Every repair has a one year warranty on parts and labour. - Washer taps get a new washer, and a refaced seat if pitted - Cartridge taps get a matching cartridge, ordered in for unusual brands - Leaks around the body or spout normally need new O-rings ## When a new tap makes sense Some taps are past repairing. Norbert explains what he has found and lets you decide, rather than defaulting to a new tap. - A cracked or corroded body, or a seat worn too far to reface - A discontinued model with no spare cartridges - A tap that has been repaired several times already - A chance to add isolation valves under the sink if there are none ## Part of a bigger picture A dripping bath tap or leaking shower mixer is often the first sign of wear in a bathroom where other fittings are the same age. - [Bath and shower repair](https://visionplumbing.co.uk/services/bath-and-shower-repair/) covers wastes, seals and showers in the same visit - A [local plumber](https://visionplumbing.co.uk/services/plumber/) visit traces water a tap cannot explain - Norbert covers Kent, Medway, Surrey, East and West Sussex and south-east London ## Why people ring Norbert - 20+Years in plumbing - 1 yearWarranty on parts and labour - 24/7Emergency call-out - 1Plumber, start to finish ## What the job covers - Washer and seat repairsReplacing worn washers and re-cutting or refacing a damaged valve seat on traditional pillar and bib taps. - Ceramic cartridge replacementFitting a matching cartridge to quarter-turn and mixer taps that drip even when turned fully off. - Leaks from the spindle or baseRenewing O-rings and gland packing where water escapes around the handle or under the tap body. - Tap replacementRemoving a worn or corroded tap and fitting a new one, with new flexible connectors and isolation valves where needed. - Outside tapsRepairing or replacing garden taps, including ones split by frost and ones with no check valve. - Not sure what you need?[Quick Quote Online](#quote) ## Leaking Tap Repair in pictures ## How a job with Norbert runs No call centre and no hand-offs. The same man takes the call, quotes the work and does it. - 01You call or send the formTell Norbert what is happening. He rings back himself to ask the questions that matter before anyone drives out. - 02He comes out and quotesHe looks at the job, explains what has failed and what the fix involves, and gives you the quote before work starts. - 03The work is done and testedFixed, tested and cleaned up, with a one year warranty on parts and labour for the work he has done. ## Often needed alongside leaking tap repair - [Bath & Shower Repair](https://visionplumbing.co.uk/services/bath-and-shower-repair/)Showers and baths repaired or replaced: electric and mixer showers, pumps, trays, bath taps, wastes and seals. - [Plumber](https://visionplumbing.co.uk/services/plumber/)Everyday plumbing repairs and replacements from Norbert himself, backed by over 20 years' experience and a one year warranty. - [Leak Detection](https://visionplumbing.co.uk/services/leak-detection/)Hidden water leaks located with thermal imaging and acoustic equipment, so the repair starts in the right place. ## Leaking Tap Repair: questions answered ### 01Why does my tap keep dripping when it is turned off? On a traditional tap, the rubber washer has worn or hardened and no longer seals against the valve seat. On a quarter-turn or mixer tap, the ceramic discs inside the cartridge have been scratched or scaled up so they no longer close fully. Hard water across much of Kent and Surrey speeds up both. Neither fault improves on its own, and forcing the handle tighter tends to make it worse. ### 02Is it worth repairing a tap or should it be replaced? Most dripping taps are worth repairing, because the fix is a washer, a cartridge or a seal. Replacement makes sense when the body is cracked or corroded, the valve seat is too damaged to reface, parts for that model are no longer made, or you were planning to change it anyway. Norbert will tell you which applies to your tap before starting anything. ### 03How can I tell what kind of tap I have? If the handle turns several times from off to fully on, it is almost certainly a traditional washer tap. If it turns a quarter or half turn and stops, it has a ceramic cartridge. Single-lever mixers also use cartridges. Knowing which you have helps on the phone, because it tells Norbert what parts to bring. ### 04Can a leaking mixer tap be fixed without replacing it? Usually, yes. The drip from a mixer tap almost always comes from the cartridge, and a matching replacement can be fitted without disturbing the tap body or worktop. Leaks at the base or swivel spout are normally O-rings. The exception is an unbranded or discontinued tap where no matching cartridge exists, in which case a new tap is the better option. ### 05Can a dripping tap wait, or does it need fixing now? A drip is rarely an emergency, but it is not harmless. It wastes water, marks basins and sinks, and a tap that drips from the spout is often close to one that leaks from the body into the cupboard below. If water is escaping under the sink rather than into it, turn off the isolation valve under the tap and get it looked at soon. ### 06Do you fit taps that customers have bought themselves? Yes. If you have already chosen a tap, Norbert can fit it. It helps to check before he arrives that it suits your water pressure, since some taps designed for high-pressure systems run poorly on low pressure, and that the connections match your existing pipework. If not, he will say so before fitting rather than after. ## Tell Norbert what needs doing A line about the job is enough. Norbert reads every enquiry himself and rings you back to talk it through before he quotes. [4.8 out of 5 · 49 reviews on Trustpilot (opens Trustpilot)](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/visionplumbing.co.uk)[24 reviews on Checkatrade (opens Checkatrade)](https://www.checkatrade.com/trades/VisionPlumbingLimited) [07379 636676](tel:+447379636676) 24 hours, for emergencies