Leaking Tap Repairs & Replacement
Dripping, stiff or damaged taps repaired and replaced: every tap type, quality parts, and honest advice on whether repair or replacement is the better spend.
Can a leaking tap be repaired, or does it need replacing?
Most leaking taps can be repaired, but the fix depends on the tap type. Jumper-valve taps take new washers and seats; ceramic disc taps take new cartridges; mixers take new internal cartridges specific to the brand. We repair all of them, and when a tap is worn beyond economic repair, we'll say so and offer replacement options to suit your needs and budget.
Every Tap Type
Every tap type, repaired properly
Ready Plumbing services and replaces all plumbing taps across the Northern Beaches and North Shore. Our team is highly effective at repairing and replacing leaking and damaged taps. Some people think all taps have washers; they don't, so the first step is knowing exactly what's on your wall.
- Mixer taps: Blend the hot and cold water internally through a single cartridge, producing tempered water from one spout. When they drip, the cartridge, specific to the brand, is usually the fix.
- Ceramic disc taps: Quarter- or half-turn taps with an inbuilt valve, letting water flow with ease. Durable, but when they leak, they take a new cartridge or disc set, not a washer.
- Jumper-valve taps: The traditional style with washers in them: the classic ‘tap washer’ repair most homeowners know. Washers, O-rings and reseating the valve seat are the standard fixes.
- Taps for every hand: Standard capstan handles get genuinely difficult when grip strength fades. Lever handles and quarter-turn designs need far less force and make daily use easy, so we can recommend and fit tapware suitable for the individual.
Repair vs Replace
Repair or replace? Honest maths
A quality repair on a sound tap costs a fraction of replacement and stops the water wastage immediately. Leaking taps are among the biggest water-wasters in any home, and it all shows up on your bill. But when a tap body is corroded, the seats are worn beyond reseating, or parts for an obscure brand no longer exist, replacement is the honest recommendation. We'll give you the expert advice on which side of the line your taps sit, and offer multiple tap options suited to your desired needs.
More Than Taps
For the rest of the household's drips
Quality parts fix a failed tap properly, so you can get back to what you were doing. For the rest of the household’s drips, see leak repairs and leaking toilets.
Tap Won't Turn Off?
Genuine 24/7 emergency tap repairs
Our 24/7 emergency plumbing service covers floods and leaks from failed taps and fittings. Turn the water off at the meter and call, then we'll fix it properly with quality parts.
Last reviewed: 8 July 2026 by the Ready Plumbing team.
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FAQ
Leaking Tap Repairs: your questions answered
Plumbing problems can be extremely frustrating. Our licensed Sydney plumbers are here to provide fast, reliable answers and solutions.
Do all taps have washers?
No, that's a common misconception. Traditional jumper-valve taps have washers (the classic 'washer repair' homeowners know). Ceramic disc taps use an inbuilt quarter- or half-turn valve, and mixer taps blend hot and cold internally through a cartridge. Each type is repaired differently, and fitting the wrong parts is how DIY repairs fail.
How much water does a dripping tap waste?
A steady drip wastes thousands of litres a year. Leaking taps are a very high wastage of water, and it all lands on your bill. The repair typically pays for itself well within the year.
My tap is very stiff to turn. Can that be fixed?
Yes, stiff taps usually mean worn valves, seats or O-rings, and they're repairable. If grip strength is the issue, we can also fit taps designed for hands that have lost strength: lever handles and quarter-turn designs that are easy for arthritic hands to use.
Which tap should I choose if I'm replacing?
It depends on the application, your budget and who's using it. Mixers suit kitchens and modern bathrooms; quarter-turn ceramic disc taps are durable and easy to use; traditional taps suit period homes. As a professional plumbing service we'll recommend taps to suit your needs, budget and the application.
A tap is leaking badly and won't turn off. What do I do?
Turn the water off at the meter (usually at the front boundary) and call us. Our 24/7 emergency service covers floods and leaks from failed taps.
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Ready Plumbing is a Sydney-based and fully-licensed plumbing business with more than 20 years of experience, offering a range of residential and commercial plumbing solutions and emergency plumbing 24/7. Get in touch and we'll respond promptly.
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