Leak – Content Hub

Whether it is your kitchen sink, bathroom sink, or shower, a dripping tap is more than just an annoyance. It can cost you money. Sometimes, a drip is obvious, but it might be dripping so slowly that you never notice it.

If your sink or shower is never dry, even after long periods of non-use, you probably have a dripping tap. A sudden increase in your water bill could also signal a leaky tap. One faucet dripping three times a minute wastes 1 litre of water per day, and that can add up quickly on your bill. This should be an incentive to get it fixed quickly.

Different causes of a leaking tap

Several things can cause a leaky tap, including:

Improper installation
Water pressure problems
Corroded valve seat
O ring problems
Faulty tap washer

If your problem is one of the first three issues, you probably need to call a plumber. If the problem is the o ring, you can fix it yourself. The o ring is a small rubber disc that is attached to the tap’s stem screw. It can become worn or loose over time, leading to a leaking mixer tap. This is the most common problem regardless of brand, be it a Novelli mixer tap or other brands, and replacing the worn-out part usually fixes it.

Leaking taps will end up wasting lots of water / Source: Ubacon Building Group

Tools & materials needed to fix it

To fix your leaking tap, you need several tools and materials before you begin the job. Most of them can be found at your local home improvement store or online.

12mm washers
O ring
Jumper valve
Reseating kit
Spanner wrench or tap spanner set.
Multi-grips
Screwdriver
Tap lubricant
Rag or old cloth

If you need a new o ring, it is a good idea to replace tap washer sets, too. A reseating kit might not be necessary with some types of faucets, but if your home is older, it is best to get one in case. Also, you might be able to get away with a regular wrench in some cases.

Contact local plumbers

How to replace a tap washer

Changing a tap washer and o ring is an easy process, but it can be tricky if this is your first time. Also, there are slight differences depending on the type of faucet you have. For instance, a single faucet with a mixer will be different from sinks where the hot and cold are separate. Here are the steps to get you started.

Turn off the water supply. Before you get started, it is essential to shut off your water. Some homes have a shutoff valve beneath the sink, but in some cases, you might have to turn off the main water supply to your home. Once the water is off, it is a good idea to put a drain plug in the sink so that small parts and screws do not fall down the drain.
Unscrew the tap. Using a spanner wrench, loosen the screw and take off the cover of the tap. You can now remove the handle. Some older style faucets have a tap bonnet above the ring and washers. You should remove this, too.
Remove the old washer. Wind the threaded spindle out of the pipe as if you were turning off the water. This action will expose the O-ring. It might come off quickly, or you might have to remove it with a utility knife. Once you have completed this, clean the surface thoroughly before you replace tap spindle parts.
Replace the o-ring and washer. Before replacing the tap O ring, apply tap lubricant to the spindle and valve. This will help it get a better seal and will help it operate more smoothly.
Re-install tap into place. Now it is time to replace the tap spindle band and replace the bonnet. It is important to be sure not to over tighten the nuts when doing this. You can now re-install the handles and tighten them down using the spanner wrench.
Test water. The job is now finished, and you can turn the water back on. Test the work and make sure that it is still not leaking. If it is still leaking, you might have to get a reseating kit and do it again or hire a professional.

Changing a shower tap washer can be more complicated depending on the type of shower / Source: Visualising Interiors

How to change a shower tap washer

The steps for changing a shower tap washer are identical to changing one on the sink or faucet only you will be working vertically instead of horizontally. The only difference is that once you unscrew the top of the handles, there will usually be a skirt or cover plate underneath. Sometimes these will need to be screwed off, and other times they pull straight off. There could also be an adhesive holding it on, but you can easily break this with a pair of pliers.

For showers, you might need to use your spanner wrench to take the jumper valve out. When replacing the shower faucet, make sure that the skirt is replaced in a manner that will prevent water from leaking behind your wall and causing damage. If it was glued on, you need to make sure to use an adhesive approved for showers to replace it.

How to hire a plumber

Tap washer repair is an easy process, but there are a few nuances that you need to know. Otherwise, you could end up with a mess and possibly experience structural damage. If you need to fix a leak and are not confident in your ability to do it yourself, it might be more cost-effective to hire a professional. Not only will it save you the hassle, but a licensed professional will also make sure that the job is done right.

Licencing and qualifications

Regional government authorities licence plumbers and requirements can differ according to location. These licences dictate the type of work the plumber is allowed to do, and not all plumbers can do every job. For instance, they might need a different licence to do gas installations or to install drains. Most licenced plumbers can replace a tap or make other repairs that might be necessary to your sinks and shower.

Australian regulations specify a minimum distance between water and power points, which must be adhered to for safety reasons. Be sure to consult with a licensed plumber to ensure that your plumbing work meets the necessary safety standards and complies with regulations regarding the distance between water and power points in Australia.

It’s safe to say that it is important to find a water leak in your plumbing as soon as possible. Clearly, no one wants to deal with the damage caused by broken pipes and costly repairs to damaged components, but let’s look at how to find a water leak quickly and easily.

Signs of a leak

There are some key indicators indicating that you could have a water leak in your home. Some are quite common and others not so much:

Often, when you have a leak in something like a sink, you may notice a subtle or even drastic increase in your water bill. This will be noticeable when your meter reading occurs.
You can feel or even see signs of mould forming in hard-to-reach areas or providing an optimal environment for growing that kind of stuff.
The bubbles in the paint or wallpaper are a good indicator that something wet is flowing to the other side.
If you think your hot water system leaking, try laying out a paper towel at the base of the unit. If you do have a leak you’ll see changes on the paper towel and know you’ve got a problem.
Ceilings can begin to sag or warp when water has accumulated in a given area for a period of time. This is particularly common in flat-roofed houses.
Flooring may start to sag or crack, which is also a good indicator. There is often a musty or earthy smell that can be difficult to eliminate. You can even find muddy or damp areas in the yard or around the house that seem wet.
Sometimes finding a leak underground is really tough to do. Further into this article, we’ll give you some tips on how to find a water leak underground.

Water leaks in the walls

Walls and floors can be severely damaged by leaks and moulds. Once the mould has begun to grow, the affected area will almost always have to be replaced entirely. In addition, this may require major renovations in an affected area, which is often expensive, especially in the case of structural damage.

How to find where a leak is coming from

A water leak is a serious problem and there are many ways it can happen. On top of water leaks from your plumbing structure, there are many devices and appliances that use water and carry the risk of leakage at some point, for example, a sink or tap. It is reasonable to say that the greater the amount of water associated with a leak, the more important the repair will be.

How to detect a leak in the washing machine

Did you come across some water underneath your washing machine? Looks like your washing machine is leaking. Here’s a list of all the various possible causes and also at what point in the cycle they can happen.

Threaded fittings on either drain, tap or fill hoses might be loose
Drain hose might not be installed properly into the home drain
Internal hoses in the washing machine might be faulty
Corroded clamps or cracked hoses are common causes of washing machine leaks

The compression chamber of a washing machine fills with water and expels air to the pressure switch to indicate the level of water in the tank. Over time, the compression chamber of your machine may be clogged with impurities. Due to this plug, the unit will not be able to check the water level and the washing machine will continuously fill the water device until it leaks.

How to find a water leak from the fridge

Is your fridge leaking water? We will list some of the probable causes of water leak from the fridge.

In the bottom of your refrigerator is a gutter. As time goes by, litter becomes lodged and clogs the drain. If this is the case, the water will overflow and leak inside your fridge. We advise you to clean the gutter and its drain with hot water.
At the back of your fridge, between the compressor recovery tank and the chassis of the unit, there is very often a rubber valve. If it is dirty or clogged, the water will eventually overflow into the refrigerator. We advise you to clean it and replace it if it is damaged.
If the door seal is deformed or damaged, warm air will infiltrate and indirectly create frost. This frost will then melt and may create a small puddle on the floor under the freezer door.
The fridge might be placed uneven stopping the water from running into the drain hole.

How to find a water leak in the ceiling

Water leaking from the ceiling is not a good sign and you should act with caution. Depending on whether you have neighbours on the floor above or not, the leak can have three origins. If it is a private house, it will probably come from the roof, unless you have pipes between the ceiling and the roof. If you are living in an apartment building it is possible that it is from the neighbours above.

In case of water leakage from the ceiling, you must first identify the source of the leak. If it is a “human cause”, and the source of the leak has been found and dried up, you can simply contact your neighbour to take over the repairs. On the other hand, if you do not understand the origin of the leak, you must as soon as possible call a professional.

First of all, be aware that under no circumstances should you repaint or cover a ceiling that has been leaked and whose cause has not been identified and repaired. You may experience new leaks that will damage your ceiling again.

How to detect a leak from an air conditioner

An air conditioner leaking water is one of the most common malfunctions encountered by owners of this type of appliance. What is the cause of this?

Water production is a normal phenomenon for an air conditioner in good working order. This water must normally be evacuated continuously through the exhaust pipe of the air conditioner. If the hose gets clogged, the water can no longer be drained, causing the condensate pan to overflow. If you cannot immediately act on the leak, turn off the device to prevent the moisture generated from damaging the wall.

How to find a water leak from the base of the toilet

If your toilet is leaking, try to find the source of the problem before calling the plumber: sometimes, changing a simple seal may be enough. However, there might be other causes for this issue.

The tank of the toilet might have condensation on the outside
The connection of the toilet tank to the base might have loose seas or bolts
Water supply has a leaking pipe
The filling valve is faulty
The base is loosely connected to the floor

Leaking pipe from the dishwasher

Is your dishwasher leaking and you do not know why? To facilitate research, it is best to look at where and when the leak occurs.

Check the water inlet tube of your dishwasher. You can pass your hand with paper towels on the fittings to find more easily traces of water.
The rinse aid is used to drag the debris during the rinse phase and speed up the drying process of your dishes. Be careful because the rinse aid has a tendency to foam. This foam could create an overflow, and therefore a leak
Door seals might be worn. Clean these seals regularly and replace them if they are defective.

What to do when your shower is leaking through the wall

This type of water leak may easily go unnoticed. The signs aren’t easy to notice but it can be detected if you look closely. Here are some tips on how to find a water leak inside a wall;

Decreased water pressure in the shower while the rest of the house is fine
If there is a floor beneath your shower, you might see water dripping from the ceiling

It is highly recommended to hire a professional plumber from a professional plumbing company as they have the tools and equipment that act as water leak detectors. The endoscopic camera makes it possible to efficiently inspect the leaking pipes and sewers; Thermal cameras are mainly used for locating leaks and faulty insulation but also for the search for leaks in heating systems and inaccessible pipes.

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What to do if you find your hot water system leaking

First things first, you need to know if your hot water system is actually the source of your water leak. As we’re dealing with hot water, sometimes the leak can evaporate before we notice it. Here are some tips to help in the event that you find your hot water leaking.

Try laying out a paper towel at the base of the unit. If you do have a leak you’ll see changes on the paper towel and know you’ve got a problem.
Once you’ve established you’ve got a hot water system that’s leaking, be sure to cut the power to the unit immediately.
Then go ahead and turn off the water supply to the unit also, this will prevent any major flooding risks once you begin working on the unit.
Now, test the cold water inlet and hot water outlet. Any leak from this location is an easy fix, however, be sure to do it as soon as possible.
Check the temperature and pressure relief valve. Again, any leak from here is generally an easy fix.
Check the heater drain valve, this should be watertight. If it is not, this is also an easy fix.
If you find the leak to be minimal and you have experience fixing small plumbing issues yourself, consider carrying out any repairs you need by yourself.
If the problem is major, or if emergency repairs are needed it’s best to consult a professional plumber.

How to find a leak underground

Finding a leak outside can be a difficult thing to explore yourself due to the specialist equipment that’s required. To find out if you need to get expert help to find your leak underground, follow these steps:

Turn your water off at the mains tap.
Take note of the water meter reading when you turn it off, write it down.
Leave the water off for 30mins and come back to re-read the meter.
If the number has changed you’ll know you have a leak underground somewhere.

To find where the leak is specifically and to fix the problem, it’s recommended that you employ an expert plumber to help.