A dripping tap can be messy and it wastes water. If left unaddressed, dripping taps can become a full-blown issue that will result in costly repairs. Fortunately, you can easily fix your dripping tap by following a simple DIY procedure. Here are a few steps to help you fix your dripping taps.

Step 1: Turn Off Your Water Supply

Before you start working on the tap, turn off your water supply. This will give you an easy time dealing with the repairs. Besides, you don't want water splashing around when you remove components of the tap. After turning off the water supply, put your plug into the plughole. Doing this will prevent any small parts of the tap such as screws from finding their way down the drain.

Step 2: Remove The Head of the Tap

To remove the head of the tap, you will first need to find the handle screw. For most types of taps, the screw is usually under a cap on the tap's handle. Gently unscrew the top nut using a spanner. Be careful when doing this because forcing it can damage the pipe, leading to more tap problems. If turning the nut is difficult, wrap a pipe wrench in a piece of cloth and use it to brace the body of the tap. If you don't have a pipe wrench, you can use your hand. If this doesn't do the trick, use penetrating oil. Apply the oil around the joint and let it sit for a few minutes for it to soak. Penetrating oil will help loosen the nut.

Step 3: Remove The Stem

After removing the nut, you will notice the stem. You can remove it by twisting it from the valve or by popping it off.

Step 4: Remove the Washer and O-ring

Within the valve seat of the tap are the O-ring and the valve. Remove them and inspect them for damages. Worn or damaged O-rings and washers are major causes of leaking taps. Therefore, replace them. When buying the replacements, make sure they are the exact fit. The best way to do this is to take the rings and the washers to the hardware store for comparison.

Step 5: Reassemble the Parts

Carefully and gently reassemble all the parts. When doing this, ensure all the parts are assembled in their correct order. Turn the knob gently and let water run for a few seconds. Turn it off and leave it for a while to check whether you still have the leak.

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