Mr Skill

Drip, drip, drip … That dripping tap in the kitchen or bathroom isn’t just a nuisance. According to water saving organisation Waterwise, it could be wasting up to 75 litres of precious water a DAY.

So, however good you’ve become at ignoring the water torture, now’s the time to call in a tradesman and sort out these faulty faucets – and any other leaky plumbing fixtures and fittings around the house. It’s good for the environment, good for your pocket – and could prevent limsescale damage to sinks, basins and baths or unsightly damage to carpets and woodwork.

The reason for a dripping tap is often put down to a failed tap washer – the rubber part that prevents the flow when the tap is closed. If the tap is very old, the rubber may well have perished, but it’s just as likely to be a worn valve seat – the part that the washer closes against. Over time, as the pressure of the water tries to force its way past the washer, tiny trenches are formed in the brass seat which allow enough water through to create the drip.

Simply replacing the washer won’t help, because the trenches will still be there to allow water through. The solution is to call in a tradesman to grind the valves seat smooth again with a special tool. This is a quick and simple job for those in the know – and means you won’t have to replace expensive taps.

If water is leaking from the top of the tap – and with London’s hard water area this is easy to see because it will leave a crusty, white deposit – the culprit is the gland seal. This usually means the rubber ‘O’ ring on the spindle is split and needs replacing – again, a straightforward job for an expert who knows where to look.

Weeping joints can occur anywhere on the hot or cold supply, but commonly around compression joints or tap connectors. The cause is often movement that has unseated the joint slightly and the evidence may range from a wet patch below the offending fitting to green streaks or a crusty deposit around the pipe. Sometimes a tradesman can tighten the nut on the fitting to stop the leak, but it may require a new fitting – or even a new length of pipe – to make it watertight again.

Similar small leaks can also occur on radiator valves and you may end up with black stains from the leaking water on your carpet. A plumber will have a special kit to freeze pipes, isolating the affected area so that a radiator valve can be changed without having to drain the whole system – saving a great deal of disruption.

Sometimes, steel radiators can develop leaks – a telltale rusty streak is the indicator. The radiator will have to be replaced, but again, a professional can remove it without major upheaval. Apart from manufacturing defects, one of the main causes of radiator failure is the lack of inhibitor – a chemical that prevents corrosion – in the heating system. If a radiator has failed, get the tradesman to add some to the system while he’s there.

Finally, lots of plumbing problems require the water to be shut off. If your stopcock is being stubborn, call in a plumber to replace it. It’s a job a professional can tackle with ease – and one that could prevent a disaster in the future.