How to Replace a Tap Washer

If you’ve got a tap in your home that won’t stop dripping, it’s likely that the washer inside is the culprit. This is a really easy fix that shouldn’t take any more than an hour, and all you need is a few basic tools and a replacement washer. Without further ado, let’s take a look at how it’s done.

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A dripping tap is usually caused by a worn rubber washer, which creates the watertight seal inside traditional taps.
To replace a tap washer, turn off your water supply, remove the tap handle and valve, then swap the old washer for an identical new one. After replacing the washer, reassemble the tap and turn the water supply back on. The new washer should stop the drip.

What is a tap washer?

Many plumbed appliances or fittings will contain rubber washers, and their purpose is to create a watertight seal between two mating surfaces that you can’t get with just metal or plastic. You’ll often find them in a female connector or within a groove – for taps, they’re usually found underneath the tap body, between the tap and sink surface.

If your tap or shower is dripping, this watertight seal has likely been worn down or damaged and needs replacing.

Does my tap have a washer?

In general, more modern taps are less likely to have washers and will instead opt for a ceramic cartridge. A good rule-of-thumb to help determine if yours has a washer is how far you can turn the handle. If it needs only a half or quarter turn to get the water running, it’s likely to be ceramic, and if it needs a full turn, it’s probably got a washer.

Changing a tap washer

If your tap has a drip, this is a sign that the washer is worn, so it’ll need replacing. Thankfully, this is an easy fix that you can do yourself.

A new washer
Adjustable wrench
Screwdriver to match your tap’s screws

Before you begin changing a tap washer, turn off the water supply to the tap. Some sinks will have a valve on the bottom or back to let you do this without affecting anything else in the house. If not, you’ll need to switch off the supply to the whole house; just make sure you haven’t got any washing machines or plumbed appliances working when you do this. Once off, fully turn on both taps to drain the water that still remains in the system.

Different taps will have different designs and handles, but generally you’ll be able to find a screw on the outside that holds the top on. If you can’t see it, it may be under a cap that needs undoing with a wrench or prying off with a screwdriver. Once you loosen this screw, you should be able to lift the top off the tap. If it’s stuck due to a buildup of limescale and corrosion, use a releasing agent to make it easier to remove.

Once you’ve taken the cap and handle off, you should be able to see the valve. Loosen this with an adjustable wrench, making sure you’re gripping the main body of the valve. You may find that some water leaks out here, but as long as you’ve turned off the water supply to the tap, you won’t get drenched. When you lift the valve out, you should see the tap washer at the bottom of it. This is the part that you’ll need to replace.

Remove the washer from the bottom of the valve. This may just need pulling off, or it might be held in place with an anchoring screw. Take this to your local DIY store and find a washer that matches exactly, and then slide this into place onto the bottom of the valve. You can also replace any other O-rings on the tap at this stage as this can help to prolong its lifespan.

Place the valve back into the tap fitting and tighten it with your adjustable wrench. Then place the handle back, screwing it into place with a screwdriver. You can now turn your water back on and put your tap to the test. The dripping should have stopped as the new washer is watertight.

Top tip: if you’re not sure whether it’s the hot or cold side that’s causing the issue, replace the washer on both.

Tap washers usually last between 1-2 years, but it can be even longer if your tap isn’t used often and your water pressure is moderate.

When to replace a tap washer versus the whole tap

It can be hard to determine whether you need to replace your entire tap or just the washer itself when you’re dealing with a leaking or unperforming tap. Here’s a guide to make it easier.

Replace the tap washer if:

The tap is dripping out of the spout or won’t shut off completely
The condition of the tap is good
There are no signs of corrosion or damage to the body of the tap
The handle is easy to use

Replace the tap if:

The tap is old, corroded or leaking out of the body as opposed to the spout
Internal elements are worn
You want to refresh the look or improve efficiency
There are still issues with the tap even after the washer has been replaced

That’s all you need to do when changing a tap washer – making that annoying drip stop and so you can save your water. It really can be as simple as a rubber washer being slightly worn, so all you need to do is replace this individual part. Having the same problems elsewhere? Check out our guide on how to fix a dripping shower head.

FAQs

If your tap simply needs a washer replacing, you can easily do that yourself. All you need is a few basic tools and less than an hour of free time.

Technically, you don’t need to turn the water off to replace a tap washer, but switching it off is advised as this prevents water from seeping out when you remove the valve.

It’ll keep dripping if the valve seat is worn, the O-ring or cartridge also needs a replacement, or the washer wasn’t installed correctly.

Yes, if your tap uses a ceramic disc cartridge, this can still be replaced by installing a cartridge of the same size and type. We provide more details on how to do this in our guide on how to fix a leaking tap.