Leaky tap - Anyone got any ideas?

[Woodchip]

Hey all, the cold tap leaks in my bath. If it was out the spout I'd replace the washer, but it's from around the base. It's not leaking a lot (although it could be streaming out under the bath not looked yet). Any of the genius particpants here got any ideas on what I can do to fix it? It's not a mixer tap, just a normal cold tap.

Noticed it the other day, but must have been doing it a while as there is a limescale ridge along the waters path down the side of the bath.

 

[Titanic]

Call a plumber.

 

[Woodchip]

I thought I'd try the oracle of NSC first. There must be at least one plumber on here.

 

[Notters]

Call a plumber.

Don't think I'd take advice on leaks from someone called "titanic"

 

[Uncle C]

Probably the seal around the tap spindle. Take off the tap top, unscrew the chrome cover and snug up the top nut around the spindle. Job done.

 

[seven stands]

are you sure its not leaking out from under the handle and running down the back of tap ?

edit : as unc c says above

 

[Sergei Gotsmanov]

Turn your water off, undo the tap from where it connects to the pipe give it a wipe and reseal it using a wad of ptfe tape. Not a plumber but that's the first thing i'd try. Make sure you use grips on both side of the joint as if you only grab one side and give it a twist chances are you will bend or brake the pipe which is a bigger pain in the arse.

 

[Woodchip]

Probably the seal around the tap spindle. Take off the tap top, unscrew the chrome cover and snug up the top nut around the spindle. Job done.

So take it all apart, give it a good service, and see how it goes?

I can't feel any moisture around the tap, just a puddle at the bottom of it.

 

[Sergei Gotsmanov]

Turn your water off, undo the tap from where it connects to the pipe give it a wipe and reseal it using a wad of ptfe tape. Not a plumber but that's the first thing i'd try. Make sure you use grips on both side of the joint as if you only grab one side and give it a twist chances are you will bend or brake the pipe which is a bigger pain in the arse.

When I say turn the water off I mean close the little valve that you find at the joint....can do it with a screwdriver.

 

[Uncle C]

Turn your water off, undo the tap from where it connects to the pipe give it a wipe and reseal it using a wad of ptfe tape. Not a plumber but that's the first thing i'd try. Make sure you use grips on both side of the joint as if you only grab one side and give it a twist chances are you will bend or brake the pipe which is a bigger pain in the arse.

Unless water has found a way to flow upwards, I would say thats very unlikely.

 

[Chris45]

As Uncle C said, should be obvious if its leaking from there, If tightening it up doesn't work turn the water off, undo the nut and wind some PTFE tape around the stem below the nut, then tighten up again.

 

[seven stands]

may only leak whislt tap is on

 

[Sergei Gotsmanov]

Unless water has found a way to flow upwards, I would say thats very unlikely.

Fair point....like I said i'm not a plumber...maybe more of a plum! Checking the spindle seal sounds like a much better idea.

 

[seven stands]

if it leaking from gland and you after a cheap fix ie not calling out a plumber these work on "most" standard taps

http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.jsp?action=detail&fh_secondid=11547601&fh_location=//catalog01/en_GB/categories%3C{9372014}/categories%3C{9372035}/categories%3C{9372173}/specificationsProductType=swirl&tmcampid=4&tmad=c&ecamp=cse_go&CAWELAID=916285828

 

[Uncle C]

fair point....like i said i'm not a plumber...maybe more of a plum!

:d .

 

[SurreySeagulls]

It is is from around the base then i would hazzard a guess that the connection into the tap itself is leaking.

Turn off the water first of all and then run the tap dry. check the connection is tight although be the sounds of it it could be worn. A temporary fix would be to use some plumbers tape around it and this would stem or stop the leaking. Advise would still to contact a fully qualified plumber. All advice is given without legal comeback

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Have you tried turning it off and on again?

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

snug up the top nut around the spindle.

Mmmmmmm.

 

[Twinkle Toes]

Have you tried turning it off and on again?

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Eat my GOAL!