A dripping tap rarely gets better on its own, and in Gosport the hard water usually makes it worse over time. Most drips come from one small worn part, and some you can sort out yourself in half an hour. Others are a sign of a bigger problem, and that's when it makes sense to bring in a plumber.
Most drips come down to the seal inside the tap no longer closing properly. Which part has failed depends on the type of tap you have, so it helps to work that out first.
Also check where the water is coming from. A drip from the spout means an internal seal has failed. Water pooling around the base or the handle usually means a worn O-ring. If you find water inside the cabinet under the sink, the problem is the connections or flexible hoses, not the tap itself, and it needs dealing with sooner.
Gosport's water comes from Portsmouth Water, which draws most of its supply from the chalk of the South Downs. That makes it hard water, and limescale is the main enemy of tap internals. Scale builds up on ceramic discs and valve seats, rubber washers stiffen sooner, and small hard particles cause the scoring that leads to a constant drip.
A lot of homes around Elson, Bridgemary, Rowner and Alverstoke still have taps that were fitted decades ago. Older pillar taps can usually be rewashered cheaply. Mid-range mixers from the 2000s are trickier, because the cartridges are often brand-specific and can be hard to find once a range is discontinued.
It is worth fixing promptly. A tap dripping once a second can waste several thousand litres a year. If you are on a water meter, you pay for that water and also for the sewerage charge that is worked out from how much you use.
If you are reasonably handy, a basic washer or cartridge swap is a manageable job. Before you take anything apart, isolate the water. Look for a small screw valve on the pipe under the sink that you can turn with a flat screwdriver. If there isn't one, you will need the main stopcock, which in most Gosport houses is under the kitchen sink.
Put the plug in so no small parts disappear down the drain, and photograph each step as you go. Take the old washer or cartridge with you to a local merchant so you can match it exactly. Washers cost pennies. Cartridges typically cost somewhere between £10 and £40, depending on the brand.
Some jobs are better left to a professional, either because there is a real risk of making things worse or because a new tap is better value than repairing the old one.
On cost, it depends on the job. Many local plumbers charge a minimum for a small job, often in the region of £60 to £100 for a straightforward repair. Supplying and fitting a new tap will cost more, and the price depends a lot on the tap you choose and how easy it is to get to the pipework.
If a tap is less than ten years old and the parts are still available, a repair is usually the sensible choice. If the chrome is pitted, the handle is loose, or it is the second or third time the same tap has failed, replacing it often works out cheaper over a few years.
If you are already thinking about a new kitchen or bathroom, it can make sense to put up with a minor drip for a short while and have the taps replaced as part of the refit. Just don't leave a leak inside a cabinet, because water damage to the carcass and flooring costs far more than a tap.
A drip from the spout is not an emergency, but it is worth fixing within a few weeks. A leak under the sink or into a cabinet is more urgent, because it can damage flooring and units quickly.
No, that usually makes things worse. Overtightening squashes the washer and can crack ceramic discs, so the drip comes back faster and the repair costs more.
A softener reduces limescale build-up, which helps taps, valves and appliances last longer in a hard water area like Gosport. It won't fix a tap that is already worn, though, so a dripping tap still needs repairing first.
Call, email or WhatsApp a few photos of the job. We will come back to you with an honest opinion and a clear price.
Lee-on-the-Solent, Gosport, Stubbington, Hill Head, Fareham, Portchester, Warsash and along the Solent coast.