Help: why are my taps leaking? Common causes of leaking taps

Imagine hearing the constant sound of dripping water from your tap at all hours of the day.

It’s annoying, isn’t it? If this drives you completely crazy, then it’s time to fix the problem! It doesn’t matter what type of tap you have or what room the tap is located; a dripping tap wastes water, causes frustration, and could be leading to damage behind the scenes.

Depending on the cause, a leaking tap is generally quite simple to rectify by a licensed plumber. There are a number of reasons why you’re hearing that drip, drip, drip; here are some of the most common.

Worn out tap

The constant turning on and off of a tap can cause some wear and tear over the years. The more you use the tap, the higher the chance of wearing it out. Makes sense, right?

The idea of buying a new tap and changing it yourself may seem like a good idea at first but it is crucial that you engage a professional plumber do the job instead: there could be other (underlying) problems that are identified during this seemingly small fix.

Water pressure

We all love good water pressure in the home, and can get frustrated when water pressure is weak or inconsistent.

This is a probable cause especially when leaks occur at certain times (i.e. a dripping showerhead once you’ve finished showering).

But did you know that water pressure that is too high can cause a leak? But how? There are two common outcomes of excessive water pressure.

Outcome 1: excess water

When the water pressure in your plumbing system is high, the pressure causes the water to flow strongly. Once the water supply is cut (i.e. you turn the tap off), “extra” water is now sitting in your pipes, and needs a place to go. This is when water will try to make its way out of a tap, resulting in what you perceive to be a leak.

Outcome 2: pipe damage

Excessive water pressure can also cause damage to pipes or taps that cannot withstand the pressure. This coulis lead to a pipe leak within your home’s plumbing system that can be tricky to detect on your own.

Loose parts

A tap might look like a simple and rather ordinary part of your plumbing system but the truth is, it has several components.

And over the course of time, a part or some parts of the tap may become dislodged.

If the leak is caused by this, the part or parts in question will have to be secured. If tightening the loose parts together is not enough to solve the problem, then replacing them is the likely next step.

Leaking taps are more than just an annoyance

Not only can a leak or drip result in damaged walls and floors, but the damp environment is perfect breeding ground for nasty mould and mildew! Mould can grow quickly. How quick, you ask?

Well, mould can grow within 24-48 hours, starts to colonise within 1-12 days, and, most frightening of all, is likely already a problem before it’s discovered!

Do you live in Rosanna, Doncaster, or Warrandyte? Call a local plumber now!

Whatever the cause of your tap’s leak is – whether it’s a worn-out part or a more complicated problem – it needs to be addressed as soon as possible. You shouldn’t have to “just deal” with a leak or any other plumbing annoyance, no matter how small you think it is.

The truth is that what you perceive as a small plumbing problem could actually be contributing to a larger one. More frighteningly, you can never be certain that there is no extensive damage going on within the foundations of your home.

Need a plumber in Rosanna and other nearby suburbs for leaking taps and other plumbing needs? If so, you need to contact H2-Pro’s team of seasoned plumbers! We’re a local plumbing business focused on our community, serving customers based in Melbourne’s north east.

Stop wasting water and time waiting to get that frustrating leak fixed! Call us now.