Why You Should Never Ignore a Dripping Tap | Port Stephens Plumber

A dripping tap wastes water and money and points to a worn part that gets worse. Here's what causes it and when to call a licensed Port Stephens plumber.

A dripping tap sounds harmless. It isn't.

That slow drip wastes thousands of litres a year and quietly drives up your water bill. It's also a sign a part inside the tap has worn out and won't fix itself.

Here's what's going on, what you can safely check, and when to get a licensed plumber in.

What a Dripping Tap Is Actually Costing You

A tap dripping once per second wastes roughly 20,000 litres a year. That's money down the drain on every bill.

Left alone, the drip gets worse, not better. The worn part keeps wearing, the seat gets damaged, and a cheap fix becomes a bigger one.

A constant drip can also stain basins and baths, and a leaking outdoor or laundry tap can rot timber and breed mould out of sight.

Why Your Tap Is Dripping

Most drips come down to a handful of worn parts. The cause depends on the type of tap you've got.

Standard taps (separate hot and cold)

• Worn washer (jumper valve) – the most common cause. The rubber washer hardens and stops sealing.

• Damaged valve seat – the brass seat the washer presses against gets pitted, so even a new washer won't seal.

• Worn O-rings – if water leaks from the body or spindle rather than the spout.

Mixer taps (single lever flickmixers)

• Worn ceramic cartridge – the sealed cartridge inside is the usual culprit. These aren't repaired, they're replaced.

• Perished O-rings – common on pull-out kitchen flickmixers.

High water pressure

Many Port Stephens homes run higher mains pressure than taps are built for. That hammers the internals and brings on early drips.

If you've got multiple taps dripping at once, pressure is worth checking. A licensed plumber can test it and fit a pressure limiting valve if it's over spec.

What You Can Legally Check Yourself in NSW

DIY plumbing is tightly restricted in NSW. Replacing a tap washer or jumper valve is one of the few jobs a homeowner is allowed to do unlicensed.

Anything beyond that — cartridge swaps, valve seat re-seating, mixer repairs, or any work on the pressure or supply — must be done by a licensed plumber under the Plumbing Code of Australia.

If you want to attempt a washer:

1. Isolate the water. Turn off the isolation valve under the basin, or the main water meter at the front boundary.

2. Drain the tap. Open it fully so the line empties and pressure releases.

3. Plug the drain. So small parts don't disappear down the waste.

4. Pull the tap apart. Use multigrips with a cloth to protect the chrome, then a shifting spanner on the bonnet.

5. Replace the washer. Match the size, refit, and reseal the thread with thread seal tape where needed.

   
   

If the tap won't stop running, is gushing, or the spindle has snapped, stop. Turn off your main water meter or isolation valve straight away and call a licensed plumber. Forcing a seized tap can crack the body and turn a drip into a flood.

When to Call a Licensed Plumber

Get a professional in if:

• The drip comes back after a new washer (the valve seat is likely damaged).

• It's a mixer or flickmixer that needs a cartridge.

• Water leaks from the tap body, wall, or under the cabinet.

• More than one tap is dripping (a pressure issue).

• The tap is seized, corroded, or you're not confident pulling it apart.

A licensed plumber can re-seat a damaged valve seat, replace cartridges, and check your water pressure properly — work that has to be done to standard and isn't legal to DIY.

Internal link: our tap and flexi hose repair services · signs your hot water system needs replacing · why Port Stephens homes are at risk of high water pressure

Get It Sorted Before It Gets Worse

A dripping tap is cheap to fix early and expensive to ignore. The worn part only gets worse, and so does the water bill.

Wilkins Plumbing Works is a licensed plumber and gas fitter (Lic No. 227350C) servicing Nelson Bay, Salamander Bay, Corlette, Anna Bay and right across Port Stephens. Over 20 years on the tools, with upfront pricing before we start.

Got a tap you're sick of hearing? Call 0427 533 643 or book online.