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Taps get used countless times daily—turning on for morning showers, washing hands, filling kettles, doing dishes. With this constant use, problems are inevitable, especially in older London homes where hard water, ageing pipework, and outdated tap designs create perfect conditions for failures. A dripping tap wastes litres daily and drives up water bills. Stiff taps become unusable. Leaks damage cabinets and floors. Understanding common tap problems helps you diagnose issues quickly, attempt simple fixes yourself, and know when to call professional help. Most tap problems start small—a slight drip, reduced pressure, an occasional squeak—but ignoring them leads to expensive repairs and water damage. This guide covers the most common tap problems, explains why they happen, and shows what you can check before calling a plumber. If you need expert help, Qeeper’s plumbing services handle all tap repairs and replacements across London.
London homeowners face recurring tap issues that follow predictable patterns. Dripping taps waste water and create annoying background noise. Stiff taps become increasingly difficult to operate until they’re unusable. Leaks around bases or handles damage sinks and cabinets. Low pressure makes simple tasks frustratingly slow. Strange noises—whistling, banging, vibrating—indicate plumbing problems beyond the tap itself. Temperature inconsistencies leave you scalded or shivering during showers. Understanding these issues helps you respond appropriately rather than ignoring problems until they escalate.
A constantly dripping tap is the most common problem homeowners face. That rhythmic drip-drip-drip wastes surprising amounts of water—one drip per second wastes over 3,000 litres yearly, costing £30-40 on metered supplies whilst annoying you constantly.
Likely causes
Worn cartridges in mixer taps fail to seal properly when closed. Modern mixer taps use ceramic disc cartridges or quarter-turn mechanisms—these wear out after 5-7 years of daily use, particularly in hard-water areas where limescale accelerates deterioration.
Worn washers or O-rings in traditional compression taps are the classic cause of dripping. These rubber components compress to seal water flow when you close the tap. Over time, they flatten, crack, or perish, allowing water to seep through even when the tap’s fully closed.
Limescale buildup prevents tight seals by creating rough surfaces where smooth contact is needed. Mineral deposits accumulate on sealing surfaces, preventing washers or ceramic discs from closing completely. This is particularly common in London where water hardness reaches 200-300mg/l.
Homeowner checks
Identify your tap type before attempting fixes. Mixer taps usually have a single spout controlled by one or two handles. Monobloc mixers combine hot and cold in one body. Traditional compression taps have separate hot and cold taps with handles that turn multiple times to close.
Turn off water and inspect visible components if you’re comfortable doing so. Lift off tap handles—they usually pull off or unscrew—and check the condition of visible seals and mechanisms. Look for obvious wear, cracks, or limescale buildup.
Check if the leak worsens when the tap’s halfway open. If dripping increases with partial closure but stops when fully open or fully closed, the problem’s with the sealing mechanism rather than supply pressure or pipe issues.
Weak flow makes showers unsatisfying, kettles take ages to fill, and washing hands feels like you’re waiting forever. Low pressure at individual taps usually has simple causes, whilst pressure problems affecting all taps indicate supply or pipework issues.
Likely causes
Blocked aerators from limescale are extremely common in London. The aerator screws onto the tap spout and contains a fine mesh that mixes air with water for smooth flow. Limescale clogs this mesh, dramatically reducing flow whilst pressure remains normal—the water’s there but can’t get through the blockage.
Partially closed isolation valves restrict flow even when you think they’re fully open. These valves sit under sinks or behind fixtures, allowing shut-off for repairs without stopping water to your whole home. Valves that haven’t been touched for years seize partly closed, or someone adjusted them during previous work and didn’t fully reopen them.
Debris caught in tap cartridges reduces flow from specific taps. Sediment from pipework, small bits of solder from previous repairs, or limescale particles get lodged in cartridge mechanisms, restricting water flow through internal channels.
Pipe restrictions from hard-water scale narrow the bore of supply pipes over time. Original 15mm pipes might effectively be 10mm after years of limescale accumulation on internal walls, reducing flow to all fixtures fed by that section.
Homeowner checks
Remove and clean the aerator first—this fixes low pressure in most cases. Unscrew the aerator from the spout (usually by hand, sometimes needing pliers), rinse out limescale and debris under running water, then screw it back on. You’ll immediately notice improved flow if this was the cause.
Inspect nearby isolation valves under the sink. Turn them fully anti-clockwise until they won’t turn further. Sometimes they feel fully open but have another quarter-turn available that makes significant difference to flow.
Compare cold vs hot pressure to locate the issue. If cold pressure’s fine but hot’s weak, the problem’s with your hot-water system rather than the tap itself. If both are weak at one tap but strong at others, that specific tap has internal problems.
Noisy taps are annoying and indicate problems that can damage your plumbing over time. Whistling, humming, banging, or vibrating sounds all have different causes requiring different solutions.
Likely causes
High water pressure accelerates water through internal mechanisms, creating vibrations that produce whistling or humming sounds. Ground-floor properties and homes near pumping stations sometimes receive 4-6 bar pressure—far too high for household fixtures designed for 1-3 bar.
Loose tap washers vibrate against their seats as water flows past, creating buzzing or humming sounds. Worn washers don’t sit snugly in their positions, so water pressure makes them flutter and vibrate.
Loose pipework bangs against walls, joists, or other pipes when water flows rapidly. Pipes that were once secure work loose through years of thermal expansion and contraction, or fixing brackets corrode and fail.
Air trapped in pipes creates knocking or banging sounds as water flow pushes air pockets through the system. This often happens after repairs when systems are refilled or when gravity-fed systems develop airlocks.
Homeowner checks
Secure the tap body and connectors by tightening the mounting nut under the sink. Sometimes taps work loose through normal use, allowing them to vibrate when water flows.
Listen for water hammer in your pipe network—loud banging throughout your home when taps close quickly. This indicates high pressure or loose pipes rather than tap problems specifically.
Test pressure on other taps throughout your home. If all produce similar noises, you have a system-wide pressure or pipework issue. If only one tap’s noisy, the problem’s with that specific fixture.
Taps that once operated smoothly become increasingly difficult to turn. This progresses from slightly stiff to completely seized, leaving fixtures unusable and forcing you to struggle during every use.
Likely causes
Worn internal components lose their smooth operation as friction surfaces deteriorate. Ceramic discs develop rough spots, metal threads wear thin, and plastic components become brittle with age.
Limescale around the spindle builds up where moving parts meet stationary ones. The spindle that turns when you operate the handle passes through seals—limescale deposits in this area create friction that makes turning difficult or impossible.
Ageing tap mechanisms simply wear out. Budget taps use cheaper materials that deteriorate within 3-5 years, whilst quality taps last 10-15 years before mechanisms need replacement.
Lack of lubrication inside valves allows metal-on-metal contact in mechanisms designed for smooth operation. Original lubrication dries out over years, increasing friction throughout the mechanism.
Homeowner checks
Identify your tap type before attempting any disassembly. Quarter-turn taps should operate smoothly through 90 degrees of rotation. Traditional taps turn multiple times and should move freely throughout.
Turn off water and inspect the handle mechanism if you’re comfortable doing so. Remove the handle (usually by unscrewing a small screw under a decorative cap), and check for limescale or corrosion on visible parts.
Check for corrosion around moving parts—white or green deposits indicate mineral buildup or metal corrosion. Heavy corrosion usually means replacement makes more sense than attempted repairs.
Leaks that appear around tap bases or seep from under handles cause damage to sinks, countertops, and cabinets below. These leaks often start small but worsen quickly as pressure works loose connections.
Likely causes
Worn O-rings or seals allow water to escape where moving parts meet stationary components. Every tap has multiple seals preventing leaks—these rubber components deteriorate over time, particularly when exposed to hard water and temperature fluctuations.
Loose mounting nuts beneath sinks allow taps to shift slightly during use. This movement breaks seals and opens gaps where water escapes. Taps that weren’t tightened properly during installation work loose faster.
Limescale buildup causes pressure behind seals by narrowing internal passages. Water forced through restricted spaces creates higher localized pressure that pushes past seals designed for normal pressure conditions.
Homeowner checks
Inspect the mounting area under the basin by opening the cupboard and looking up at tap connections. Feel for dampness and check if you can see water seeping from the base.
Tighten the securing nut gently using a basin wrench or adjustable spanner. Turn clockwise gradually—overtightening cracks porcelain sinks or damages tap threads. Stop when resistance increases noticeably.
Look for wet patches behind or under the tap on the sink surface. Water pooling here confirms leaks from the base rather than from spouts or handles.
Mixer taps that can’t deliver comfortable temperatures make showers unpleasant and washing up frustrating. Temperature problems range from complete failures—only scalding or freezing water—to constant fluctuations requiring continuous adjustment.
Likely causes
Mixer cartridge faults prevent proper blending of hot and cold water. Internal channels that control mixing ratios become blocked, worn, or stuck, delivering incorrect temperatures despite handle position.
Incorrectly balanced supply pressures cause temperature shifts when other fixtures operate. If hot pressure is weaker than cold, mixer taps struggle to maintain set temperatures—flushing toilets or running washing machines suddenly shifts balance toward cold.
Issues with boilers or cylinders feeding taps affect hot-water temperature and consistency. Boiler thermostats set incorrectly, failing heating elements in cylinders, or airlocks in hot-water pipes all cause temperature problems at every tap.
Homeowner checks
Test hot vs cold separately by turning mixer handles fully to each side. If hot water’s consistently too cool or cold water’s warm, the problem’s with supply temperature rather than the mixer mechanism.
Observe your boiler pressure gauge and check thermostats are set correctly—usually 60-65°C for hot water. Lower temperatures risk bacterial growth whilst higher temperatures waste energy and cause scalding.
Identify if temperature fluctuates only at specific taps or affects all of them. Problems at one tap suggest that fixture’s mixer cartridge has failed. Problems at all taps indicate supply issues with your hot-water system needing professional assessment from Qeeper’s heating and gas services.
Some tap problems need professional diagnosis and repair rather than DIY attempts that risk making things worse.
Recurring drips after DIY checks suggest internal failures beyond simple washer replacement. Cartridges might need replacing with exact manufacturer matches, or tap bodies might have corroded beyond economical repair.
Major leaks or water damage signs need immediate professional attention. Water pooling under sinks, damp patches on walls, or ceilings staining below bathrooms all indicate serious leaks requiring urgent repair.
Inconsistent temperature across all taps points to hot-water system problems rather than individual tap faults. These need heating engineers or plumbers with hot-water system expertise.
Very low pressure on all fixtures suggests supply pipe restrictions, partially closed stopcocks, or mains supply problems. Diagnosis needs pressure testing equipment and system knowledge.
Noise in pipework that persists despite securing visible pipes indicates water hammer, trapped air, or high pressure throughout your system. These problems need professional assessment and potentially pressure regulators or air release valves. Qeeper’s plumbing services diagnose and fix all tap and pressure problems across London.
Regular maintenance and gentle use extend tap life and prevent most common problems.
Clean aerators regularly
Remove and rinse aerators every three months in London’s hard-water areas. This simple task takes two minutes and prevents 90% of low-pressure complaints. More frequent cleaning benefits homes with particularly hard water or high usage.
Treat limescale early
Use safe descaling products to extend tap life. Spray visible limescale deposits with white vinegar or limescale remover, leave for 15 minutes, then wipe clean. Internal descaling requires dismantling taps—consider professional servicing for this.
Operate taps gently
Don’t force them closed or wrench them open. Excessive force damages internal mechanisms and breaks seals. Quarter-turn taps especially suffer from over-rotation—stop when you feel resistance.
Annual plumbing inspection
Professional inspections catch early problems in older pipework and identify taps approaching failure before they leak and cause damage. Annual checks cost £100-150 but prevent expensive emergency repairs.
Tap issues are common in London homes but often easy to diagnose with simple checks. Understanding whether problems stem from the tap itself, your plumbing system, or water supply helps you respond appropriately. Monitor early signs like slight drips, reduced pressure, or stiffness, and act quickly before small problems escalate into expensive repairs and water damage. Many tap problems have straightforward fixes—cleaning aerators, adjusting valves, tightening connections—whilst others need professional expertise. Contact Qeeper for help with troubleshooting, repairs, or complete tap replacements across London.