That dripping tap is costing you money. Here’s how to fix it yourself — in 30 minutes, for under £5.
A single leaking tap wastes over 5,000 litres of water a year and adds £30–£60 to your annual water bill. Calling a plumber costs £60–£120 just to turn up — for a job you can do yourself before lunch.
Fixing Leaking Taps is the plain-English, step-by-step guide that takes any UK homeowner — no plumbing experience required — from dripping tap to silent bathroom in a single session.
Inside this guide you’ll learn how to:
Diagnose your tap type in 60 seconds — pillar, mixer, monobloc or thermostatic bar
Replace a worn washer on a traditional pillar tap — the most common UK repair
Swap a ceramic disc cartridge on quarter-turn taps — with brand-matching guidance for Bristan, Grohe, Hansgrohe and Ideal Standard
Fix O-ring leaks at the spout base and around the handle
Repair flexi hose connections and clear blocked aerators to restore full flow
Descale and replace thermostatic cartridges — with UK hard water advice for southern and eastern England
Re-seat a damaged tap seat using a hand tool — no power tools needed
Know exactly when a job needs a WaterSafe-registered plumber — and what to tell them
Written specifically for UK homes:
Every repair uses UK tools, UK brands and UK retailers — Screwfix, Toolstation, B&Q and Wickes. All prices in pounds. UK water regulations, Gas Safe and WaterSafe references throughout. No US products, no US spellings, no irrelevant advice.
Includes a free UK Tap Repair Quick Reference Card — a one-page downloadable guide covering washer sizes, cartridge types and isolation valve locations for the most common UK taps.
Part of The UK First-Time Buyers’ Home Series
Designed for first-time buyers and homeowners who want to understand their property, handle straightforward repairs with confidence and stop paying call-out fees for 30-minute jobs. Companion titles cover roof leak repairs, boiler maintenance, unblocking sinks, toilet repairs and more.
If you own a home in the UK and have ever lain awake listening to a dripping tap, this is the book you needed last night.
