Kitchen Sink Tap Leaking At Base

A leaky kitchen sink tap is a common plumbing problem that can waste water and increase your water bills. If you're dealing with a leaky tap, it's important to fix it as soon as possible. There are a few different ways to fix a leaky kitchen sink tap, depending on the cause of the leak.

One of the most common causes of a leaky kitchen sink tap is a worn-out washer. The washer is a small rubber or plastic disc that sits between the tap valve and the tap body. Over time, the washer can become worn or damaged, which can cause water to leak from the tap. To fix a leaky tap caused by a worn-out washer, you will need to replace the washer.

Another common cause of a leaky kitchen sink tap is a faulty O-ring. The O-ring is a small rubber or plastic ring that sits between the tap handle and the tap body. Over time, the O-ring can become worn or damaged, which can cause water to leak from the tap. To fix a leaky tap caused by a faulty O-ring, you will need to replace the O-ring.

If the washer and O-ring are not the cause of the leak, then the leak may be coming from the tap valve itself. The tap valve is a small metal or plastic valve that controls the flow of water through the tap. Over time, the tap valve can become worn or damaged, which can cause water to leak from the tap. To fix a leaky tap caused by a faulty tap valve, you will need to replace the tap valve.

If you are not comfortable fixing a leaky kitchen sink tap yourself, you can call a plumber to do it for you. However, if you are handy and have some basic plumbing skills, you can usually fix a leaky tap yourself. Here are the steps on how to fix a leaky kitchen sink tap:

Turn off the water supply to the tap. You can do this by turning off the stop valve under the sink.
Remove the tap handle. To do this, you will need to use a screwdriver to remove the screws that hold the handle in place.
Remove the packing nut. The packing nut is a large nut that is located at the base of the tap handle. To remove the packing nut, you will need to use a wrench.
Remove the washer. The washer is a small rubber or plastic disc that is located between the packing nut and the tap body. To remove the washer, you can use a pair of pliers.
Replace the washer. To do this, simply insert the new washer into the space between the packing nut and the tap body.
Reassemble the tap. To do this, simply reverse the steps that you took to disassemble the tap.
Turn on the water supply to the tap and check for leaks. If there are no leaks, then you have successfully fixed the leaky tap.

If you have tried the steps above and you are still unable to fix the leaky tap, then you may need to call a plumber. A plumber will be able to diagnose the problem and fix the leak quickly and efficiently.