Fix it yourself: Leaky taps

If your leaky taps are driving you up the wall, read on to learn how to replace water seals in a few easy steps. It will require only an hour or two of your time and cost you around R50 (if you already own the necessary tools). A Witpoortjie resident showed the Record how easy it is to fix such an annoyance.

You’ll need new water seals, available in small, medium or large sizes (depending on your taps) that will cost you between R2 and R10 per seal. The tools of the trade include a vise grip, monkey wrench, a Phillips screwdriver, a shifting spanner and a pair of water pump pliers.

1) Ensure that your stop taps prevent water flowing to your taps before you start. Close the stop tap, which usually is on the outside of the house. Open the cold water tap you intend to work on and let excess water run out before starting your repairs.

2) Loosen the tap handle – in most taps there is screw between the ‘hot’ or ‘cold’ sign and the tap itself.

3) Unscrew the tap using your screwdriver and then loosen the tap cover in which the seal is located.

4) Slide out the seal out and replace the old one with a new one.

5) Follow these steps in reverse to secure your taps again.