Tap Repair
Gold Coast, South Brisbane & Tweed Shire

A dripping tap is the most common plumbing complaint in Australian homes, and on the Gold Coast it is also one of the most frequently ignored. A tap that drips once per second seems minor — but it wastes over 20 litres per day, costing you money on every quarterly water bill and, if it's a hot tap, wasting the energy used to heat that water. More importantly, the drip is a symptom of an internal component that has reached the end of its service life. Left unrepaired, the failure worsens: the drip becomes a trickle, the valve seat erodes from the constant water flow across the damaged seal, and what started as a $80 washer replacement becomes a $250+ seat repair or a full tap replacement.

Traditional Taps — Washer Failure and Valve Seat Erosion

Traditional rising-spindle taps (the type where you turn the handle multiple turns to open and close) use a rubber washer pressed against a brass valve seat to stop water flow. When the tap is turned off, the washer is compressed against the seat by the force of the spindle, creating a watertight seal. Over time — typically 3–8 years depending on usage frequency and water pressure — the rubber washer hardens, cracks, or deforms. It can no longer conform perfectly to the seat surface, and water seeps past the imperfect seal, producing the characteristic drip from the spout.

The repair is straightforward: the tap is disassembled, the old washer is removed from the jumper valve, a new washer of the correct size and type is fitted, and the tap is reassembled and tested. The entire repair takes 15–20 minutes per tap. However, if the tap has been left dripping for an extended period, the constant flow of water across the brass seat erodes a groove into the seat surface. A new washer pressed against a grooved seat cannot seal perfectly — the groove provides a channel for water to bypass the washer. In this case, the seat must be re-ground smooth using a re-seating tool, or the seat insert must be replaced, before the new washer will seal correctly.

Modern Mixer Taps — Cartridge Failure

Modern quarter-turn taps and mixer taps use a ceramic disc cartridge instead of a rubber washer. Two precision-ground ceramic discs sit face-to-face inside the cartridge housing. Turning the handle rotates one disc against the other, aligning or misaligning the water ports to control flow and temperature. Ceramic discs are much more durable than rubber washers — a quality cartridge can last 10–20 years. But they do eventually wear. The ceramic surfaces develop micro-scratches from mineral particles in the water, the O-rings around the cartridge body lose elasticity, and the cartridge can no longer maintain a perfect seal.

The symptoms of cartridge failure mirror washer failure: dripping from the spout when the tap is off, difficulty controlling temperature, a stiff or notchy handle feel, and reduced flow rate. The repair involves removing the handle and trim, extracting the old cartridge, and inserting a new one. Cartridges are brand-and-model-specific — each mixer model uses a specific cartridge that must be sourced from the manufacturer or a compatible supplier.

When to Repair vs When to Replace

Repair is the right choice when the tap body is in good condition and the failure is limited to the replaceable internal component. This covers washer failures, cartridge failures, O-ring failures, and valve seat erosion — all of which can be fixed without replacing the entire tap, at a fraction of the cost of a new tap plus installation.

Replace is the right choice when the tap body itself is damaged (cracked, corroded, pitted), the internal threads are stripped, the tap is so old that replacement parts are unavailable, or you want to upgrade the style, finish, or functionality. We always assess the tap condition and part availability before recommending repair or replacement, and we'll tell you honestly which option provides the best value for your situation.

For related services, see our tap installation, plumbing leak repair, outdoor plumbing repair, and our full service range.