Kitchen, basin and bath taps
Tap repairs and replacement
A tap that drips, leaks or no longer operates properly is easier to assess when we know the fitting and the fault.
Upkeepone handles tap repair enquiries across London, Essex and Kent. Tell us whether water comes from the outlet, around the controls or beneath the sink, and share the make or model if you know it. We will discuss the suitable assessment and repair or replacement scope.
Water escaping into a cupboard, floor or another room needs prompt attention. Call to check availability; sending a form does not reserve an urgent visit.
Tell us which tap needs attention
Discuss a tap repair
Include the postcode, tap location and symptoms. Mention any active leak, parts already changed and whether the connections are accessible.
We need to confirm the work and attendance. Do not dismantle the tap or move appliances to obtain details for an enquiry.
A useful starting point for the plumber
What is happening at the tap?
You do not need to name the failed component to request a repair. Describe what you notice during ordinary use and where water is appearing. A wet area beneath a basin can involve the tap connections, a waste or another nearby fitting.
The outlet keeps dripping
Say whether the tap stops fully after use or continues to drip while unused. The closing mechanism needs checking if the flow persists. A tap’s design determines whether servicing or a replacement washer, valve or cartridge is appropriate.
Water appears around the fitting
Tell us if the water is near a handle, spout joint, base or supply connection. That helps distinguish an external leak from an outlet drip. Note any wet cupboard or surface damage without reaching into a wet or unsafe space.
The control or flow has changed
Report a stiff or loose handle, a tap that moves on the sink, or reduced flow. Mention whether other outlets are affected too. The tap and supply need assessment before a particular part is recommended.
If water is escaping outside the sink or basin
Stop using the tap. If safely accessible and you know which valve isolates the relevant supply, close it without force. Do not dismantle a leaking connection. If isolation is uncertain or fails, arrange urgent plumbing help. Thames Water’s inside stop-valve guidance explains its use and shared-supply considerations. Keep away from any wet electrical equipment.
If the water is coming from elsewhere in the bathroom, our bathroom repair service covers the wider fault assessment. A slow or blocked waste may need the separate drainage service.
Match the part to the actual fitting
Tap washers, valves and cartridges
“A new washer” is a common repair request, but not every tap has the same mechanism. Separate controls, quarter-turn valves and single-lever mixers can use different components. Similar-looking parts are not proof of a suitable match.
Give the plumber any product reference you already have. If the tap is unidentified, photos and paperwork may help before a part is removed for inspection. Crosswater’s spare-parts guidance describes the value of product identification and installation records. The supplier’s information should be checked for the actual model and version.
Limescale or debris can affect some valves, but servicing must follow the correct instructions. Bristan’s product FAQs explain both dripping faults and residual water draining from a spout. Those are manufacturer examples, rather than a diagnosis of your tap. Do not force a control or apply an internal cleaning method intended for another product.
For boiling-water systems, filter taps, electronic controls or other specialist fittings, explain the functions and product details first. Their tanks, controls and service requirements should be reviewed separately from an ordinary tap repair.
Choose the work after the fault is understood
Repair the existing tap or fit a replacement?
Repair may retain a useful fitting when the fault can be resolved with suitable parts. Where the body is damaged, components cannot be sourced or further repairs are uncertain, discuss replacement and compare the complete installed scope.
Keeping the tap
Ask which fault has been found, which part is proposed and whether the rest of the fitting can remain in service. If a previous repair has not resolved the problem, share that history so it can be reviewed before more parts are ordered.
Choosing a new tap
The new product needs to suit the water supply, mounting holes and available space. Check spout reach, handle clearance and the connections beneath or behind the fitting. An attractive tap may still be unsuitable for the installation.
If you already have a replacement, send the model and specification. Confirm who supplies any additional connectors, isolation fittings or other materials. A shower valve change or new shower arrangement belongs with our shower installation service.
The connections matter as much as the controls
Access beneath sinks, basins and baths
Let us know if a cupboard, pedestal, bath panel or tiled enclosure restricts access. Wall-mounted taps may have components behind the finish. Explain whether there is a service opening; leave panels and covers in place until the access approach is agreed.
- Water isolation: mention known missing, stiff or leaking valves. Do not force a valve as a test.
- Working space: describe safely visible pipework and any appliance or storage blocking the area.
- Finishes: agree responsibility for opening panels, removing tiles and making good where required.
- Permissions: in rented or managed premises, confirm who authorises the repair and how access is arranged.
Several taps can be included in one enquiry. Identify each location and fault so the work can be considered together, without assuming every part is available or every repair can be completed during one attendance.
Know what the quotation covers
Tap repair costs and booking details
The price depends on the assessment, compatible parts, access and labour. A small drip does not show how much work is needed. A seized fitting or concealed connection may take more work than an accessible service part.
Assessment and repair
Confirm any attendance or diagnostic charge, the labour arrangement, parts, VAT and travel. Ask how a return visit is priced if a part needs ordering. Any further work should be discussed and authorised before it proceeds.
Replacement and associated work
Check whether the new tap, removal, connection changes, disposal and making good are included. Ask for any product guarantee and workmanship terms that apply to the proposed job; cover should not be assumed from a general service description.
If the tap or a previous repair may still have cover, keep the paperwork and contact the relevant supplier or installer first. No fixed repair price or completion time is promised on this page.
A working control and a sound repair
What to check at handover
Ask the plumber to explain the work and check the reported fault with you. Normal control operation, shut-off and any accessible connections should be checked as appropriate. A loose handle or continuing external leak should be raised before the work is treated as complete.
Keep the replacement-part reference, invoice and applicable care instructions. Follow the manufacturer’s guidance for cleaning the finish and maintaining the fitted product. If another fault remains, clarify the next action and whether the tap can safely be used.
Qualified plumbers and engineers are used for the agreed work. For other pipework or fittings, see Upkeepone’s plumbing services.
Check the visit with your postcode
Tap repairs in London, Essex and Kent
Our priority areas for regular enquiries are London, Essex and Kent. Hertfordshire, Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Sussex are also covered. Other UK areas are considered by request.
Attendance depends on the postcode, installation, access, travel and appropriately qualified engineer availability. Describe these details when enquiring and wait for the attendance arrangements to be confirmed.
Before arranging the work
Tap repair questions
Can you help with kitchen, basin and bath taps?
Contact us about conventional taps in these locations and describe the fault. A pair of separate taps, a single-lever mixer and a wall-mounted fitting can need different parts and access. For a boiling-water, filtered or electronic tap, tell us the exact product before booking so the appropriate service route can be checked.
Is a short drip after using the tap always a fault?
Some taps release water left in the spout after the handle is closed. That differs from an outlet which continues dripping while the tap is unused. Note whether it stops completely and whether the pattern has changed. The model instructions and actual behaviour need checking; do not dismiss a continuing leak as normal drainage.
What information helps if I do not know the tap model?
An overall photograph, the number and shape of the controls, any visible brand mark and old purchase or installation paperwork are useful starting points. Say whether it is on a sink, basin, bath or wall. Photograph only what is safely visible, and leave dismantling or removal of parts to the assessment.
Can a loose tap be secured without replacing it?
It may be possible if the mounting, supporting surface and fitting are suitable for reuse. The plumber should also check whether there is a separate leak or damage to the connections. Mention movement when enquiring, but do not rock the tap or tighten hidden fixings to test it. Repair or replacement depends on the findings.
Can I buy a replacement tap for you to fit?
You can enquire about fitting a tap you supply. Share its make, model and specification before buying where possible. The installer needs to check the water-system requirements, mounting, connection arrangement and clearance. Confirm the installation scope and any additional fittings or access work before arranging the visit.
Will the repair be finished on the first visit?
That cannot be confirmed from the description alone. Identifying the fitting, obtaining compatible parts and reaching the connections can affect completion. Ask how the assessment and any return visit will be charged, and how the water supply or fitting will be left if further work is required.
What if my tap has already had a repair?
Tell us what was changed, when the work took place and whether the original symptom remained or a different leak appeared. Keep any part reference, packaging or invoice. If the work or product may still be covered by an existing guarantee, contact the relevant installer or manufacturer before commissioning further repairs and check what their terms cover.
Arrange an assessment for your tap
Tell us which fitting is affected, where water appears and your postcode. Include the model if known and any access concerns so we can discuss the next step.
