Tap Replacement & Installation

Whether your tap is leaking, is corroded, or simply just an old style you're not in favour of anymore. Leak Free Plumbing Solutions has a specialist tap plumber that can help you. No matter if your use case is Residential, Strata, Commercial, or Industrial, we are here to help with solutions unique to you.

Call 1300 637 303 or complete the form below to book an experienced plumber. All our plumbers undergo background checks and are trained to leave your house just the way you want it.

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Deciding Between Replacing and Fixing Taps

We understand the difference between a tap needing to be fixed and when it's better to replace the tap. There are inherent differences in price, availability and usability. When you call us up, we will help you with that, but before you do, here is our breakdown of whether to buy new or have us repair your tap.

Reasons to Fix Taps

First off, fixing taps is sometimes the more economical option. In this world of disposable everything, why wouldn't you try fixing? Fixing taps can be a straightforward procedure that takes virtually no time at all. It can also be cheaper, simply because the amount of material you are replacing is less than that of a full new tap. Fixing taps is also more environmentally conscious, as fewer materials need to be harvested or mined.

Reasons to Replace Taps

Different taps can definitely have differing routes to a fix; replacing is often a shortcut. Old taps may have specialist parts that have limited availability and will require lots more tlc to get back running. Not to mention the enhancements in tap technology and availability, a mixer tap is now often the cheapest option. Newer taps will be:

• Easier to turn on

• Easier to find parts

• Have more Custom Options

• Have Manufacturer support

These reasons mean that it is easier to work with a newly manufactured tap, be it a bathroom tap, a kitchen tap, or even an outdoor tap. 

How to Decide

If you decide to fix or replace your taps, we will be here to help. Weighing up the options can be difficult, so call our team at 1300 637 303 to get more advice or have one of our plumbers come out to diagnose your tap and tell you whether it will be cheaper to fix or replace.

Common Causes of Leaking Taps

Leaking taps will be a pain in the neck as they raise your water bills and can create damage to your house and your plumbing system. If left untreated, water leaks can even damage and destroy your foundations. So it's obvious that they need to be fixed quickly, and diagnosing what is wrong with the tap is the first step to stopping any damage caused to your pocket or your house. 

General Causes

There are a long list of possible causes for taps to be leaking, but alot of them wont be something the average person will be able to diagnose. Here we have a list of the most common causes for taps to start leaking and in turn, start costing you more money than you bargained for.

• Worn Out Washer - Tap washers are the most common cause for leaking taps, unfortunately this is especially true for older style compression taps. Over time rubber degrades either from not enough use or just from us in general. Rubber simply has a timespan where it work and there is nothing we can do to fix that. Thats why we replace washers so often at different jobs.

• Damaged O-Rings - O-rings are all throughout your plumbing system, so nonetheless your tap has some in it aswell. O-rings are used to seal joints, joins and more; there no doubt your tap has more than one. O-rings, just like washers, are made out of rubber, and rubber will degrade over time eventually causing a rupture that will send your money, down the drain.

• Corroded Valve Seats - While the washer is the most common to fail, the thing that is sits up against when closed, the valve seat, is also likely to cause you trouble. Minerals in your water will gunk up your tap or cause it to corrode meaning when your washer is in the closed position there is still gaps for the water to seep through.

• Failed Cartridge - Modern lever and mixer taps use cartridges instead of washers. These cartridges are made of plastic and ceramic discs that can crack from use. This will mean you will have water pouring out and will need to act quickly by turning off the water.

• Excessive Water Pressure - While we all love having lots of water pressure on tap, alot of taps cannot handle it. Taps are made and designed to operate with average water pressures so if you must have as much water pressure as possible you will need fixtures that are designed specifically for higher pressure water. If not there will be a constant strain on your taps causing them to fail prematurely.

While these failures may seem simple in writing, actually diagnosing them will require turning off the water and taking the tap apart. So we recommend saving the time and energy and getting in a plumber that can repair or replace your taps with ease.

Room-Specific Causes

Taps are not used in isolation; they are always in an environment that exposes them to different problems. Different environments mean that the same tap put in the kitchen and in the bathroom will probably fail differently and on a different timeline. Room by room, here are the differences a room makes to how taps will fail:

Kitchen

• Frequent Swivelling - Modern houses will usually have a swivelling tap in the kitchen to make the little space you have in there, more usable. This means that you will frequently be swivelling the tap to move it out of your way or to fill up a different sink. This swivelling causes wear on the O-rings at the bottom of the spout, and will eventually lead to the tap leaking from its base.

• Pull-Out Sprayers - The flexible hose (flexihose) of a pull-out sprayer is a common failure point on a kitchen tap. Over use, the hose degrades and will develop crack. While the flexihoses under your sink might last a long time, the constant moving of the one in your tap will result in it developing issues earlier.

Bathroom

• Bath/Shower Diverter - Notorious for being overlooked and often the cause of a leak in the bathroom. The Diverter works just like a tap but allows water a way through when open and closed. This means a lot of the parts are similar to a tap and hence can fail similarly to a regular tap.

• Harsh Cleaning Products - While you might only wipe the surface of your bathroom taps with bleach or a similar cleaning product, there will almost always be small amounts that make it through the crevices into the components inside. O-rings and seals are often the main problem when this happens, as they will be greased, and the cleaning product will break down the grease, making the tap stiff. This means the seals will be witnessing more friction, leading to them wearing out quicker.

While there are more environments that will alter the failure methods of taps, like in the laundry and outdoor taps, these are the two most important and regular occurrences that we see. 

What to Look for When Buying New Taps

The market for taps is huge, so there will certainly be a tap fit for you. Whether you go directly through a plumber, and they supply it, or you get it yourself from the wide range of wholesalers across the country, we will fit it for you.

Key Considerations

Whenever you buy a new tap, there are of course many things to consider. Here’s the plumbers take on what you should consider before you buy a new tap:

1. Your Water Pressure - Water pressure is the first thing to consider when selecting a new tap. If you install a high-pressure tap in your building that has low pressure, you won't get much out of it. And if you put a low-pressure tap into a system with high pressure, the tap will soon fail.

2. Sink Allowances - An inside tap always needs to have a sink. When buying a tap, you must always consider your sink pairing so as not to limit your options down the line. Whether you have multiple holes to use (typical of pillar taps) or just one (typical of monobloc taps).

3. Spout Height & Reach - we’ve all been at bathrooms and kitchens where the sink is simply too low and too close to the back of the sink. Getting a tap that is versatile and gives you room to use it will be priceless. Check your sink and tap combination so you dont end up having to squeeze your hands under your tap

Types of Taps Technology

There are 2 major tap types that you would want to use for your home. They span from technology hundreds of years old to technology using advanced materials to increase the lifespan and efficiency of the tap. 

Washer Taps

Washer taps or compression taps are the original type of taps. They are everywhere, easy to repair, and often the cheapest option. Washer taps can often be recognised by 2 separate spindles to control hot and cold. They also have distant relatives of the ball-style taps that use a ball to direct water and use a washer to avoid leaks. 

Ceramic Taps

Ceramics in taps were first seen in the early 1980s and have been innovated upon since then to make them the best solution when designed correctly. Ceramic taps will last longer while being more efficient. Being made out of ceramics instead of mostly rubber and metals makes them also more environmentally friendly. 

Contact Us

If you want more information, or a tap replaced or installed at your property, contact Leak Free Plumbing online or at 1300 637 303. Speak to our expert team and get the help you need today!