Dripping tap? What's causing it and how to fix it (Singapore)
A tap that drips overnight can waste litres and quietly push up your PUB bill — and the cause is usually a cheap worn part. Here's how to tell a washer from a cartridge problem, and what you can check before calling a plumber.
Benetton Chan5 min readA dripping tap is easy to ignore — until you do the maths on the wasted water, or the drip becomes a steady trickle. The good news is the cause is almost always a small, cheap part. Here's how to narrow it down.
Where is it leaking from?
- From the spout when off: a worn washer (older taps) or a failed ceramic cartridge (modern mixer taps). The most common cause.
- From the base/handle: a worn O-ring or seal where the handle meets the body.
- From under the sink / at the connection: a loose or perished flexible hose, or a worn connector — not the tap itself. If a hose has split and water is spraying, that's a burst-pipe emergency rather than a slow drip.
Washer vs cartridge
Traditional taps with a screw-down handle use a rubber washer that hardens and wears over years — a cheap fix. Modern single-lever mixer taps use a ceramic cartridge; when it fails the tap drips or gets stiff, and the cartridge is replaced as a unit. Match the part to the tap model — getting this wrong is the most common reason a tap still drips after a DIY attempt, and where our leaking-tap repair service saves a second trip to the hardware store.
| Feature | Washer (screw-down) | Ceramic cartridge (single-lever mixer) |
|---|---|---|
| Tap style | Older taps with a twist handle | Modern single-lever mixer taps |
| Worn part | Rubber washer that hardens over years | Ceramic cartridge replaced as a unit |
| Failure signs | Drips from spout when off | Drips or handle gets stiff |
| Fix | Swap the washer — cheap | Match and swap the whole cartridge |
Safe checks before you call
- Find your angle valve (the small isolation tap under the sink) and turn it off — that stops water to just that tap.
- Check the flexible hose connections under the sink for damp or green corrosion; a loose nut is sometimes the whole problem, though a perished hose is a job for our emergency plumbing line if it lets go.
- Note the tap brand/model — it helps get the right washer or cartridge first time.
Opening up the tap to replace a cartridge is doable for the confident, but matching the part and reassembling without cross-threading or over-tightening is where DIY often goes wrong — and a stripped thread turns a $5 fix into a tap replacement.
When it's not the tap
If water's appearing under the sink rather than from the spout, it's usually the hose or connector, or the drain trap — see our drain guide if it's the waste side, or book a clogged-drain clearance when the trap keeps backing up.
The takeaway
Most drips are a worn washer or cartridge — cheap to fix, but worth doing before the trickle becomes a flood. Turn off the angle valve, note the tap model, and if you'd rather not dismantle it, our plumbing team carries the common washers and cartridges and can usually fix it in one visit.
Frequently asked questions
- Why is my tap dripping even when it's fully closed?
- A tap that drips from the spout when shut off usually has a worn rubber washer (on older screw-down taps) or a failed ceramic cartridge (on modern single-lever mixer taps). Both are cheap parts, but you need to match the replacement to your exact tap model.
- Can I fix a leaking tap myself in my HDB flat?
- You can, if you're confident. Turn off the angle valve under the sink first, then note the tap brand and model so you buy the right washer or cartridge. The risk is cross-threading or over-tightening on reassembly, which can turn a $5 fix into a full tap replacement.
- How do I stop water to just one tap without shutting off the whole flat?
- Find the angle valve, the small isolation tap on the pipe under your sink, and turn it clockwise to close it. That cuts water to just that tap, so the rest of the flat keeps running while you inspect or repair the leak.
- Water is leaking under my sink, not from the spout. Is it the tap?
- Probably not the tap itself. Water appearing under the sink usually means a loose or perished flexible hose, a worn connector, or the drain trap on the waste side. Check the hose nuts for damp or green corrosion before assuming the tap needs replacing.
- What's the difference between a washer and a cartridge tap?
- Traditional taps with a screw-down handle use a rubber washer that hardens and wears over the years. Modern single-lever mixer taps use a ceramic cartridge that's replaced as a whole unit when it drips or gets stiff. Matching the part to the tap model is what matters.