How much does it cost to fix a leaking tap in Melbourne?
Updated: 4 days ago
A dripping tap is one of those things that's easy to ignore, until you see your water bill. Here's what affects the cost of fixing a leaking tap in Melbourne, how much water a drip really wastes, when you can fix it yourself, and when it's time for a new tap.
Leaking tap repair costs in Melbourne
Every tap is different, so the cost of a repair comes down to what's actually wrong with it. The most common fixes are:
Washer replacement. For older-style taps with separate hot and cold handles. This is usually the simplest repair.
Ceramic disc cartridge replacement. For most modern mixer taps and quarter-turn taps. The part costs more than a washer.
O-ring or seal replacement. For taps that leak around the spindle or from the base of the spout rather than dripping from the outlet.
Re-facing the tap seat. Needed when the seat the washer presses against is worn or pitted.
Full tap replacement. When the tap body is worn or damaged, or a repair isn't worth it.
Flow Now Plumbing charges a call-out fee. Ask for the current fee when you call.
Tap washer replacement cost
A worn washer is the most common cause of a dripping tap, especially in older-style taps with separate hot and cold handles. Replacing a washer is usually a quick, simple job. The cost depends on a few things:
Type of tap. Older taps with jumper valves and rubber washers are the simplest. Mixer taps don't use washers. They use a ceramic cartridge, which costs more to replace.
Condition of the tap seat. The seat is the surface the washer presses against. If it's pitted or worn, a new washer won't stop the drip. The seat may need re-facing, or the tap may need replacing.
Access. Taps that are hard to reach, seized or badly corroded take longer to strip down.
How many taps need doing. Flow Now Plumbing charges a call-out fee, so it makes sense to get every dripping tap (and any other small jobs) done in the same visit.
Parts. Standard washers and jumper valves are cheap. Some imported or designer taps need brand-specific parts.
If a washer has been replaced and the tap still drips, the problem is usually the seat or the tap body. At that point your licensed plumber will tell you whether a repair is worth doing or whether a new tap makes more sense.
Bathroom and kitchen tap replacement
Sometimes a new tap is better value than another repair, for example when the tap body is worn or cracked, the seat is too far gone, or the same tap keeps leaking. What you'll pay to replace a bathroom or kitchen tap mostly comes down to:
The tap you choose. Basic chrome basin taps, mid-range mixers and premium designer tapware sit at very different price points. You can supply your own tap, or your licensed plumber can supply one.
Like-for-like or a change. Swapping a mixer for the same style of mixer is the simplest job. Going from two separate taps to a single mixer, or moving a tap from the benchtop to the wall, usually means more work and sometimes changes to the pipework behind the wall or under the bench.
Wall-mounted or bench-mounted. Wall-mounted bathroom taps and shower mixers can involve opening up tiles, which adds time and cost.
Kitchen extras. Pull-out spray mixers, filtered water taps and taps that connect to a dishwasher or appliance can add parts and labour.
Isolation valves and flexible hoses. Old, seized isolation valves or perished braided hoses are often replaced at the same time. That's cheap insurance against a burst hose later.
WaterMark certification. Tapware connected to drinking water in Australia needs to be WaterMark certified. Some cheap online taps aren't, and a licensed plumber can't install a tap that doesn't comply.
If the hot tap is the one leaking, and especially if you've also noticed water around your hot water system, it's worth getting the system checked too. Flow Now Plumbing repairs, replaces and installs all types and brands of hot water systems.
How much water does a leaking tap waste?
How much a leaking tap wastes depends on how fast it's dripping:
A slow drip: Yarra Valley Water says a dripping tap can waste up to 4 litres of water a day.
A steady drip or a tap left running: South East Water, the water corporation for Dandenong and the south-east suburbs, says dripping taps or a tap accidentally left on can waste up to 20,000 litres a year, or 55 litres a day. It puts the cost at roughly $25 extra each bill.
One drip doesn't look like much, but it runs 24 hours a day, every day, until it's fixed. A slow drip also tends to get faster as the washer or cartridge wears. Fixing it early is almost always cheaper than letting it go.
To check whether you've got a leak you can't see, South East Water suggests a simple meter test. Turn off all taps and water-using appliances, note the numbers on your water meter, wait 20 minutes without using any water, then check again. If the numbers have moved, you may have a leak somewhere in the property.
Can you fix a leaking tap yourself?
For older-style tap washers (the round rubber disc inside a traditional tap body), DIY replacement is possible if you're comfortable with basic tools. You'll need to turn off the water supply to the tap, take off the tap handle, replace the washer, and put it back together. Washers are cheap and easy to find at any hardware store.
However, there are good reasons to call your licensed plumber:
Modern mixer taps and ceramic disc cartridges are more complex, and taking them apart the wrong way can damage the tap body.
If the tap seat (the surface the washer presses against) is damaged, a new washer won't stop the drip. The seat needs re-facing or the tap needs replacing.
If you're not confident working with plumbing, a botched DIY repair can make the problem worse and cost more to fix.
In Victoria, work on hot water systems, gas and certain types of plumbing must be done by a licensed plumber by law.
When to replace rather than repair
If you have an older tap, the tap body is damaged or worn, or the same tap has needed repeated repairs, replacement is usually the more economical choice in the long run. A new quality tap will likely outlast another repair on an old fitting. When choosing one, check the manufacturer's warranty.
Combined visit tip: if you have several leaking taps or small plumbing jobs, book them in the same visit. You'll only pay one call-out fee.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to replace a tap washer? It depends on the type of tap, the condition of the tap seat, how easy the tap is to get at, and whether any parts need replacing. Older-style taps with rubber washers are the simplest. Mixer taps use ceramic cartridges, which cost more. Flow Now Plumbing charges a call-out fee, so get all your dripping taps done in the one visit.
How much does a leaking tap cost per day? South East Water says dripping taps or a tap left on can waste up to 55 litres a day (about 20,000 litres a year), which it estimates adds roughly $25 to each bill. A slow drip wastes less. Yarra Valley Water puts it at up to 4 litres a day. Either way it adds up, and drips usually get worse over time.
How much does it cost to replace a bathroom or kitchen tap? The biggest factors are the tap you choose, whether it's a like-for-like swap or a change of style, whether it's wall-mounted or bench-mounted, and whether the isolation valves or hoses need replacing too. Wall-mounted taps can involve working behind tiles, which takes longer.
Can I fix a leaking tap myself? On an older tap with a rubber washer, a confident DIYer can often replace the washer. Turn the water off first. Mixer taps and ceramic cartridges are easier to damage, and if the tap seat is worn a new washer won't fix it. If you're not sure, call your licensed plumber before the job gets bigger.
Is a leaking tap an emergency? A slow drip usually isn't. A tap that won't turn off, a spindle that has snapped, or water spraying from under a sink is. Turn off the isolation valve or the main stop tap at the meter, then call Flow Now Plumbing on 0410 924 363. Flow Now Plumbing offers a 60-minute response for emergencies, 24/7.
Do you charge a call-out fee? Yes. Flow Now Plumbing charges a call-out fee. Ask for the current fee when you call. If you've got a few dripping taps or other small jobs, book them in the same visit so you only pay the call-out fee once.
Need a leaking tap fixed?
Got a dripping tap, or a few small jobs that need doing? Call Flow Now Plumbing on 0410 924 363. We're based in Dandenong and cover Melbourne's south-east. For anything urgent, like a tap that won't turn off or water where it shouldn't be, see our 24/7 emergency plumbing page. Flow Now Plumbing offers a 60-minute response for emergencies, 24/7. Licence 125484 and $10M public liability insurance.
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