Repair guide
Leaking Tap: Fix or Replace, and What It Costs
A dripping tap wastes thousands of litres of water a year and can signal a worn washer, cartridge or ceramic disc. Here is what is involved and what to expect to pay.
Leaking tap
Most dripping taps come down to a worn washer, a failed ceramic cartridge or a perished O-ring, and each type of tap has a different repair.
Traditional taps use a rubber washer that presses against a brass seat to stop the water flow. When the washer wears out, water gets through and you get the familiar drip. Quarter-turn ceramic disc taps use two ceramic discs, and when these crack or become gritty they also drip, often with a slightly different hiss. Mixer taps and monobloc kitchen taps use a ceramic cartridge that can fail in the same way. Telling a plumber what type of tap you have saves time on the call-out.
The repair
How a Dripping Tap Is Fixed
Replacing a tap washer on a traditional pillar tap is a straightforward DIY job if you are comfortable turning off the water supply at the isolation valve under the sink and disassembling the tap head. A replacement washer costs under €2 at any hardware shop, so most of the price of a call-out is labour rather than parts.
Ceramic cartridge replacement is also manageable for a confident DIYer, provided you can source the correct cartridge for the tap model. If the tap seat is damaged, if the body is corroded, or if the isolation valve under the sink is seized and will not turn, call a plumber, as forcing a seized valve can cause a bigger leak.
- Turn off the isolation valve under the sink first
- A replacement washer costs under €2 at any hardware shop
- Match the correct ceramic cartridge to your tap model
- Call a plumber if the seat, body or valve is damaged
Why it happens
Common Causes of a Leaking Tap
Knowing which part has failed helps you describe the problem and get the right repair first time.
Worn Washer
Traditional pillar taps use a rubber washer pressed against a brass seat. Once the washer wears out, water gets through and you get the familiar steady drip from the spout.
Faulty Cartridge
Quarter-turn ceramic disc taps and mixer or monobloc kitchen taps use ceramic discs or a cartridge. When these crack or grit up they drip, often with a slightly different hiss.
Perished O-ring
Leaking from around the base of a bath tap or shower mixer is usually a worn O-ring on the tap body, not the washer. The tap has to be partially removed to reach it.
Damaged Seat
A pitted or corroded brass seat lets water past even after a new washer is fitted, so the seat needs recutting or, on an old tap, the whole tap replacing.
High Water Pressure
Pressure above the normal range hammers the washer and seals every time the tap shuts off, wearing them out faster and forcing water past a seal that would otherwise hold.
Limescale Build-Up
Ireland's hard water leaves limescale on ceramic discs and cartridges. The deposits stop the surfaces sealing cleanly, so the tap weeps even when it is fully closed.
Typical costs
What Fixing a Leaking Tap Costs in 2026
Most tap repairs are a small parts cost plus labour. A full replacement depends on the tap you choose and whether you supply it yourself.
- A replacement washer costs under €2, so most of the price is labour
- Supply the tap yourself and the labour is typically €60 to €90
- Outdoor taps need a backflow prevention valve fitted, per Irish Water rules
Indicative 2026 ranges including labour. A new tap itself costs €40 to €300 depending on brand and style.
- Washer replacement €60–90
- Ceramic cartridge swap €70–130
- New tap (supply + fit) €120–250
- Outdoor tap replacement €80–140
Indicative 2026 ranges. Always confirm with the plumber before work begins.
Replace or repair
When to Replace Rather Than Repair
If your taps are more than 15 years old, if the body is corroded or visibly pitted, or if a replacement cartridge is no longer available for the model, a full tap replacement is better value than further repairs. A plumber can fit a new tap in under an hour for a straightforward swap.
Budget for the tap itself, which runs €40 to €300 depending on brand and style, plus labour. If you supply the tap yourself the labour cost is typically €60 to €90. If the plumber supplies the tap, expect a combined price of €120 to €250 for a standard swap.
- Replace taps over 15 years old or with a corroded body
- Supply the tap yourself for €60 to €90 labour
- Combined supply and fit is €120 to €250 for a standard swap
Browse by county
Find a Plumber in Your County
Every plumber listed is contactable directly for tap repair and replacement, county by county across Ireland.
Leinster
12 countiesDublin and the east coast, where hard water speeds up limescale on washers and cartridges.
Munster
6 countiesCork, Limerick and the south west, from city terraces to rural homes on private supplies.
Connacht
5 countiesGalway, Mayo and the west, where soft water is kinder on taps but fittings still wear over time.
Common questions
Leaking Tap: Common Questions
Can I fix a leaking tap myself?
Replacing a washer on a traditional pillar tap is a straightforward DIY job if you can turn off the isolation valve under the sink and take the tap head apart, and a washer costs under €2. Ceramic cartridge replacement is manageable too if you can source the correct cartridge for the model. If the seat is damaged, the body is corroded, or the isolation valve is seized, call a plumber, as forcing a seized valve can cause a bigger leak.
How much does it cost to fix a leaking tap in 2026?
Washer replacement is typically €60 to €90 and a ceramic cartridge swap €70 to €130. A full tap replacement, supplied and fitted, runs €120 to €250. If you supply the tap yourself the labour is usually €60 to €90, with the tap itself costing €40 to €300 depending on brand and style.
Should I repair or replace a leaking tap?
If your taps are more than 15 years old, if the body is corroded or pitted, or if a replacement cartridge is no longer available, a full replacement is better value than further repairs. A plumber can fit a new tap in under an hour for a straightforward swap.
Why is my outdoor tap leaking?
Outdoor tap drips are common in Ireland after cold spells: the tap body may have cracked in a freeze, or the isolating valve inside the house may be failing. Replacement is a quick job, typically €80 to €140 for supply and fit. Ask the plumber to confirm a backflow prevention (double-check) valve is fitted, as Irish Water regulations require this on all outdoor taps.
Water is leaking from the base of my bath or shower tap. Why?
Leaking from around the base of a bath tap or shower mixer is usually a worn O-ring on the tap body, not the washer, and this repair is more involved as the tap has to be partially removed. Thermostatic shower cartridges cost €40 to €150 for the cartridge alone, but are often worth repairing rather than replacing the whole shower valve.
How long does a leaking tap repair take?
A washer or ceramic cartridge replacement is usually done in under an hour, and a straightforward tap swap fits into the same visit. Reaching an O-ring at the base of a bath tap takes longer, as the tap has to be partially removed to get to it.
Stop the Drip: Find a Plumber
Browse RGI-registered plumbers across Ireland and call them directly for tap repair or a full replacement.
Find a plumber