We all take taps for granted in our homes. We don’t ever think about them until they go wrong – it’s only when they start leaking or stop letting out any water at all that we realise how much we rely on them.
While it’s possible to replace a tap yourself, it can be a tricky job that DIYers can find frustrating if they can’t get it right. The average cost for a plumber to replace a tap is £120, but it can range from £80-£200.
So what will affect the overall cost for tap replacement? Let’s go through it in our guide.
How much would a plumber charge to replace a tap?
As we said, the average price a plumber would charge to replace a tap is £120, but there are a few factors that can affect the cost. The type of tap (whether it’s a mixer tap or a pillar tap), whether there are isolation valves present, access to the plumbing and where you live will all have an impact on the cost of replacing a tap.
HaMuch has a large database of hourly and daily rates for plumbers all across the country. Take a look at our table further down the page and find your town or city to get an idea of how much it will cost to replace a tap in your area.
Types of tap
The type of tap you need to replace can affect the cost, as some are more tricky to fit than others. And of course, you’ll need to pay for the tap itself. Let’s take a look at the different types of tap and how much you should expect to spend:
| Type of tap | Common brands | Average cost |
|
Pillar taps |
Bristan, Burlington, Heritage, Silverdale |
£20-£250 |
|
Sensor taps |
Armitage Shanks, Grohe, Roca |
£60-£700 |
|
Mixer taps |
Brista, Duravit, hansgrohe, Ideal Standard |
£45-£500 |
|
Bower, Grohe, Reginox |
£40-£800 |
To get an idea of the total cost of your tap replacement, add the average cost of labour to the average cost of the type you’d like. To get an accurate quote, post your job on HaMuch.
What happens if you leave a dripping tap?
If you leave a dripping tap, the biggest thing that will happen is that you’ll waste a lot of water. According to Water UK, just one dripping tap wastes at least 5,500 litres of water per year – enough to fill a paddling pool every week for the whole summer. That could be £120 you’re throwing down the drain (literally!) every year.
Another thing that can happen if you leave a dripping tap is limescale build up. If you live in a hard water area, you’ll notice white or light grey-coloured flaky build up around your taps, in your kettle and around the sink areas in your home. Leave a tap dripping and you’ll notice that this limescale build up gets worse, meaning you’ll have to spend more time cleaning.
Why has my tap suddenly stopped working?
Washer failure
The most common reason for a tap to suddenly stop working is that the washer has failed or become loose. The washer is a small disc that sits inside the tap to relieve friction, spread load and to create a valve seal when the tap is turned off to prevent leakage.
That’s why when the washer fails, your tap can leak as well as stop working completely. Usually, you can simply replace the washer inside the tap to rectify the problem, but if it’s happening more and more regularly it’s probably time to replace the entire tap.
Blockages
If you’ve checked your washer and it seems intact, you should check your pipes for blockages. If you don’t have a magnetic filter connected to your central heating system, your pipes might be suffering from sediment, or ‘sludge’, build up which can stop the flow of water. If you notice that your radiators don’t heat up evenly, this is another sign that you’ve got a blockage.
A simple way to fix sediment build up is to get a powerflush. This involves a heating engineer flushing chemicals and water through your central heating system and pipes to break down the sludge and get water flowing freely through your pipes again.
Can I replace a tap myself?
You can replace a tap yourself, as if you follow the instructions provided with your tap it can be a pretty straightforward job. However, if your tap is in a difficult-to-access place, such as under a bath or a pedestal basin without much room to move, you might be better off asking a plumber to help.
If you’re unsure how to replace a tap, we’d always recommend asking a professional to help. If you try to replace the tap when you don’t know what you’re doing, you could damage the tap, spoiling the look of it in your kitchen or bathroom, or it might even stop working. Then you’ll be back to square one!
You also run the risk of damaging the pipes themselves. Use the wrong tools and you could cause problems to the pipes that will cost much more than a replacement tap to fix.
Can a handyman fix a dripping tap?
It’s possible for a handyman to fix a dripping tap. In fact, you may have more luck finding a handyperson to come and fix your tap more quickly. Plumbers are often busy with bigger jobs like installing baths, toilets and showers as well as fixing heating issues, so they might struggle to fit a small job like yours in.
However, it’s always worth getting in touch with plumbers to ask if they can fit you in as they are the most qualified to help you. They’ll probably have time at the beginning or the end of the day to fit you in, or be able to pop by to fix a dripping tap or replace one in between jobs.
Post your job on HaMuch now to be put in touch with reliable plumbers in your area.