Main stop tap dripping slightly

mark55man

So - over the weekend we had and solved a problem with an upstairs loo that started leaking. However during the fixing and testing we had to turn the water off (inside the house) quite a few times at the tap fitting in the cupboard under the kitchen sink.

Just putting all the cleaning products away in that cupboard, and I notice that the tap is dripping so my question is how can I fix the tap that controls the mains without risking a major unstoppable disaster.

I certainly don't want to bodge it and for it to get worse (at the moment its one drip per 20 seconds when half open and one drop a second when fully open. The pressure doesn't seem to vary much between 50% and 100% turned on, so I can live with that for a little

I guess I need to turn the water off from outside the house - does that need a certified plumber, or can we try that DIY!

Ganga

If it is the pipes connected at each end of the tap just tighten the nuts up.If it is leaking from the gland nut ,that is leaking from where the shaft goes into the tap assembly just tighten the gland nut up SLIGHTLY,do not use a 24 inch adjustable spanner just nip it up a little bit and see if this stops it.

flashg67

Depends where the leak is from. If it's from the 'gland' nut just behind the tap head, this can be loosened, repacked with ptfe tape and retightened. I've been lucky and used this method in two houses. There are youtube videos to show you. eg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPc3Y4xavts
If it's from the tap body, you'll have to isolate outside as you say.

Chanes

We had exactly that issue and have a contract for plumbing repairs the plumber loosened that gland nut packed in some PTFE and tightened it up again. Done. It is stiffer to turn the tap though but it saved a more complicated job. He did say I could have done it myself as long as I remembered to turn off the water on the tap before loosening the gland nut. This was never going to fly, I am rubbish at this kind of simple job!

mark55man

Thanks for your replies. I will look at youtube.

The water seems to be coming out of the tap head(?) rather than from the connections from the pipe in from outside, or the onward connection up to the house plumbing

Its leaking an egg cup an hour - so enough to make a mess, but containable

southcoastrgi

Gland nut as others have said just nip it up

Le_Kirk

If you are on a water meter there will be a small flap in the pavement outside your house, lift that and you will likely find a quarter turn valve.

samsung_laptop

Ganga wrote: »

If it is the pipes connected at each end of the tap just tighten the nuts up.

What if it's old lead pipe and he tightens it up.

samsung_laptop

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9b1AxSxbgw

mark55man

so I had a go this evening, and I have tightened it up a half turn and thats done most of the trick

I saw some commentary that said don't overtighten, so I do still have a drip, but its now much reduced. so is there a risk of over-tightening or do I just keep going.

sorry for being a nervous-ninny but for me the D in DIY usually means disaster

guy999

You could try this on the remaining drip. Appears to have good reviews
http://www.screwfix.com/p/fernox-ls-x-leak-sealer-50ml/23614