Fixing a leaky tap-easy enough?

anotherquestion

Hi there,
I have a mixer tap in sink in bathroom, hot and cold combined in the one tap, there is a leak in I think in the hot tap, which has been getting worse. Its got the flexible pipe connection fitting feeding the water with the screw to turn off the water, so hopefully I should be able to turn that screw anti-clockwise I believe to do that (hopefully nothing can go wrong with doing that, screw coming out etc)
I have watched a B and Q video which seems to make replacing the washer a doddle but is it really that easy for someone who is not great at DIY?
I would hope the tapvalve itself is not too difficult to get off. I wonder if there is a standard fitting for the washer or a more common one?
Many thanks for any info.

nofoollikeold

1. If the tap is 1/4 turn on / off, then it won't have a washer, it will have a cartridge.  If it is multiple turns on / off, then it will have a washer, usually what is known as a 1/2" washer, although this is not its physical size.  
2. If by "the screw to turn off the water" you mean an isolation valve with a screwdriver slot, then if the slot is in line with the pipe the valve is open, if the slot is at right angles to the pipe, it is closed.  
3. You need to:
3a. Turn the water off at the isolation valve.  Leave the tap open to make sure the flow has stopped.
3b. Remove the tap handle and any form of shroud covering the works.
3d. Remove the innards, usually via a brass hexagon nut, unscrewed anti-clockwise looking down on the end.
3e. If a washer, replace washer - cheap and cheerful.
3f. If a cartridge, take the old one to a decent plumber's merchants and try and get a new one.  Generally expensive.  
3g. Re-assemble and turn the water back on.
4. If you tap is a single lever one, the above does not apply.  
5. Posting a photograph of the tap would be a great help.

YellowCarBlueCar

When you turn the taps, do the taps only turn through 90 degrees for 'full on', or can you turn the tap through several rotations?

If it's the 90 degree type then it will have ceramic discs, and you need to find a replacement cartridge of the right type.  If it's the multiple turn type then it should be a simple job to change the washer if there isn't too much limescale gluing it together.  If the tap valve doesn't come off easily then vinegar or descaler applied overnight would be my first recourse.

Oh, and the isolation valve in the supply pipe should be turned through 90 degrees to stop the supply, often they will just turn round and round - get to 180 degrees and you're back on again...

anotherquestion

Thanks for replies, the tap is over 20 years old, an all in one, with prongs for finger grips, old traditional type, water just turns on gradually, when you turn anti-clockwise.
Thanks again.

YellowCarBlueCar

So long as everything unscrews you should be fine with a washer then, and the old washer has done pretty well!

One other cause of dripping can be a scratch to the valve seat caused by grit in the supply getting ground into the seat when the tap is turned. You can get a "tap reseating tool" to fix that if it still drops with the new washer.