Do I need a new Tap

choi

My tap makes a noise occasionally when I turn it on
Do I need a new tap

twopenny

What sort of noise?

Is it coming from the joint where you turn it on or is it a sound from the pipes and water?

choi

It seems to be a thump from the tap itself 
As though there is extra pressure being released 

Grumpy_chap

choi said:

My tap makes a noise occasionally when I turn it on
Do I need a new tap

What type of noise?

Where in the tap is the noise coming from?

Does the tap leak?

Has the tap become stiff to operate?

Is there any air in the pipes?

Is the water flow smooth?

Has there been any work done in the water supply recently?  May be down the road by the water authority.

Is this a mains fed tap, or tank fed? 

Hot or cold water?

choi

Grumpy_chap said:

choi said:

My tap makes a noise occasionally when I turn it on
Do I need a new tap

What type of noise?
A thumpish noise of water hitting metal on turning on cold tap

Where in the tap is the noise coming from?
From the centre of the tap

Does the tap leak?
No

Has the tap become stiff to operate?
No

Is there any air in the pipes?
I'm not sure
It only thumps every few days

Is the water flow smooth?
Yes
Cold water flow is smooth

Has there been any work done in the water supply recently?  May be down the road by the water authority.
Possibly


Is this a mains fed tap, or tank fed? 
Mains fed 

Hot or cold water?
Only the cold water 

See added comments 

Grumpy_chap

Is the water pressure high?

If you open the tap full, does the water hit the bottom of the sink and splash back?

choi

Grumpy_chap said:

Is the water pressure high?

If you open the tap full, does the water hit the bottom of the sink and splash back?

I will check later when I get home 

But to be honest I don't think it's excessively high

Plus

There is only a thump occasionally when opening the cold tap.
Most of the time there is no thump

choi

Just got home and checked the tap

I turned on the cold water tap 
There was no thump
I then opened the tap fully and the water was flowing really fast and splashing up the sides of the sink

Note 
I never turn the tap on this far in normal use
The thump when it occurs is at the first turn of the tap 

grumpy_codger

If this sound continues at some certain position of the handle, this is common for for old-fashioned taps with a compression valve and multi-turn handle.

Usually replacing the rubber washer (that closes the valve) solves the problem.

choi

grumpy_codger said:

If this sound continues at some certain position of the handle, this is common for for old-fashioned taps with a compression valve and multi-turn handle.

Usually replacing the rubber washer (that closes the valve) solves the problem.

The point is that the thump only occurs at irregular intervals
It doesn't happen every time I use the cold water tap
When it does occur it happens immediately I turn the cold water tap