How to fix a dripping tap (and whether you're allowed to in your state)

Drip, drip, drip. A dripping tap wastes water, stains the basin, and keeps you awake. In most Australian homes it’s one of the cheapest fixes there is, and in most states it’s one you’re legally allowed to do yourself.

Is it legal for me to fix it?

State	Change a tap washer / jumper valve	Replace the whole tap or mixer
Queensland	DIY (on the QBCC unregulated list)	Licensed plumber
Western Australia	DIY (owners can maintain or repair a tap, not thermostatic mixers)	Licensed plumber
Victoria	DIY (minor tap repairs are exempt)	Licensed plumber
New South Wales	DIY as a repair by an owner-occupier (not thermostatic mixing or tempering valves)	Licensed plumber
Tasmania	DIY (low-risk work on your own property)	Like-for-like replacement allowed
Other states and territories	Check with your plumbing regulator first	Licensed plumber

Thermostatic mixing valves (common on hot water systems and in newer bathrooms) always need a licensed plumber. Full detail: can I replace a tap myself?

Step 1: work out what kind of tap you have

Tap type	How it turns	What usually fails
Washer (compression) tap	Several full turns from off to full flow, often separate hot and cold handles	Rubber washer and jumper valve
Ceramic disc tap	A quarter or half turn from off to full	The ceramic cartridge or its seals
Mixer tap	One lever for flow and temperature	The mixer cartridge

Washer taps are by far the easiest to fix and the most common in older homes. Ceramic and mixer cartridges are brand- and model-specific, so take the old one to the shop to match it.

Step 2: changing a tap washer

You need: a new tap washer and jumper valve (buy a mixed pack), an adjustable spanner or the right-size ring spanner, a flat screwdriver, a cloth, and optionally tap grease and a new O-ring for the spindle.

1. Turn off the water at the isolation valve under the basin, or at the water meter if there isn’t one. Open the tap to let the water run out.
2. Put the plug in so small parts can’t go down the drain.
3. Remove the handle. Prise off the cap (hot/cold indicator) and undo the screw underneath, then lift the handle off.
4. Undo the headgear (the brass body under the handle) with a spanner, turning anticlockwise. Wrap the chrome in a cloth to avoid scratching it, and hold the tap body steady so you don’t twist the pipe.
5. Replace the jumper valve and washer. The old washer is often hard and cracked. Push on the new one; replacing the whole jumper valve is quicker and cheap.
6. Check the O-ring on the spindle. If water leaks from under the handle when the tap runs, replace it and add a smear of tap grease.
7. Reassemble in reverse: headgear hand-tight then a gentle nip with the spanner, then the handle.
8. Turn the water back on slowly and check for drips.

Still dripping? The seat inside the tap body may be worn or pitted. Re-seating it needs a special tool and isn’t on the homeowner DIY lists we’ve seen, so call a plumber.

Ceramic disc and mixer taps

1. Turn off the water and open the tap.
2. Remove the handle (usually a grub screw under a cap).
3. Unscrew the cartridge with a spanner and take it to the hardware store to match it exactly.
4. Fit the new cartridge, reassemble and test.

Cartridge replacement is a repair, and it’s allowed in states where owners can maintain or repair a tap (such as WA, NSW and Victoria). It isn’t on Queensland’s unregulated list, which only covers tap washers and jumper valves, so in Queensland a cartridge swap is a job for a plumber.

Call a plumber if

• The tap body, spout or pipework is leaking, not just the spout dripping.
• There’s no isolation valve and you can’t turn off the mains.
• It’s a thermostatic mixing valve, or a tap connected to a hot water system’s tempering valve.
• You want to replace the whole tap or mixer (licensed in most states).
• Water is leaking inside a wall or cabinet.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my tap drip after I turn it off hard? A worn washer doesn’t seal, so people turn the tap harder, which damages the washer and seat further. Replace the washer instead of forcing the handle.

How much does a tap washer cost? A few dollars for a pack of washers or jumper valves at any hardware store. Cartridges cost more and vary by brand.

Do I need to turn off the water at the mains? Only if there’s no isolation valve under the basin or behind the tap. Always turn the water off before removing the headgear.

Is a dripping tap the landlord’s responsibility? Usually yes, as a repair. Report it to your landlord or agent; tenants generally shouldn’t do plumbing repairs without permission.

Sources

Every rule on this page is taken from these official sources. If a rule has changed, please tell us and we’ll fix it.

1. QBCC, Unregulated plumbing guide
2. WA Government, New plumbing rules for industry and homeowners
3. NSW Government, Plumbing, draining and gasfitting licences
4. Victoria, Plumbing Regulations 2018
5. CBOS Tasmania, Consumer guide to low-risk building and plumbing work

This guide is general information, not legal or professional advice. Rules differ between states, councils and individual properties, and they change. Confirm with your state regulator or council before starting work, and if in doubt, get a licensed tradesperson.