Traditional taps

1 On traditional taps, start by unscrewing the shield. If it sticks, use a spanner, protecting the shield with a cloth.

2 Undo the headgear nut, just above the body of the tap, with a spanner. Lift the headgear assembly out. In most cases the jumper and washer will come out with the headgear but sometimes they will be left lying in the tap body.

3 Prise the washer off the jumper, or undo the fixing nut if there is one (you may need to apply some penetrating oil).

4 Fit a new washer, refit the nut, and reassemble the tap. Restore water supply. If the tap still drips it probably means the seat is worn, allowing water to leak past the washer. One cure is to fit a nylon seat insert, sold with a matching jumper and washer. A more permanent solution is to re-cut the old seat flat with a DIY tap reseating tool. These are simple to use and supplied with full instructions.

Water byelaws

All plumbing in your home must conform to local water authority regulations. You may carry out minor repairs like those in this leaflet, but always check before doing anything major.

Supataps

These are also known as reverse pressure taps. You can replace the washer without turning off the mains water.

However, it is always preferable to turn off the water supply before you start.

1 Loosen the retaining nut above the tap body.

2 Unscrew and remove the body (a little water will run out).

3 Tap the nozzle on the floor. This will loosen the finned anti-splash device inside, which can then be tipped out. Prise the combined jumper and washer from the end of the device and replace it.

4 Reassemble the tap.

Traditional taps

This means water is leaking around the spindle. You don't need to shut off the water supply to fix the problem: just make sure the tap is fully turned off.

1 Remove the tap head and shield.

2 If you find a gland nut (see diagram), try tightening it a little (too much and you'll make the tap hard to turn).

3 If that doesn't stop the leak, remove the gland nut and use a screwdriver to pick out the old packing.

4 Twist PTFE tape into a thread, wind it round the spindle and pack it into the gland with the screwdriver.

5 Replace the gland nut and tighten firmly.

Shroud head taps

1 Turn off water remove shroud and headgear. Withdraw the spindle from the Head Gear by gently prising out a Circlip (if fitted). Be careful not to let it fly off and get lost.

2 Replace the 'O' Ring or rings and reassemble.

Mixer taps

1 Replacing a washer on a conventional mixer tap is the same as on a single Shrouded head tap. Most use 'O' rings to seal the tap spindles.

If a mixer leaks around the base of the swivel spout, take off the spout by removing the fixing screw. Some spouts can be lifted out if turned to the right or left, parallel to the taps.

Note the type of seal and buy a matching replacement.

2 Ceramic disc taps from off to fully on in a quarter turn. Designs vary but a replacement cartridge is usually needed to cure a drip. Only tackle these taps if you are sure you have the correct cartridge. Please note, Some mixer taps have a fixed spout as opposed to a swivel spout, and need to be treated as Shrouded head taps.

Air trapped in a pipe can cause a tap to splutter or even dry up. Use mains water pressure to force the air out.

Connect a hose pipe between the kitchen cold tap and the affected tap. Leave both taps on for a few minutes and then turn off - the affected tap first. Test the problem tap and repeat if necessary until water runs freely.

Not suitable for sealed systems.

Prevention is better than cure. If water drains slowly from sinks, use a chemical cleaner to deal with the partial blockage before it becomes completely clogged.

Wear protective gloves when using chemical cleaners. Keep them out of reach of children. Read the makers' directions carefully *.

1 Try forcing a blockage out by using a suction cup. Smear petroleum jelly on the rim of the rubber cup and lower it over the outlet. Hold a damp cloth over the overflow while you pump the handle up and down to push the blockage along the pipe. Alternatively, buy a plunger pump or a hand operated compressed air pump.

2 If that doesn't work, try clearing the trap below the waste outlet of the sink. Place a bucket below the trap and remove the cleaning cap by hand or with a wrench. You may have to remove the whole trap. Drain the trap into the bucket and clean with detergent before reassembling. Don't remove the bucket until you're sure everything is watertight again.

3 Older sinks may have metal P-type or U-type traps. The cleaning cap on these may not be so easy to remove. It's better to try clearing the obstruction with a wire poked down the sink outlet.