A tap can start leaking again after a repair if only part of the problem was fixed, if the new part was not quite the right match, or if wear elsewhere in the tap is still letting water through. Limescale, grit in the water and a damaged valve seat are other common reasons a drip comes back.
A returning leak does not always mean the repair was poor. Sometimes it shows the tap has more than one worn part.
The Seat or Body Is Worn
In traditional taps, the washer presses against a seat inside the tap body. If the seat is pitted, scratched or scaled, a new washer may seal at first, then start to drip as it beds in against the rough surface.
In some cases the seat can be reground or a seat insert fitted. If the body itself is badly worn or corroded, replacing the tap may give a longer-lasting result.
The Wrong or Mismatched Part
Taps come in many shapes and sizes. A washer, O-ring or cartridge that is close but not exact may stop the leak for a while but fail to seal fully over time.
Cheaper replacement cartridges may also wear faster than the original. If you know the make and model of your tap, it is easier to find a matching part.
Grit, Scale and Other Causes
Small bits of grit or debris in the water can scratch ceramic discs or lodge between them. This can happen after work on the water main or the pipes in your home, when sediment is disturbed.
In hard water areas, scale can build up again on new parts. Turning the tap off too hard can also squeeze a washer more than needed, shortening its life.
Sometimes a different part is now leaking. For example, a cartridge may be sealing well, but a worn O-ring on the spout lets water escape at the base.
What to Do Next
Note exactly where the water is coming from and when. Is it a drip from the spout with the tap off, or water around the handle or base while it runs? These details help pinpoint the part involved.
Avoid taking the tap apart again yourself if you are unsure, as forcing parts can damage the body or threads. Do not use more force to turn the tap off.
Keeping a note of the date of each repair and what was replaced can also help, as it shows whether the same part keeps failing.
If the tap was repaired recently by a plumber, contact them first and explain what you have noticed. If you need someone to take a fresh look, our leaking tap repair team in Oxford can check the whole tap, not just the part that failed, so you can decide whether one more repair or a new tap makes more sense.