A dripping tap is easy to live with and easy to forget. But a steady drip from a hot tap means your cylinder is heating water that goes straight down the drain, and a slow leak under the bench can soak the cabinet base for months before anyone opens the cupboard and notices the smell.
We fix dripping taps, leaking mixers and tired outdoor taps across Wellington, the Hutt, Porirua and Kāpiti. Most jobs take under an hour, and we tell you straight whether a repair or a new tap is the better buy.
Pricing: quotes are free, and every job gets a fixed price before we start, so there are no surprises on the invoice.
Tap & Mixer Repairs Jobs We Handle Across Wellington
- Leaking tap repair
- Fix a dripping tap
- Mixer cartridge replacement
- Outdoor tap repairs
- New tapware installation
- Stiff mixer repairs
Tap problems we fix
The usual suspects:
- Spout dripping after the tap is turned off
- Water leaking around the handle or base of the mixer
- Handle stiff, loose or hard to turn
- Mixer that will not hold a steady temperature
- Low flow from one tap only
- Leaks from the flexible hoses or connections under the bench
- Outdoor taps that drip or will not shut off
Taps versus mixers: different fixes
Traditional taps with separate hot and cold handles use a jumper valve and washer, or a ceramic disc headwork. A dripping spout usually means a worn washer or a damaged seat, and a leak around the spindle means a worn O-ring or gland. These are cheap parts and quick to swap. Quick-closing ceramic disc taps and lever mixers can also cause water hammer, the bang in the pipes when you shut them off fast.
Single-lever mixers use a cartridge that controls both flow and temperature. When it wears, the mixer drips, stiffens or will not hold temperature. The right cartridge is specific to the brand and model, so we identify it first, then fit a genuine part.
How It Works
Repair or replace
We repair when the tap body is sound and parts are available. We recommend replacing it when the body is cracked or corroded, parts are discontinued, the finish is failing, or a genuine cartridge costs close to a new mixer. New taps sold in New Zealand carry a WELS water efficiency label, so when you replace you can choose one that uses less water without a weak flow.
We also check the flexible hoses under the bench while we are there. Old hoses are a common source of sudden floods, and swapping them during a tap job takes minutes.
Pricing
Washer and O-ring jobs sit at the low end. Cartridge replacements depend on the part, and new tapware depends on what you choose. We confirm the price before we start. If you have bought your own tapware we can install it, on its own or as part of wider kitchen plumbing work.
Wellington tapware and water
Tiaki Wai classes the water supplied to Wellington, the Hutt Valley and Porirua as soft, so heavy scale is not usually why taps fail here. More often it is plain wear, grit after network work, or a mixer that does not suit the house's water pressure. Some older villas and cottages still run low pressure hot water, and a mixer designed for mains pressure will give a weak hot flow on that system. We check whether your tapware suits your setup before fitting anything.
Pressure varies across a hilly city, and homes lower down a slope can see more of it than homes at the top. After a mains pressure upgrade, older taps can start to drip because they are working harder than before, and a pressure reducing valve can fix that. If you are thinking about better shower and tap performance overall, a mains pressure upgrade is worth pricing at the same time.
Metered or not, a drip still costs you
Most homes in metropolitan Wellington are not metered, so a dripping tap will not show on a water bill. It still costs you through the power used to heat the water and the slow damage to benches and cabinets. Tiaki Wai asks residents to fix leaks on their own property, such as dripping taps and leaking toilets, with a registered plumber. On the Kāpiti Coast every home is metered and charged per cubic metre, so a constant drip shows up directly in your water charges.
Why Choose Cheeky's Plumbers for Tap & Mixer Repairs
Model identified first
We identify the brand and model before ordering anything, so the right cartridge or washer goes in the first time.
Straight repair or replace advice
If a repair will not last or costs nearly as much as a new tap, we tell you before you spend the money.
Hoses checked while we are there
We look at the flexible hoses under the bench and tell you if they are kinked, rusty or bulging.
Price agreed before work
The total is confirmed before we pick up a tool.
Tap & Mixer Repairs FAQs
Why does my tap keep dripping after I turn it off?
Usually a worn washer or seat on a traditional tap, or a worn cartridge in a mixer. Both can be replaced.
How much does it cost to fix a dripping tap in Wellington?
Parts such as cartridges vary, and we confirm the total before we start.
Can you fix my mixer or does it need replacing?
If the body is sound and the cartridge is available, we repair it. If parts are discontinued or the body is damaged, replacement is better value.
Can you install tapware I bought myself?
Yes. Check it suits your water pressure first, as some mixers are designed for mains pressure only.
Why is my hot water flow weak at one tap?
Often a blocked aerator or a worn cartridge, or a mixer that is not suited to a low pressure hot water system.
Should I replace the flexible hoses under my sink?
If they are old, kinked, rusty or bulging, yes. They are a common cause of sudden leaks.
Tap & Mixer Repairs Across Wellington
Our tap & mixer repairs team works in every Wellington suburb. Find your local plumbers:
Tap & Mixer Repairs Guides
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