my hot water tap is leaking. its a monobloc unit, i have removed the decorative cover, undone the screw and pulled out the cartridge. do i replace this as a whole? because on the cartridge there are 2 holes and when the tap is in the closed position, these are sealed by 2 small rubber 'bottletop' type seals which are under load by a spring in each of them. if this makes sense to anyone, can you please tell me where i can get these types of seal or what they are called? one of them is obviously worn and pitted therefore thats where the leak is stemming from.

LeakyTapDilemma, August 2008

Dripping taps have annoyed us since the dawn of plumbing. That hypnotic drip drip drip can cause 5500 litres of wasted water in a year if untreated. And it's usually all the fault of a little rubber washer. Here's a guide on how to fix a leaky tap:

Tools needed…
Adjustable spanner
Screwdriver
Pipe wrench
Cloth
Tap washer (1/2 inch)
Silicone grease

How to guide – fixing a leaky tap

1. Turn off the water supply a

2. Not all taps are made the same way so you will have to work out how the handle comes off.
3. Try to unscrew this using your hand. If you can’t, use an adjustable spanner or pipe grips, but be sure to protect the chrome with a cloth.

4. Undo the head gear nut using an adjustable spanner. If the nut is difficult to turn, don’t force it or you risk twisting the base of the tap and putting a strain on the inlet pipe.

5. The rest of the headgear should lift out, and replace the washer sitting in the jumper with a new one.

6. Reassemble the tap in the same sequence.
for more Info visit

http://blogs.problemsolved.co.uk/hints_and_tips/may_2008/how-to-guide--fixing-a-leaky-tap

tradesmen, July 2009