Mixer tap leaking around the base
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Most likely cause & what to check
A leak from around the base of a mixer tap (not from the spout) is usually caused by failed O-rings — rubber seals inside the tap body that stop water escaping around the swivel joint or base connection.
Turn off the isolating valves under the sink, open the tap to release pressure, and dry the area under the sink thoroughly.
Access the O-rings by removing the tap spout: on most mixer taps, the spout twists off, or there is a grub screw at the back of the body. Once the spout is removed you'll see the O-rings around the base column.
Remove the O-rings (a small flathead screwdriver helps ease them off) and take them to a plumber's merchant to match the size. Standard sizes are 15mm, 20mm, 25mm internal diameter.
Lubricate the new O-rings with silicone grease (not petroleum-based products which degrade rubber) and press them into their grooves.
Reassemble the tap, restore the water, and check for leaks. The base should now be watertight.
If the leak is not from the spout area but from the deck plate or base fitting on the worktop, the neoprene sealing washer between the tap body and the worktop has perished. This requires removing the tap entirely to replace.
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