# Cannot fix a leaking tap myself in Singapore: what to check first, what it costs, who to call Source: https://honestfix.cf-migrate-pulse-web.workers.dev/guides/cannot-fix-a-leaking-tap-myself · checked 15 Sep 2026 the Honestfix team · checked 15 Sep 2026 A leaking tap is almost always a worn washer, cartridge or O-ring inside the tap body, and none of those repairs need a PUB-licensed plumber. PUB's own rules list replacing or removing taps and mixers as work an unlicensed person may carry out, which is why this is usually a [handyman](/handyman) call, not a plumber call. ## What to check first Turn off the isolation valve under the sink or basin first, if there is one. That stops the drip immediately and lets you or a handyman work on the tap without shutting off water to the rest of the flat. Watch where the water actually appears. A drip from the spout when the tap is off points to the washer or cartridge inside the tap. Water pooling at the base of the tap, or dripping from the cabinet underneath, points to a connection or a hose instead, which is a different repair. Do not force the tap handle if it feels stiff or grinds when you turn it. Forcing a seized tap can snap the spindle inside, turning a washer swap into a full tap replacement. ## The likely causes, in order **A worn washer or O-ring (most common).** The most common cause is a worn washer or O-ring, the small rubber seal that closes against the valve seat each time you shut the tap. It hardens and cracks with age and mineral deposits in the water, and once it stops sealing fully the tap drips even when firmly closed. Check: a drip from the spout that gets worse over weeks, not suddenly, usually points here. **A worn cartridge.** The second cause is a worn cartridge, found in most single-lever mixer taps instead of a washer. A cartridge that has worn internally lets water past even when the lever is at "off," and it cannot be re-seated the way a washer sometimes can — it needs swapping for the same part number. Check: if turning the lever fully off still leaves a steady drip rather than a slow one, suspect the cartridge over the washer. **A loose or corroded connection.** The third cause is a loose or corroded connection where the tap meets the pipe or the flexible hose underneath the sink, which shows up as water around the base or the cabinet floor rather than a drip from the spout. This is a fitting problem, not a tap problem, and needs a different fix. Check: feel under the sink with a dry hand while someone runs the tap — a wet connection point tells you it is not the washer at all. ## When to call, and who Stop and call now if you cannot shut off the water at the isolation valve under the sink, or if the valve itself will not close and the leak is getting worse, since an isolation valve that has failed can turn a dripping tap into a flooded cabinet within minutes. Call a handyman once you have isolated the water and know roughly where the leak starts: spout, base, or under the cabinet. That one fact is usually enough for them to bring the right washer or cartridge on the first visit instead of a second trip to source the part. ## What it costs Ask two or three for a written quote instead. When you ask, describe the tap type (single lever or twin handle), where the leak shows, and whether you have already isolated the water. Ask whether the quote is a flat call-out plus hourly rate or a fixed price for the job, and whether the part is priced separately from labour — a like-for-like cartridge can be harder to source for an older tap and adds to the wait, not just the price. ## Who to call, and how to judge them A handyman turns off the isolation valve first, then opens the tap to find whether the drip is from the washer, the cartridge or a loose connection, before quoting. Ask them which of the three it is rather than a flat "tap repair" price. Replacing or removing a tap or mixer, and swapping the hose or showerhead, are listed by PUB as simple works an unlicensed person may perform. A PUB-licensed plumber is only required once the job touches the fixed water service pipework itself, not the tap fitting on top of it, so there is no licence register to check for this job specifically. An ACRA registration confirms the business exists, nothing more. If a handyman tells you the job has grown beyond the tap itself — into pipework behind the wall, for instance — treat that the same as any bigger home job: HDB's guidance on renovations reminds homeowners they are responsible for ensuring a contractor's work follows HDB rules, even though the routine tap swap itself needs no permit. ## Frequently asked questions **Do I need a licensed plumber to fix a leaking tap?** No. PUB's own rules list replacing or removing taps and mixers as work an unlicensed person may carry out, which is why this is usually a handyman call, not a plumber call. A licensed plumber is only required once the job touches the fixed pipework behind the wall. **Why does my tap still drip even when I turn it off firmly?** The most common cause is a worn washer or O-ring, the small rubber seal that closes against the valve seat each time you shut the tap. It hardens and cracks with age and mineral deposits in the water, and once it stops sealing fully the tap drips even when firmly closed. **Is it safe to leave a leaking tap until I can book someone?** Stop and call now if you cannot shut off the water at the isolation valve under the sink, or if the valve itself will not close and the leak is getting worse. If you can isolate the water, a dripping tap can usually wait for a normal booking. ## Sources - [PUB, "Plumbing Works"](https://www.pub.gov.sg/Professionals/Requirements/Licensed-Plumbers/Plumbing-Works) (fetched 15 Sep 2026) - [PUB, "Licensed Plumbers"](https://www.pub.gov.sg/professionals/requirements/licensed-plumbers) (fetched 15 Sep 2026) - [gov.sg, homepage](https://www.gov.sg/) (fetched 15 Sep 2026, confirmed live; no trade-specific handyman regulator found) - [HDB, "Important Information on Renovations"](https://www.hdb.gov.sg/managing-my-home/renovation-and-maintenance/renovation/important-information-on-renovations) (fetched 15 Sep 2026) [Compare handymen](/handyman) and tell each one where the drip is coming from before you ask for a quote. ## Related - [Handyman Services in Singapore — compare providers](/handyman) — Handyman - [Booking a handyman online: establish who will do the work](/guides/platform-handyman-and-repair-apps-singapore) — Guide: Check the job scope, contracting business and inspection fee before booking a repair online. - [Booking platform or direct provider: which suits your job?](/guides/platform-or-direct-vendor) — Guide: Compare responsibility, total price and support across two ways of booking home services. - [How to read a sudden burst of reviews](/guides/reading-a-burst-of-reviews) — Guide: A sudden burst of Google reviews is not proof of anything on its own. How to read the timing, the wording and the reviewers before you trust a rating. - [Blocked drain in Singapore: causes and who to call](/guides/blocked-drain-what-to-check) — Guide: Clearing a floor trap yourself is legal simple work; opening concealed pipework is not. - [Pipe leaking in Singapore: what to check first, what it costs, who to call](/guides/pipe-leaking) — Guide: A leaking tap is simple work you can fix yourself; a leaking pipe in the wall is not.