Dripping taps, stiff cartridges, leaking mixers and new tap installations across Greenwich — SE3, SE7, SE9, SE10 and SE18. Find directory-listed plumbers below for repair and installation work.
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Tap repair vs tap installation — which do you need
Tap repair covers any fault with an existing tap — dripping from the spout, leaking at the base, a tap that is stiff or will not turn fully, a mixer tap that runs hot when set to cold, or a tap that will not fully shut off.
Many tap repairs involve replacing the internal cartridge or washer — typically a 30–60 minute job.
Greenwich Council classifies a tap that cannot be turned on or off at all as an urgent repair requiring attention within one to five working days for council properties.¹ Most private plumbers listed here can attend the same day.
Tap installation covers fitting a new tap — replacing a like-for-like unit, upgrading from individual pillar taps to a monobloc mixer, fitting a new kitchen tap with filtered water or boiling water function, or installing taps as part of a wider bathroom or kitchen refurbishment.
Installation time varies from one hour for a straightforward swap to half a day where pipework needs adapting or supply pressures need balancing. Most tap repairs and tap installations in Greenwich can be completed in one visit if the correct parts are available.
If your tap is dripping, stiff or leaking — that is a repair. If you want a different tap in a different style — that is an installation. If you are not sure whether your existing tap is worth repairing or better replaced, a plumber can usually advise during the first visit.
What causes tap faults in Greenwich properties
A primary factor in Greenwich is hard water — and it affects taps differently depending on their age and type.
Ceramic disc cartridges — the internal mechanism in most modern taps — are vulnerable to hard water damage. Thames Water says most water supplied across London and the South East is hard.² Hard water can contribute to limescale build-up that shortens cartridge lifespan over time, with deposits on the ceramic disc faces preventing them from sealing cleanly.
In hard water areas, replacing a cartridge without addressing the underlying cause may mean the same fault returns over time. For new tap installation in Greenwich, this is worth discussing with your plumber before specifying fixtures.
Rubber washers — found in older pillar taps across Victorian terraces in Charlton, Plumstead and parts of Greenwich’s older housing — harden with age and heat exposure. A dripping hot tap with a rubber washer mechanism typically needs the washer replaced — a simple and inexpensive repair.
Mixer tap O-rings and body seals — the seals around the spout base and body of a mixer tap — can fail from limescale build-up over time. A mixer tap leaking at the base rather than the spout often indicates a failed O-ring or body seal rather than the cartridge itself. Different diagnosis, different part, different repair.
In newer properties across the Greenwich Peninsula and Woolwich, thermostatic bar mixer taps and concealed valve systems require manufacturer-specific cartridges for premium brands — not generic parts. A plumber who carries the correct replacement saves a wasted visit.
A factor often overlooked before buying a new tap
Greenwich’s housing stock runs at two very different pressure profiles.
Victorian terraces across Blackheath, Charlton and Plumstead — particularly those with gravity-fed hot water systems and cold water tanks in the loft — can deliver lower hot-water pressure than modern mains-pressure systems. Many modern monobloc mixer taps are designed for medium- or high-pressure systems, and on a gravity-fed system without a pump, the hot side will deliver reduced flow regardless of how the tap is specified.
Many modern apartments on the Greenwich Peninsula and in Thamesmead run on mains-pressure systems, but thermostatic taps still require balanced inlet pressures to function correctly.
The rule before buying any new tap for a Greenwich property: confirm whether your hot water supply is gravity-fed or mains pressure, and check the minimum operating pressure on the tap specification. A plumber can confirm both quickly during a visit.
What to expect from a tap repair or installation visit
For a repair: the plumber inspects the tap, identifies whether the fault is the cartridge, washer, O-ring or body seal, and in most cases carries the replacement part.
Standard ceramic cartridges, rubber washers and O-rings are commonly carried as van stock. Manufacturer-specific cartridges for premium brands may require ordering — your plumber will confirm before the visit if you give them the tap make and model.
For an installation: the plumber isolates the supply, removes the existing tap, checks supply pressures, fits and connects the new unit, tests for leaks and correct function, and confirms water pressure is adequate for the new tap’s specification.
In older Woolwich and Plumstead terraces, original imperial pipework — typically 1/2 inch and 3/4 inch — requires appropriate adaptors or transition fittings to connect to modern 15mm or 22mm tap tails. Standard metric fittings may not seal correctly on these older pipe gauges without the appropriate adaptor — this should be quoted and agreed before work begins.
When replacing individual pillar taps with a monobloc mixer on a Victorian bath or basin, a tap hole stopper or capping nut is required to cover the redundant second hole cleanly — a detail worth confirming is included in the installation quote.
For kitchen taps with filtered water, boiling water or pull-out spray functions, confirm with your plumber that under-sink space can accommodate the additional equipment before purchasing.
Before the plumber arrives: know the make and model of your existing tap if possible, have the new tap available if already purchased, and know where the isolation valve is for the relevant supply.
💡 Pro tip: In Greenwich’s hard water area, ask your plumber whether scale-reduction measures are appropriate for your system — particularly for kitchen taps and bathroom mixer taps. Where suitable, scale-reduction measures may help extend cartridge life and reduce limescale build-up. A plumber can advise and, where appropriate, fit a measure at the same time as a tap installation.
What tap repair and installation costs in Greenwich — 2026
Typical London 2026 ranges. Actual costs vary by tap type, fault and whether pipework adaptation is required. No official pricing data exists for private tap repairs — always obtain multiple written quotes before work begins.
| Service | Typical London range 2026 |
|---|---|
| Tap repair diagnostic visit | £120–£180 |
| Cartridge or washer replacement (standard) | £120–£180 supply and fit |
| Manufacturer-specific cartridge (premium brands) | £150–£250 supply and fit |
| O-ring or body seal replacement | £100–£160 supply and fit |
| Like-for-like tap replacement | £150–£220 fitting only |
| Monobloc mixer tap installation | £180–£300 fitting only |
| Pipework adaptation (imperial to metric) | £80–£150 additional |
Typical straightforward tap repair in Greenwich: £130–£180 all-in for most single-fault jobs resolved within one visit.
Customers should request written confirmation of pricing before work begins. If a tap is beyond economic repair, the plumber should tell you before replacing the cartridge.
Frequently asked questions — Tap Repair & Installation Greenwich
Depends on the tap’s age and type. A modern ceramic disc tap under ten years old is often worth repairing — a cartridge replacement costs a fraction of a new tap and typically takes under an hour. An older pillar tap with a rubber washer is similarly cheap to fix.
A premium designer tap with a non-standard cartridge may be worth replacing if the cartridge cost approaches the price of a new unit. In Greenwich’s hard water area, ask your plumber whether scale-reduction measures are appropriate for your system — otherwise the same cartridge fault may recur over time.
In Greenwich’s hard water area, a stiff tap is often caused by limescale build-up on the cartridge or valve seat restricting movement. In older pillar taps, a hardened rubber washer can produce the same symptom.
In both cases the fix is internal — replacing or descaling the mechanism, not replacing the tap. A plumber will confirm which on the same visit.
Yes — but confirm two things first. Check that your water pressure is compatible with the new tap’s minimum operating pressure before the plumber attends.
And if the tap requires any pipework changes — different connection sizes, repositioned supplies, new isolation valves, or imperial-to-metric transitions in older Greenwich properties — these need to be scoped and agreed before the visit.
Usually a failed cartridge that is no longer directing hot and cold correctly, or a thermostatic cartridge that has lost its temperature calibration.
In some cases on gravity-fed systems in Greenwich Victorian terraces, unequal pressure between hot and cold supplies allows hot water to cross over to the cold side through the mixer — a pressure balancing issue rather than a cartridge fault. A plumber can diagnose which within the first visit.
In soft water areas, ceramic disc cartridges can last many years with proper maintenance. In Greenwich’s hard water postcodes, cartridge lifespan is typically reduced compared to soft water areas, particularly in properties without scale protection.
Scale-reduction measures may help reduce limescale build-up and may help extend cartridge lifespan, depending on the system and product used. Ask your plumber whether scale-reduction measures are appropriate for your system.
Areas We Cover
Tap repair and installation plumbers on this directory cover the full Greenwich borough. Find local help below:
- Tap Repair & Installation Charlton
- Tap Repair & Installation Woolwich
- Tap Repair & Installation Eltham
- Tap Repair & Installation Blackheath
- Tap Repair & Installation Kidbrooke
- Tap Repair & Installation Abbey Wood
- Tap Repair & Installation Thamesmead
- Tap Repair & Installation Plumstead
- Tap Repair & Installation Shooters Hill
- Tap Repair & Installation North Greenwich
Related Services
Related guides
- London Plumbing Costs Guide 2026
- London Hard Water Guide
- Victorian Terrace Plumbing Guide
- New Homeowner Plumbing Guide
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A dripping tap in a Plumstead terrace or a Thamesmead apartment continues to use water as long as it runs. In Greenwich’s hard water area, replacing a cartridge without addressing the underlying cause may lead to the same repair returning over time. Work guarantees available where offered — confirm with your plumber.
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Sources & further reading
Last reviewed: May 2026 by Adiel Khan — SFEDI-accredited business advisor 20+ years experience (South East Enterprise Ltd) and operator of VerifiedPlumbers. [LinkedIn ↗]
This page is reviewed against guidance published by ¹ Royal Borough of Greenwich — How long it takes to repair a problem https://www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/housing/request-repair/how-long-it-takes-repair-problem
² Thames Water — Hard water https://www.thameswater.co.uk/help/water-and-waste-help/water-quality/hard-water