how to change a tap washer

​Do you want to change your tap washer, but you are wondering how to go about it? Tap washer usually wears out with time and needs to be placed. The good thing is that replacing a tap washer is not as difficult as it may look. It is a simple process that you can do on your own without calling a plumber to fix it. In this article, we will give you step by step tips on how to change your tap washer.

Step one: Turn off the water supply

​The first thing that you need to do before you do anything else is turning off the water supply. It is difficult to change the tap washer when water is still running. Cut off the water supply from the main valve.

Step two: Remove the tap stem

Use a screwdriver to remove the tap's cover. This will expose the vales which can be removed using a spanner. If the spanner is not able to remove, then use a wrench.

Step three: Secure the tap washer.

​Once you are done removing the tap stem and exposed the valve, the tap washer is located just underneath the valve. To get it, all that you need to do is remove the tap washer with a spanner. If the tap washer is too difficult to remove, add some oil around it and soak before you try again.

Step four: Replace the old tap washer.

​Once you have removed the old tap washer that has worn out, you need to replace it with a new one. Ensure that you replace it with a new tap washer of the same size.

Once you are done, put the tap washer back by tightening the valve then fasten the top back. Be very careful when tightening the valve because it can get damaged if you over tighten it. Turn on the water supply and test for any leaks. Allow water to run at full force for about three minutes to check if there are any leaks