dripping tap

[Jennie]

Hi all,
I'm off to mend a dripping kitchen tap later this week (can't believe I've still got questions for taps).
But anyway...
1. Would you automatically change washers on both hot and cold tap? (I assume it's a mixer tap). Or just the dodgy washer - in which case, is it more likely to be the hot side that needs a new washer? Or is the cold/hot likelihood pretty much equal?
2. Always add a bit of silicon grease to the spindle?
3. Would you automatically re-seat the bottom of the valve? Or feel how worn it is first?
Thanks again for your advice,
Jennie

 

[Simon F]

so you don't know what tap it is? age etc??
first port of call surely has to be to check,
what if its a 1/4 turn ceramic cartridge replacement needed???

 

[martyc]

I'm with Simon, depends on the type of tap, age, condition etc. if they're that old sometimes I just recommend replacing the whole unit, particularly if the valves don't want to come out of the body, there's that much lime scale it looks like its been at the bottom of the sea for 5 years and its just a manky mess.