Fix a leaking tap in Rotterdam
Redactie Handyman Rotterdam · 7 November 2026
A leaking tap looks small until water soaks the cupboard or reaches the ceiling of the flat below. You can do a few things safely before anyone visits. You do not need to open a wall. The steps below are for an ordinary tap in the kitchen or the bathroom. This guide explains how to shut the water off, which photos to send, and when a plumber or handyman should do the repair.
Shut the water off first
Look under the sink for the small tap on the pipe. That is the stop valve for this tap. Close it and see if the drip stops. If you cannot find one, or it will not turn, close the main stop valve. It is often near the water meter. Then open the tap until the pipe is empty. Put a cloth in the cupboard so a small puddle does not soak the base. Do not force a stuck valve. A broken handle can make the leak worse.
See where it drips
Not every drip comes from the same place. If it drips from the spout, the fault is often inside the tap. If it drips under the tap, at the hose, or at the U-bend under the sink, it is a different part. The U-bend is the curved pipe that joins the sink to the waste. Dry the area and watch for one minute. You can then see where the next drop falls. A mixer tap has a part inside that blends hot and cold. A tap with two handles often has a washer in each handle.
Which photos to send
A photo can save a second visit for the wrong part. Photograph the whole tap, the drip, and the open cupboard under the sink. Include the stop valve if you can see it. On a mixer tap, a photo from underneath helps, because the hose is often there. Say whether the drip is hot, cold or both, and whether it drips only when the tap is shut. Send the photos when you call or fill in the form. Say which room the tap is in: kitchen, bathroom or utility room.
Simple causes
A worn washer or a loose small filter on the tap often causes a drip from the spout. That filter is the little screen on the end. Limescale can push it out of line. A hose that no longer sits straight on the tap often leaks only when you turn the tap on. A U-bend that hangs crooked leaks at the nut. You can sometimes tighten that nut a little by hand. Do not force it. A nut that is too tight can damage the washer. If it still leaks, the part should be replaced, not just tightened again.
What is better left alone
Do not take the tap apart if you do not know the part. A loose inside piece or a lost washer can turn a drip into an open pipe. Do not work on the main pipe inside the wall. Leave gas, the boiler and pipes in the crawl space, the low space under the floor, to someone who does that work. If water comes through a ceiling or a wall, this tap may not be the source. Dry the spot you can see and shut the water off, but do not open the wall.
When to call someone
Call a plumber or a handyman if the drip continues after the stop valve is closed, if the hose is wet, or if the cupboard is going soft. Call as well if you cannot find the stop valve or do not want to turn it. In a flat it is worth acting, because water can reach the neighbours below. A small part, such as a washer, the filter or the U-bend, is often a small job you can book. A new tap is a different job. Agree that first, with a tap that fits the hole.
What to have ready
Empty the cupboard before anyone arrives. Take cleaning products and food out. Make sure the stop valve can be reached. A bucket and a cloth are enough. You do not need to buy tools. The plumber brings the part that will be replaced when that was agreed.
What happens on a visit
The plumber looks at the drip, the hose and the U-bend before taking anything apart. You hear which part will be replaced. After the job the stop valve is opened again and the area should stay dry for a moment. The old part can be taken away. More about these small jobs is on the plumber page. To book a visit, use the contact form or the phone number on the site.