A dripping mixer tap is more than an annoyance. A single leaking faucet can waste hundreds of liters of water every month, and in Riyadh that waste shows up on your water bill fast. The good news is that a mixer tap leaking fix is usually simple, because nine times out of ten the culprit is a worn cartridge sitting right under the handle.
A cartridge is the small valve that controls how water flows and mixes inside your tap. Over time, hard water and daily use wear down its seals and ceramic discs, and the tap starts to drip even when the handle is fully closed. This guide walks you through the four proven steps of a mixer tap leaking fix, from identifying the cartridge type to installing a new one, and tells you exactly when it is smarter to call a plumber in Riyadh.
Whether the leak is in your kitchen sink or the bathroom basin, the steps below apply to most single-lever and double-handle mixer taps sold in Saudi Arabia.
Mixer Tap Leaking Fix: 4 Cartridge Repairs
Before you buy parts or call for help, confirm the cartridge is the problem. Turn the tap fully off. If water still drips from the spout, or leaks from around the base of the handle, the cartridge or its seals have failed. The four fixes below cover every stage of a complete mixer tap leaking fix.
Fix 1: Identify Your Cartridge Type
Most modern mixer taps use a ceramic disc cartridge: a small cylinder, usually 35mm or 40mm, with two polished ceramic plates that slide against each other. Older or cheaper taps use compression cartridges with rubber washers. Lift the handle and look at the tap body. Single-lever mixers almost always use ceramic disc cartridges. Knowing the type matters because cartridges are not interchangeable, and buying the wrong size is the most common DIY mistake. For a visual walkthrough from a trusted DIY authority, Family Handyman’s guide to fixing a dripping faucet shows the same cartridge steps with clear photos.
Fix 2: Shut Off the Water and Remove the Handle
Close the isolation valves under the sink by turning them clockwise, or shut off the main valve if your home has none. Open the tap to release leftover pressure, and plug the drain so small screws cannot fall in. Most handles hide an Allen screw under a small red and blue cap on top or at the back of the handle. Pop the cap off with a flat screwdriver, loosen the screw, and lift the handle straight up. Underneath you will see the cartridge held in place by a brass retaining nut.
Fix 3: Pull the Old Cartridge and Match It Exactly
Loosen the retaining nut with an adjustable wrench and pull the cartridge straight out. Take it with you to the hardware store, or photograph it next to a ruler, because the critical measurements are the diameter (35mm or 40mm are standard) and the spline count on the stem. A cartridge that looks identical but is a few millimeters taller will not seal, and the drip will return within days. Clean the inside of the tap body with a cloth to remove grit and limescale before fitting the new part.
Fix 4: Install the New Cartridge and Test the Seal
Drop the new cartridge in with the alignment lugs seated in the tap body, then tighten the retaining nut firmly. Hand tight plus a quarter turn is enough, because overtightening cracks ceramic discs. Refit the handle, turn the water back on slowly, and check for drips at the spout and around the handle base over the next few minutes. A proper mixer tap leaking fix ends here for most homes: the tap should shut off completely and turn smoothly.
Signs the Cartridge Is the Real Problem
Not every drip is a cartridge issue, so it helps to know the symptoms. Treat it as a cartridge failure when the tap drips constantly even when fully closed, when the handle feels stiff, loose, or gritty when turned, when hot and cold no longer mix properly so the water runs only hot or only cold, or when water seeps from around the base of the tap where it meets the sink. If the leak is under the sink instead, from the supply hoses or the drain, the cartridge is not the cause. In that case you may be looking at a hidden pipe issue, and our guide on finding water leaks without breaking a single tile explains how professionals track those down.
When to Call a Plumber in Riyadh Instead
A cartridge swap is a twenty minute job until it is not. Call a professional when the retaining nut is seized solid (forcing it can crack the tap body or the sink), when the cartridge has fused to the tap from years of limescale, when you cannot find a matching cartridge for an older or imported tap, or when the leak has already damaged the countertop or cabinet underneath. Repeated cartridge failures in the same tap often point to high water pressure, which a plumber can check and fix with a pressure regulator. And if your whole house suffers from weak flow rather than drips, our guide on low water pressure fixes that actually work covers the common causes.
What a Plumber Visit Costs in Riyadh
SheelTalab’s plumbing service starts at 150 SAR (was 180), covering the visit and labor, with materials like the replacement cartridge billed separately at cost. Every visit includes acoustic pipe leak scanning, sanitary valve replacement, drain de-clogging, and pressure booster pump repair where needed. With 45-minute rapid dispatch anywhere in Riyadh, 24/7 availability, a 30-day golden warranty, and a 4.9/5 rating from more than 18,500 jobs, most leaking taps are fixed the same day you call. For kitchen sink problems that go beyond the tap, see our guide to how professionals unclog a kitchen drain fast.
A dripping mixer tap rarely fixes itself, but it rarely needs a full tap replacement either. Work through the four cartridge fixes above, and most leaks stop at step four. If the tap fights back, SheelTalab’s certified plumbers carry common cartridge sizes on the van and finish most mixer tap leaking fix jobs in a single visit. Book below and stop the drip today. Reach us on 0570328344 or 0570328344, any time, day or night.