Quick answer
A kitchen mixer weeping around its base has a failed O-ring on the spout swivel or a cartridge leaking past its seal. Both are repairable and neither requires a new tap in most cases. The distinction is easy to make: a leak that only appears when you swing the spout is the swivel O-ring, while a leak that tracks down whenever the tap runs is usually the cartridge.
Common causes
- Perished O-ring on the spout swivel
- Cartridge seal leaking and tracking down inside the body
- Loose mounting nut under the sink letting the whole body move
- Corrosion in the tap body on an older mixer
- Scale damage to the sealing surfaces
- Flexible tail connection weeping and running down the outside of the body
What you can do now
- 1Dry the base and run the tap to see exactly where the water emerges first
- 2Swing the spout side to side and watch — a leak only on movement confirms the swivel O-ring
- 3Check underneath the sink to rule out a weeping flexible tail running down the body
- 4Tighten the mounting nut if the whole tap moves when you use it
- 5Note the brand before sourcing O-rings or a cartridge
When to call a professional
A plumber will have this repaired inside an hour with the right O-ring or cartridge. Call reasonably promptly, because water tracking down through the mounting hole sits in the cabinet base underneath and swells chipboard long before you notice it. Ask them to check the flexible tails at the same time, since those perish on a similar timescale.
Typical cost in Johannesburg
R450–R750
Indicative ranges only. We provide written, itemised quotes before any work.
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