A dripping tap or an old basin mixer – every home has them eventually. Replacing a faucet is one of those jobs a handy DIYer can do themselves. But there are situations where it pays to call a professional.

Rather not deal with it yourself? I usually replace a basin or kitchen tap within an hour – in Prague for 1,450 CZK including travel, plus the tap. English spoken. → Plumber Prague · +420 774 399 400

Dripping tap: do you need a whole new one?

Often not. A dripping single-lever mixer usually has a worn cartridge – replace it for a few hundred crowns and the tap keeps going. Older two-handle taps just need a new washer. Replacing the whole tap makes sense when it’s corroded, cracked, or you simply want a new look.

Which type of tap are you replacing

  • Deck-mounted basin mixer – the easiest swap; held by a nut under the basin and connected with flexible hoses to the isolation valves.
  • Kitchen sink mixer – same principle, just with worse access inside the cabinet.
  • Wall-mounted bath and shower mixer – screws onto two offset connectors in the wall. Standard spacing is 150 mm; the offsets allow small adjustments.
  • Thermostatic mixer – if the shower won’t hold its temperature, often a new thermostatic cartridge and clean filters are all it takes.

When You Can Replace It Yourself

If all of the following apply, you can replace the faucet without trouble:

  • You have access to the water shut-off valve (under the basin, at the bath, or the main stopcock)
  • The new faucet has the same hole spacing as the old one
  • The old faucet isn’t seized or otherwise stuck

You’ll need: an adjustable wrench or basin wrench, seals (usually included with the faucet), a fitting kit and PTFE tape.

Step-by-Step Replacement

1. Turn Off the Water

The most important step – and the most often forgotten. Shut off both the cold and hot water supply. Then open the tap and let the residual water drain from the pipe.

2. Remove the Old Faucet

  • Loosen the supply hose connections (under the basin or bath)
  • Loosen the back nut that holds the faucet to the basin (usually through the hole in the sink)
  • Remove the old faucet

Note: in older installations the connections may be seized. Apply WD-40 and leave it to soak for 15–30 minutes.

3. Prepare the New Faucet

Check the seals and the included parts. Wrap PTFE tape around the supply thread (3–5 turns in the direction of the thread).

4. Fit the New Faucet

  • Insert the faucet into the hole in the basin
  • Tighten the back nut (firmly, but don’t overdo it – ceramic and resin sinks can crack)
  • Connect the water supply hoses
  • Gradually open the water supply and check for leaks

5. Test

Let the water run for at least 2 minutes and check all connections. If there’s a drip – tighten. Still dripping? The seal is probably missing or the PTFE tape wasn’t applied correctly.

When to Call a Plumber

There are situations where faucet replacement goes beyond DIY territory:

  • Seized or stuck connections – forcing them incorrectly can crack the pipe
  • Damaged pipework – if you spot rust or a hairline crack
  • New faucet has different hole spacing – requires rerouting the pipework
  • Installation is 20+ years old – older copper or lead pipes are brittle
  • Water leak behind the wall – always a job for a professional

Seized connections, stuck isolation valves and wall-mounted mixer replacements are all part of my plumbing services in Prague – send a photo and I’ll give you an estimate.

How to Avoid Problems in Future

  • A quality faucet will last 10–15 years. Don’t buy the cheapest option – mid-range is worth it
  • Check the seals once a year and tighten the back nut
  • If the faucet starts to drip, don’t leave it – a minor repair is cheaper than replacing the whole faucet

How Much Does It Cost?

A new faucet ranges from around CZK 500 (basic) to CZK 3,000+ (designer or thermostatic). Replacing a basin or kitchen tap usually fits within my first hour – so 1,450 CZK including travel. A wall-mounted bath mixer takes 1–1.5 hours.

→ Pricing and all the plumbing jobs I do: plumber Prague – tap replacement and minor repairs.

Got a dripping tap or want to replace an old faucet? Call +420 774 399 400 or send a photo – details on the Plumber Prague page.