THE SHORT ANSWER
Where does water first appear?
Start with where water first appears, not just where it collects. A damp ring at the tap-to-sink join, water below the lever and a leak at a swivel-spout joint can need different repairs. Splashing or runoff can also leave the deck wet. Note the location and timing before choosing a part.
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Where does water first appear around the tap?
Water found on the sink deck can be splash, water running down from higher on the fitting, or an active leak. Begin with what you have already seen: the wettest point or the first place a drop appeared. Do not deliberately run the tap to test a theory.
| What you observed | What the location tells you | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| Water keeps appearing at the circular join where the tap body meets the sink/deck. | This is the reported base location, but water may have run down from above. The wet point alone does not prove which seal or connection is involved. | If it continues, stop using that tap for now and arrange a plumber/landlord assessment. Do not tighten the mounting nut or add sealant. |
| Water is on the deck after ordinary use, with no drop seen coming from the tap. | Splashing or runoff may leave water near the base; the puddle is not proof of a base leak. | Note when it was already seen and where it first appeared. Do not run water again just to reproduce it. |
| Water appears around a handle or lever cap. | This is a different visible point from the tap-to-sink join. Hansgrohe discusses base and lever-cap leaks separately from spout drips on its own mixers. | Report the exact point and tap make/model if visible; do not remove the cap. |
| Water appears around the joint of a movable swivel spout. | This is another visible joint, separate from the deck. Moisture here does not identify an internal seal or part. | Describe where it already appeared. Do not move the spout back and forth to test it. |
| Water runs down the tap body from a higher point. | The water collecting at the deck may not have started at the base. | Report the first visible point rather than assuming the deck seal has failed. |
| Water is beneath the sink near a pipe or supply connection. | This is an under-sink leak location, not a top-side tap-base leak. | Keep clear if the cabinet or fittings are wet; do not reach in or tighten an unidentified connection. |
| Water comes from the spout after the tap is turned off. | That is a spout-drip symptom, separate from water escaping at the base. | See the dripping-tap guide for the short residual drip versus continuing drip distinction. |
If it is spreading or near electrics
Keep people away from wet areas and electrical equipment. Do not reach through water or touch a wet appliance, socket or exposed wire. Seek urgent plumbing help; affected electrical equipment needs suitable assessment.
Follow the symptom that matches
Use the separate guide if water is coming from the spout after shutoff or from beneath the sink.
Which tap joint is wet?
A tap has several visible boundaries: the body where it meets the sink, the handle or lever cap, and - on some designs - a movable spout joint. Water may also run down from a higher surface. These locations help you describe what happened; they do not show that a particular seal, valve or cartridge has failed.
Tap-to-sink base
At the sink/deck join
Tell the plumber whether water was first seen right at the foot of the tap or simply pooled nearby. A puddle can have arrived from somewhere higher.
Handle/cap
At the handle or lever cap
This is not the same location as the tap foot or spout outlet. On Hansgrohe mixers, the maker routes base/lever-cap leakage separately from spout dripping and recommends assessment.
Swivel joint
At a movable spout joint
If water was already noticed at a swivel joint, report that point and whether it was during normal use. Do not swivel repeatedly to recreate a leak or select a seal from appearance.
If the only sign is dampness on the deck after washing up, you may not know whether it is splash, runoff or a leak. Record what you actually saw and ask for an inspection if water keeps returning.
For its own mixers, Hansgrohe says a base or lever-cap leak may involve a faulty or limescale-coated cartridge, or another cause. The cartridge is an internal tap assembly; it is not identified just by seeing a puddle at the foot. The exact model and first leak point help determine which component needs attention.
What can you observe without testing or taking the tap apart?
From a dry, safe position, use the location and timing you have noticed during ordinary use. You do not need to dismantle anything or deliberately recreate a leak. If water is uncontrolled or near electrical equipment, stop the check and seek help.
Write down the first point you saw
Was it at the tap-to-sink join, handle/lever cap, swivel-spout joint, higher on the body, only on the deck, or beneath the sink? If you are unsure, say so rather than guessing.
Record when it was already noticed
Note whether it appeared during normal tap use, after splashing, while the tap was off, or at a time when nobody was using it. Do not operate the tap again just to recreate the leak.
Identify the fitting only from visible information
If a make or model is printed on an existing document or visible without removing anything, write it down. Do not take off a handle, cap, panel or trim to find a label.
Keep the wet area safe
If water is spreading or near electrical equipment, keep clear and get urgent help. Do not enter a wet cabinet, touch an unknown pipe or try to stop the leak by tightening a fitting.
Can you tighten or reseal the tap base yourself?
The correct repair depends on where the leak starts and the exact fitting. A lever-cap leak, a swivel-joint leak and water running down onto the deck do not automatically call for the same seal or cartridge. Identify the model before ordering parts or following repair instructions.
Avoid a guessed repair
Do not tighten a mounting nut, add sealant, remove the tap or replace an O-ring based only on where water has collected. A plumber or the manufacturer can identify the exact fitting and the correct repair instructions.
If the tap is under warranty, contact the manufacturer or supplier before dismantling it. If you rent, tell your landlord or managing agent where and when the water appeared.
When should you call a plumber or landlord?
Prompt assessment
Water keeps appearing at the tap base
Stop using that tap for now if practical and arrange a plumber/landlord assessment. Explain whether you saw a drop begin at the deck join or only found water pooled nearby.
Under-sink route
Water is underneath the sink
This is a different leak location. Do not reach into a wet cabinet or tighten a supply connection; report the location and seek prompt plumbing help.
Urgent safety
Water is spreading or near electrics
Keep clear of wet areas and electrical equipment and seek urgent help. Have affected equipment checked by a suitable electrician.
Useful details are the first point where water appeared, whether it happened during use or while off, whether it spread below the sink, and any visible make/model. A clear photo from a safe position can help show the location.
How much does it cost to fix a tap leaking at the base?
There is no directly matched UK price here for a leak at the tap-to-sink base. The work may differ if water is coming from a handle, movable joint, higher point or below the sink, so a dripping-spout estimate would not be a sound comparison. Ask for an itemised current quote after the source is identified.
Before booking
Ask what the visit includes
Check the call-out or diagnostic fee, labour, any model-compatible seals or parts, and VAT. Ask whether a return visit, replacement tap or additional access work would cost extra.
Scope the work
Confirm the repair matches the leak point
Ask the plumber to explain where the water started and why the proposed work addresses that point. A damp patch at the deck alone does not identify a failed component.
Common questions about a tap leaking from its base
Does water on the sink deck mean the tap base is leaking?
Not necessarily. Water may have splashed or run down from a higher point. If you did not see where it first appeared, say that rather than assuming the deck joint is the source.
Is a tap-base leak the same as a drip from the spout?
No. A spout drip exits the outlet; water at the tap foot, handle or lever cap is a different visible location. The source location still does not identify a failed part.
What if water is around a swivel spout?
Record that the water appeared at the movable joint if you already saw it. Do not move the spout repeatedly to reproduce the leak or select an O-ring from appearance. Ask for model-specific assessment.
Can I tighten the tap nut or add sealant?
This guide does not provide a generic tightening or resealing method. The leak may not have begun at the point where water pooled, and tap construction varies.
What if I find water beneath the sink?
That is a separate under-sink leak location. Do not reach into a wet cabinet or tighten an unidentified pipe connection; use the matching guide and seek prompt help.
When is it urgent?
Seek urgent help for uncontrolled water, water spreading onto the floor or water reaching electrical equipment. A small recurring leak still needs prompt attention, but dampness on the deck alone does not establish an emergency.
How much should the repair cost?
There is no matched figure for this leak location. Ask for an itemised estimate after the plumber identifies the source, including labour, parts, call-out and VAT.
EVIDENCE & ACCOUNTABILITY
Sources and review
Prepared by Plumber.org.uk with AI assistance, using the sources listed below. These sources support the explanations; they do not endorse this website.
Source-checked guide with independent editorial review and AI-assisted research. No professional plumbing review is claimed. Initial research: 2026-09-28. Updated: 2026-09-30. This is general information, not an assessment of your installation. Prices can change; confirm compatibility and the full repair quote before buying or booking.
How we research and update guides. Spotted an error? Contact us with the page address and the detail to check. This form is for general enquiries and editorial feedback, not emergency assistance.
- Hansgrohe UK - Basin taps: more than just taps
Accessed 2026-09-28. FAQ “What should I do if my tap is dripping?”: a permanent off-state drip from a mixer may involve a faulty or limescale-coated cartridge. The next FAQ “The bottom of my tap is leaking” separately identifies water escaping at the basin base or lever cap and recommends a plumber assess the cause. Used as qualified manufacturer guidance, not a diagnosis of an unidentified fitting.
- Wickes - How to fix a dripping tap
Accessed 2026-09-28. Headings “What causes taps to drip?” and “How to fix a compression valve tap”: distinguishes a rubber washer in a full-turn compression tap from ceramic-disc taps that open within half a turn; identifies spout, handle and base as different leak locations. Steps 1 - 4 describe one generic compression-valve washer sequence, and the preparation section says isolate supply and drain excess water. The sequence is not adopted as a generic action here because the page does not resolve all fitting/valve variations, exact compatible parts and a complete post-restoration leak check for an unidentified tap.
- Electrical Safety First - Electrical safety after a flood
Current page accessed 28 Sep 2026: keep clear of exposed wiring and water-damaged electrical equipment; have affected equipment checked by an electrician.
- Screwfix (UK) - How to change a tap cartridge
Accessed 2026-09-28. Steps 1 and 7 explain isolating supply, slowly restoring water, checking the tap while off for drips around the retaining nut/base, then checking flow/control and looking underneath for leaks (page lines 86 - 89 and 129 - 145). Used only as general commissioning evidence to identify useful checks; no model-specific cartridge removal steps are copied.