Installation, replacement and repair
Tap and faucet replacement
A worn tap drips from the spout, leaks at the base or handle, or turns stiffly and will not shut off fully. Most kitchen and basin taps are swapped in under an hour, and in Singapore the new tap must carry a WELS label of at least 2 ticks.
Typical price
$50–$120per tap, labour only, tap extraTypical job time
30–60 min per tap
Estimate, confirm on WhatsApp
When to replace or repair
- Water keeps dripping from the spout after the handle is fully closed.
- Water seeps out around the base of the tap or from under the handle when it is turned on.
- The handle is stiff, wobbly, or turns too far without shutting the water off.
- Flow is weak or sprays sideways, even though other taps in the home are fine.
- The cabinet base under the sink is damp or swollen, often from a hose or connection rather than the tap itself.
- The chrome is flaking or the body is corroded, or you simply want a different tap during a renovation.
Common reasons
- A worn ceramic cartridge in a single-lever mixer, which stops sealing after years of daily use.
- Perished rubber washers in older screw-down taps, still common as original fittings in older HDB flats.
- Limescale and grit clogging the aerator at the tip of the spout.
- Flexible hoses under the sink that have rusted, kinked or started to bulge.
- A loose fixing nut under the counter, letting the tap rock and wear its seals.
- Budget taps with plated plastic parts that crack, or a pull-out hose that has worn through.
Before you call
Safe things to try first
- Unscrew the aerator at the tip of the spout, rinse out grit and scale, and refit it. This often fixes weak or spraying flow.
- Check that the angle valve under the sink or basin is fully open before assuming the tap is faulty.
- If the tap drips, close the angle valve under it to stop the drip until it is fixed.
- Take photos of the tap, the hoses and the space under the counter, and measure the cabinet depth if you want a pull-out tap. Send these with your enquiry.
Stop and call if
- A flexible hose under the sink is bulging, rusty or wet. A burst hose can flood a kitchen quickly.
- The angle valve will not turn, or starts leaking when you turn it.
- Water is coming out of the wall behind a wall-mounted tap. That may be the pipe in the wall, not the tap.
- Water has been leaking into the cabinet for a while and the base is soft or swollen.
What we do
- 1Check the tap from your photos or on site: deck-mounted or wall-mounted, single or mixer, and whether hot water is connected. Confirm the new tap carries a WELS label of 2 ticks or more.
- 2Shut the angle valves, or the main stop valve if there are none, and drain the line.
- 3Remove the old tap and hoses, clean the deck or wall face, and check the condition of the angle valves and wall threads.
- 4Fit the new tap with new flexible hoses where needed, seal the base or wall flange, and tighten the fixing from below so it does not rock.
- 5Open the valves, run hot and cold, test the pull-out hose if there is one, and check under the counter for drips after a few minutes.
How much it costs
Most tap and faucet replacement jobs in Singapore cost $50–$120 (per tap, labour only, tap extra). This is an estimate; the final price is confirmed on WhatsApp or on site before work starts.
- Replace a tap with one you supply$50–$90
- Supply and install a basic WELS-ticked tap$130–$250
- Pull-out kitchen tap or wall-mounted mixer$80–$150
- New flexible hose or angle valve on the same visit$20–$50
HDB, condo and landed
HDB
Taps, hoses and angle valves inside your flat are yours to maintain, not the town council's. Older flats often still have the original wall-mounted kitchen tap with screw-down washers. If water comes from the wall behind a tap, the concealed pipe may be leaking, which is a different job.
Condo
Fittings inside your unit are yours. Inform security or management before the visit and follow the by-laws on work hours. Closing the angle valve under the sink avoids shutting off water to the whole unit.
Landed
You own every tap, including garden and outdoor taps, which can be changed on the same visit. Know where your main stop valve is, usually near the PUB meter at the gate, in case a seized valve needs the supply shut.
Tap and faucet replacement: common questions
Do I need a PUB licensed plumber to change a tap?
No. PUB lists replacing taps, mixers and flexible hoses as work that does not need a Licensed Plumber. Repairing or replacing the water pipe inside the wall behind a tap is different and does need one.
What does the WELS tick rating mean for a new tap?
WELS is PUB's water efficiency labelling scheme. Since 1 April 2019, taps and mixers supplied and installed in Singapore must be rated 2 ticks or better. Check the label on the box, especially for taps bought from overseas websites.
Should I repair a dripping tap or replace it?
If the tap is in good condition and a cartridge or washer for that model is available, replacing the part is fine. If the tap is old, made of plated plastic, or the body itself leaks, replacing the whole tap usually makes more sense.
Will a pull-out kitchen tap fit my sink?
Check that there is room under the sink for the hose to loop and slide freely, that the tap hole is the right size, and that the counter is not too thick for the fixing. Measure and send photos of the space under the sink before buying.
My HDB kitchen only has a cold tap. Can I get a hot and cold mixer?
Only if there is a hot water supply to the sink. Many HDB kitchens have none, so a mixer needs a new hot water supply first. Ask for that to be quoted separately from the tap.
Should I replace the flexible hoses at the same time?
Usually yes. Many new taps come with their own hoses, and old braided hoses can rust from the inside and burst. Changing them while the water is already off costs little extra.
Get a price for tap and faucet replacement
Send a photo or short video, your home type and postal code. We reply with a price range and the earliest slot.
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