From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

My most used water butt is leaking around the tap.
It was already leaking slightly when I emptied it to clear a blockage in
the tap and remove years of silt from the bottom.
I thought I had refitted it tightly but the leak is now far worse.

Replace the washer(s)!
I can't find a pack of washers linked to water butts.
Just complete taps.
They are mainly under -u10.

Is it worth searching further for washers, or just get a new tap?
Would a new tap be better anyway?

Trivial choices really, but I wonder why there isn't a replacement washer
kit?

Cheers



Dave R
--
AMD FX-6300 in GA-990X-Gaming SLI-CF running Windows 10 x64

--
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. www.avast.com
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From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 11 Aug 2026, David wrote

My most used water butt is leaking around the tap.
It was already leaking slightly when I emptied it to clear a
blockage in the tap and remove years of silt from the bottom.
I thought I had refitted it tightly but the leak is now far worse.

Replace the washer(s)!
I can't find a pack of washers linked to water butts.
Just complete taps.
They are mainly under -u10.

Is it worth searching further for washers, or just get a new tap?

I vote for a new tap.

Would a new tap be better anyway?

Probably....

Trivial choices really, but I wonder why there isn't a replacement
washer kit?

Maybe because the taps are so cheap and ubiquitous, it's not worth
producing or stocking the washers by themselves.

(I suspect I've got one or two taps kicking around somewhere in the
shed.)
--
Cheers, Harvey
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From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On Tue, 11 Aug 2026 13:50:47 +0100, HVS wrote:

On 11 Aug 2026, David wrote

My most used water butt is leaking around the tap.
It was already leaking slightly when I emptied it to clear a blockage
in the tap and remove years of silt from the bottom.
I thought I had refitted it tightly but the leak is now far worse.

Replace the washer(s)!
I can't find a pack of washers linked to water butts.
Just complete taps.
They are mainly under -u10.

Is it worth searching further for washers, or just get a new tap?

I vote for a new tap.

Would a new tap be better anyway?

Probably....

Trivial choices really, but I wonder why there isn't a replacement
washer kit?

Maybe because the taps are so cheap and ubiquitous, it's not worth
producing or stocking the washers by themselves.

(I suspect I've got one or two taps kicking around somewhere in the
shed.)

I suspect that I may have a spare washer or two in amongst the acres of
"left over but might come in useful some time".

I get the occasional unexpected win, but in this case I think new tap (or taps) called for.

Possibly with a hose snap on connector to make filling easier.

Cheers



Dave R
--
AMD FX-6300 in GA-990X-Gaming SLI-CF running Windows 10 x64

--
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. www.avast.com
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From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 8/11/26 13:25, David wrote:

My most used water butt is leaking around the tap.
It was already leaking slightly when I emptied it to clear a blockage in
the tap and remove years of silt from the bottom.
I thought I had refitted it tightly but the leak is now far worse.

Replace the washer(s)!
I can't find a pack of washers linked to water butts.
Just complete taps.
They are mainly under -u10.

Is it worth searching further for washers, or just get a new tap?
Would a new tap be better anyway?

Trivial choices really, but I wonder why there isn't a replacement washer kit?

Cheers

Dave R

<https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CMLFX35Q>

Take it off, see what size it needs, see if assorted pack contains the
right size. If it does, you might have the right sized washer the next
time you need one.
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From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

David <wibble@btinternet.com> wrote:

On Tue, 11 Aug 2026 13:50:47 +0100, HVS wrote:

On 11 Aug 2026, David wrote

My most used water butt is leaking around the tap.
It was already leaking slightly when I emptied it to clear a blockage
in the tap and remove years of silt from the bottom.
I thought I had refitted it tightly but the leak is now far worse.

Replace the washer(s)!
I can't find a pack of washers linked to water butts.
Just complete taps.
They are mainly under -u10.

Is it worth searching further for washers, or just get a new tap?

I vote for a new tap.

Would a new tap be better anyway?

Probably....

Trivial choices really, but I wonder why there isn't a replacement
washer kit?

Maybe because the taps are so cheap and ubiquitous, it's not worth
producing or stocking the washers by themselves.

(I suspect I've got one or two taps kicking around somewhere in the
shed.)

I suspect that I may have a spare washer or two in amongst the acres of "left over but might come in useful some time".

I get the occasional unexpected win, but in this case I think new tap (or taps) called for.

Possibly with a hose snap on connector to make filling easier.

Cheers

Dave R

Generously apply silicone grease to the tap thread and both sides of the sealing washer, and ensure the tap is fully tightened.
--
Spike
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From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 11/08/2026 13:25, David wrote:

My most used water butt is leaking around the tap.
It was already leaking slightly when I emptied it to clear a blockage in
the tap and remove years of silt from the bottom.
I thought I had refitted it tightly but the leak is now far worse.

Replace the washer(s)!
I can't find a pack of washers linked to water butts.
Just complete taps.
They are mainly under -u10.

Is it worth searching further for washers, or just get a new tap?
Would a new tap be better anyway?

Trivial choices really, but I wonder why there isn't a replacement washer kit?

When I 'installed' three water barrels for SWMBO, I discovered that
these tall slender barrels were much taller than my arm is long, and
trying to screw on the tap back nut was an 'interesting' problem.

I can't recall how I ever managed then, but if they ever start to leak I
will not be fixing it by an extra turn on that back nut.
--
Sam Plusnet
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From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

Pancho <Pancho.Jones@protonmail.com> wrote:

<https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CMLFX35Q>

Take it off, see what size it needs, see if assorted pack contains the
right size. If it does, you might have the right sized washer the next
time you need one.

Also to note that packs of those washers turn up at Aldidl regularly, eg: https://www.lidl.co.uk/p/parkside-assorted-sealing-washers-140-pieces/p10052040

Those are O-rings, but when I went in yesterday Lidl also had similar packs
of washers too.

Maybe the wrong size, but perhaps worth keeping in stock for next time you
need such a washer? Especially if the application isn't super fussy about
the dimensions (eg for a water butt the ID might matter but not the OD or thickness)

Theo
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From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

David <wibble@btinternet.com> wrote:

My most used water butt is leaking around the tap. It was already leaking slightly when I emptied it to clear a blockage in the tap and remove years
of silt from the bottom. I thought I had refitted it tightly but the leak
is now far worse.

Replace the washer(s)! I can't find a pack of washers linked to water
butts. Just complete taps. They are mainly under -u10.

Is it worth searching further for washers, or just get a new tap? Would a
new tap be better anyway?

Trivial choices really, but I wonder why there isn't a replacement washer kit?

I made a "grunnit" (old plumbers name) out of thick (gas) ptfe tape to fix mine.
--
braind
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From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

On 11 Aug 2026 at 20:21:36 BST, "Sam Plusnet" <not@home.com> wrote:

<font color="#000000">...</font>
When I 'installed' three water barrels for SWMBO, I discovered that
these tall slender barrels were much taller than my arm is long, and
trying to screw on the tap back nut was an 'interesting' problem.

I can't recall how I ever managed then, but if they ever start to leak I
will not be fixing it by an extra turn on that back nut.

I was going to mention this problem, too.

I've got big butts, and a couple of thinner ones ... I, also, can't remember how I screwed the nut on the tap in the thinner ones [1], but I remember crawling inside the big ones to do it (having laid them on their side, on the lawn).

ONE of the bigger ones has a threaded orifice for the tap - that one is easy (probably made in Germany!).

[1] I may have used a big old tractor spanner that I have to hold the nut in place, then screwed the tap on to it. (Still requires contortions, but the spanner's long enough to make it possible).

PS Yes David: I vote for the tap solution.

AJ
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