# Microsoft Copilot — raw output, 2026-09-14 09:18 (+07), free, "Автоматически" mode, one message, no follow-ups Interface Russian; answer in English. Answered in about 20 seconds as formatted text; no search chips shown; offers to identify the cartridge from a photo. Captured from the page text. Chat URL kept open for review. --- A dripping single-lever mixer tap is one of the more DIY-friendly plumbing jobs. On a 10-year-old basin mixer, the most common cause is a worn ceramic cartridge inside the tap body. The good news: you can often fix it with basic tools and a replacement cartridge. ## Before you buy anything First, determine whether the drip is: from the spout when the tap is fully off → usually the cartridge; around the handle when the tap is on → cartridge seals or O-rings; from underneath the basin → supply hoses or connections. Based on your description (dripping from the spout when off), assume the cartridge is the culprit. ## What to buy in Portugal **Initially buy:** 1. Descaling product — ask for "Desincrustante para torneiras" or "Removedor de calcário". Limescale can sometimes stop a cartridge sealing properly. 2. Silicone plumber's grease — ask for "Massa lubrificante de silicone para canalização". Avoid petroleum grease. **After opening the tap** you'll need either a replacement ceramic cartridge — ask for "Cartucho cerâmico para misturadora monocomando" or "Cartucho cerâmico para torneira de lavatório". Bring the old cartridge to the shop. This is by far the easiest way to get the correct replacement because there are many sizes. Typical sizes: 25 mm, 35 mm, 40 mm. The shop can match it visually. ## Tools you'll probably need Adjustable wrench ("chave inglesa") · Allen keys ("chaves Allen") · flat screwdriver · Phillips screwdriver · old toothbrush · cloth or rag · small bowl or container for parts. Optional but useful: penetrating oil (WD-40) · water-pump pliers ("alicate bomba de água"). **Step 1: Turn off the water** — Look under the basin. You may see two small shutoff valves: one for hot, one for cold. Turn both clockwise until they stop. Then: open the tap. Water should stop after a few seconds. If you don't have local shutoff valves, turn off the main water supply to the home. **Step 2: Remove the handle** — Most mixer taps have a decorative cap with red/blue marking, or no visible marking at all. Use a small screwdriver to carefully remove it. Underneath is usually a small Allen screw, or a Phillips screw. Loosen it and pull the handle upward. If it won't move: wiggle gently side to side, apply a little descaler around the base, wait 10 minutes. Do not force it aggressively. **Step 3: Remove the decorative cover** — Under the handle you'll usually find a decorative chrome sleeve, a retaining nut beneath it. Unscrew the chrome part by hand if possible. If stuck: wrap a cloth around it, use pliers gently. Avoid scratching the finish. **Step 4: Remove the cartridge** — Using the adjustable wrench: unscrew the retaining nut, lift the cartridge straight out. Before removing it: take a photo, note its orientation. You'll want the replacement fitted the same way. **Step 5: Inspect the cartridge** — Look for cracked plastic, worn rubber seals, heavy limescale, damaged ceramic parts. A heavily calcified cartridge may sometimes be revived temporarily by soaking in descaler, but a 10-year-old cartridge is usually best replaced. **Step 6: Clean the tap body** — Before installing the new cartridge: wipe out any debris, remove limescale deposits, check the seating surfaces. Even a grain of grit can cause dripping. **Step 7: Install the new cartridge** — Position it exactly as the old one sat. Ensure any locating pins fit their holes. Refit the retaining nut. Tighten firmly but don't over-tighten. Reassemble: decorative cover, handle, handle screw, decorative cap. **Step 8: Turn water back on** — Slowly open the isolation valves. Then: open the tap, let water flow for a minute, turn it off. Check: spout drip, handle area, under-basin connections. A few residual drops immediately after closing are normal. Continuous dripping is not. ## Try this first before buying a cartridge Because the tap is 10 years old: turn off water, disassemble to the cartridge, remove it, soak it in descaler for 20 to 30 minutes, rinse and reinstall. Sometimes limescale prevents the ceramic discs from sealing completely. If the drip remains, replace the cartridge. ## Stop and call a plumber if... **Stop immediately if:** the shutoff valves under the basin won't close; a valve starts leaking when you touch it; the retaining nut won't move and excessive force is needed; the tap body itself is cracked; you find corrosion that has weakened metal parts. **Probably call a plumber if:** the tap model requires a cartridge you can't identify; the basin pipework starts leaking after reassembly; you replace the cartridge and the tap still drips; the tap is built into stone or expensive furniture where accidental damage would be costly. ## Cost guide in Portugal Typical costs are roughly: descaler €3 to €10 · silicone grease €3 to €8 · replacement cartridge €5 to €25 · plumber visit: often €50+ before parts. So if you can isolate the water and remove the handle, it's usually worth attempting the repair yourself. If you can upload a photo of the tap (especially the handle and then the cartridge after disassembly), I can help identify exactly which cartridge type you need before you go to the hardware shop. Follow-up chips: "How to identify the cartridge size?" · "What if the handle won't come off?" · "How to check for limescale buildup?" --- First read: all six checklist steps present and in order; adds a "try descaling the old cartridge first" route and a cost guide. Portuguese terms are right ("massa lubrificante de silicone", "alicate bomba de água"). The stop list is split into "stop immediately" and "probably call", both sensible. Checks in the sheet.