When you’re matching tap spares, start with the worn part - cartridge, washer, valve, handle parts or seals - and the route is usually clear. A ceramic tap cartridge suits stiff or drippy action, while tap washers and simple tap valves are the cheaper fix on older compression gear. If the body’s sound, replacement tap parts are the sensible buy; if the internals are badly worn, it’s usually better to change the full set of tap repair parts than chase one bit at a time.
Tap Washer with Jumper - Flat 3/4" 2 Pack
Flat 3/4" tap washer with jumper, 2-pack
National Shower Spares I/C CC4 Ceramic Tap Cartridge - 2 Pack
2-pack 12.7mm ceramic tap cartridges with brass body
Bristan Bath Tap Reviver With Lever Handles - R 3/4
Bath tap reviver with lever handles, compatible with 3/4" taps
Top Hat Spacing Washer - 1/2" to 3/4"
Plastic top hat spacing washer for securing taps with a back nut
4TRADE Fibre Tap Washer - 12.7mm 10 Pack
Red fibre tap washer, 12.7mm, 10 pack
16 Tap Washers, Mixed Sizes - 3/8, 1/2, 3/4 Inch Washers
Pack of 16 mixed-size tap washers for repair and maintenance
Inventive Creations Ceramic Tap Cartridge Hot and Cold Pair - 12.7mm
12.7 millimetres ceramic disc tap cartridge hot and cold pair
National Shower Spares Ceramic Tap Cartridge Pair
Ceramic tap cartridge pair for quarter turn taps, 1/2-inch
National Shower Spares I/C Ceramic Tap Cartridge - 2 Pack
12.7mm ceramic tap cartridge pair with brass body for hot and cold water
Ceramic Tap Gland Limited Turn - 1/2" with 8mm Spline 2 Pack
Pack of two ceramic limited turn tap glands with 8mm spline and threaded collar …
You narrow tap spares by the failed part first, then by how much of the assembly you’re keeping. A replacement tap cartridge makes sense when the internals are the issue and the rest of the tap is worth saving. Tap washers and tap valves still suit older compression gear where the wear is local and the body’s serviceable. Tap handles and other replacement tap parts come into play when the fault is mechanical or cosmetic rather than inside the valve. The job usually turns on access, matching the spline or fixing pattern, and whether you need a quick repair or a fuller strip-down with tap repair parts.
For most jobs, you’re choosing between a full tap cartridge, separate tap valves, or loose tap washers and small tap spare parts.
Cartridges suit single-lever and many modern mixers because you swap the working unit in one go. That usually saves time and avoids chasing a mix of worn bits.
Valves and washers make more sense on older compression gear, where the fault is often in the seat or seal rather than the whole body. If the handle is sloppy or damaged, tap handles and related replacement tap parts can be the cleaner fix, but only if the rest of the mechanism is sound.
If you’re matching a part to the tap itself, start from the parent range of Taps.
Material is where you narrow it down. A ceramic tap cartridge is usually the call when you want a harder-wearing internal and a smoother feel at the handle, but it can be less forgiving if the body or seat is already worn.
Older tap spares with washers or valves still make sense on compression gear, especially when you’re keeping an existing fitting going rather than changing the whole set. Check the handle parts as well. If the mechanism is sound and the fault is just the top end, that’s a cheaper fix than changing the internals.
For the matching ranges, Bathroom Taps and Bidet Taps are the sibling pages to look at next.
Once the tap’s sorted, the next call is usually the bits around it that finish the job properly - the right waste, matching handles, and any trim that stops a repair looking half done. That’s where tap spares earn their keep. You can change the worn internal without replacing the whole fitting, but only if the rest of the assembly is still serviceable.
If the handle is sloppy or the head’s damaged, you’re into tap handles or other replacement tap parts as well. On older gear, check the tap washers and valves before you start swapping internals. That’s often the bit that’s actually failed.












