Common plumbing problems in Kathmandu homes — and what causes them

A tap that drips constantly is usually a worn washer or cartridge rather than a major fault. Left alone it wastes water, wears the fitting further, and can leave lime and staining around the basin.

That said, a tap leaking from its base or from the spout while closed points to a bigger issue — a cracked body or a failing cartridge — and a replacement is often the honest recommendation over repeated repairs.

The most common cause of a hidden leak is a joint that was never sealed properly the first time, or a pipe that has been knocked and shifted. Signs include damp patches on ceilings under bathrooms, paint blistering near pipes, water marks on walls, or an unexplained rise in water bills.

A small weep can stay hidden for weeks while it damages plaster and timber behind the scenes. If you suspect a leak but can't find it, don't keep searching with a torch — this is exactly the kind of job where shutting off the supply and tracing the lines properly is the reliable approach.

Pressure problems in Kathmandu homes often trace back to the house itself rather than the municipal supply — partly closed valves along the line, old galvanised pipe narrowed with rust, or a faulty pressure system. The symptom to watch for is pressure that is fine on the ground floor and weak upstairs.

Telling the difference matters because the fix is different in each case. That's why the first step should be checking valve positions and the condition of the pipes, not replacing equipment at random.

Basin mixers, shower fittings and toilet internals fail with age — seals harden, bodies crack, and soft hoses weaken. Installing a fitting correctly the first time, with the right sealing and the right joints, is what stops it becoming a water-damage problem six months later.

If you're renovating a bathroom, having the fittings and pipes done together, in the right order, saves a lot of trouble compared with patching a finished room.