Why is my GROHE tap dripping or hard to turn?

GROHE tap repair: start with the cartridge

Yes, a dripping or stiff GROHE mixer can usually be repaired, and the cartridge is the place to start. On its technology page, GROHE calls the cartridge the heart of every tap. It says its SilkMove cartridge has 33 parts, two ceramic-alloy discs and an integrated lubricant reservoir for smooth handle movement. GROHE's washbasin taps guide adds that in a single-lever tap, two ultra-smooth ceramic discs inside the cartridge regulate water flow and temperature.

Because those two discs do both jobs, one worn part can cause a drip, a heavy lever and drifting temperature. A new cartridge leaves the tap body, hoses and counter alone. If the body itself is cracked or corroded, tap replacement makes more sense.

GROHE tap dripping

If water keeps falling from the spout after you close the lever, the discs no longer seal against each other. Either the disc faces have worn, or a grain of sand, rust or scale is caught between them. Debris is the likelier cause when the drip starts suddenly, for example after the water supply was shut off for works.

Water oozing from under the lever or around the base points to a seal instead, so tell your plumber where it appears.

For older taps with rubber washers and general drip checks, see our leaking tap fix guide.

Stiff handle or uneven temperature

A lever that needs a firm push, or feels gritty, usually means the cartridge is drying out or collecting scale. GROHE's technology page says the integrated lubricant reservoir in its SilkMove design keeps movement smooth, but minerals can still build up around the discs and stem. It is the same chalky film that clouds a shower screen, as our post on shower glass limescale explains.

Uneven temperature has the same root: when the discs drag, a small lever movement makes the water jump from cool to hot. First check that nobody has changed your heater setting.

Never force a seized lever; it can break the stem or cartridge housing.

Low flow from a GROHE tap

Check the spout tip first. Most mixers have an aerator, a small mesh insert that catches grit. Unscrew it, rinse the mesh and screw it back on.

If both hot and cold are weak at one tap, make sure the stop valves under the basin are fully open. Some newer mixers give a softer stream by design. PUB's Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (WELS) covers taps and mixers, so look at the label before you call it a fault. Our post on WELS ticks explained shows how to read it.

If every outlet in the flat is weak, the cause is upstream, and our guide to weak shower pressure is the better place to start.

GROHE cartridge replacement or a new tap

Find the exact model first. Cartridges differ between product lines, so a similar-looking part may not fit or seal. The box, invoice or manual should name it; failing that, photograph the tap from the front, side and underneath. GROHE Singapore's spare parts FAQ lists a service and spare parts line, +65 6311 3611, and asks you to have the product model ready before you call.

A new cartridge suits a tap whose body and finish are sound. Consider a new mixer if the body leaks, the chrome is pitting or you are renovating. If you buy new, check the WELS label, since PUB's WELS page lists taps and mixers among the products the scheme covers.

Quotes depend on the job and whether the mixer is exposed or concealed; see our tap replacement cost guide.

Other brand fittings

Many Singapore bathrooms mix brands. Do not assume a cartridge, seal or spindle from one brand fits another; find each fitting's model number and get parts through that maker's own channel. If the toilet keeps running or is slow to refill, our guide to Geberit cistern problems covers that side of the bathroom.

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