Have a look around your home and you will see how incredibly important water is to the successful running of your household. It is hard to imagine a house without running water to use to clean, wash and drink. Having well maintained fixtures to keep providing that water on demand is, therefore, very important, and if one of them starts to leak it is important to fix it as soon as possible so that you don't waste thousands of gallons down the drain.

One of my great pleasures in life is to head off early on a Saturday morning, either by myself or with a friend, and enjoy a day fishing. There's nothing quite like it to clear the mind and refresh the spirit as you sit amidst the peaceful wonders of the natural world. Not that I'm a great fisherman, I don't pretend that I catch many fish, and if I do, they don't tend to be particularly large. The joy of of not being in a busy city and the ability to be worry free for the afternoon, is more valuable then capturing a fish.

At the end of the day I head back home, clean and prepare any fish I may have caught, and then run a delicious warm bath. It is the end to a perfect day, relaxing in the hot water, often with my eyes closed for half an hour.

Of course, this is not such a great experience if I can hear the noise of a dripping. If this occurs, I usually disregard it. I must keep it in mind though because one leak could cost me infinite gallons of water per week.

In the case that the bathroom faucet is at fault, then you must disassemble it in order to discover what the problem is. If you're not sure, it is quite acceptable to take the whole tap mechanism to the plumbing store and asking them to advise you what part needs replacing. On the contrary, if there is a leaking noise, you must let the bathwater sit and search the bathroom for the dripping. It is essential this is done immediatly the more time that is wasted the greater probability of deterioration.

There is a chance that you have a leak whereby the water is traveling along the water line for some distance before it starts to drip on the floor due to the pressures of gravity. Or it could be that there is a leak where the water exits the bath. In either case, it is better to replace the parts rather than merely applying silicone, so that you stop it happening again for several years.

Or it could be that the bathtub itself has developed a leak. This is a problem that it is unlikely you can fix by yourself. The cheaper and easier option is often to replace the tub itself. However, if you have an old tub that you particularly cherish, perhaps because it is longer and deeper than many modern varieties, then get in a plumber who will be able to advise what the possible solutions are and the relevant costs.

Regardless of what you decide to do, if you have had a leak, then get in a builder to check that there has not been any significant rot or damage to your home. This is particularly true if your bath is not on the ground floor, as it could have caused your ceiling to crack, or caused damage to your walls. And you need to make sure you remove any water that is sitting on a surface because this could produce mold which can develop into a serious health hazard.