Taps rarely fail overnight — they warn you first. A handle that needs an extra quarter-turn to stop dripping means the cartridge is worn, and a spout that sputters is usually a clogged aerator begging for a vinegar soak.

Watch for the quieter signs too: a drop in flow on hot only (scale in the valve), stiffness when the seasons change (perished O-rings), and any green crust around the base (a slow base leak that will stain the basin).

Any one of these is a ten-minute fix with a cartridge kit. Three or more together means the tap has earned retirement — and a modern ceramic-disc mixer will pay for itself in water saved within a year.