Not all taps are created equal

When it comes to taps there are 3 main types. 

Jumper valve.

Ceramic disc.

Cartridge.

They all control the delivery of water just in different ways.

Jumper valves:

Jumper valves rely on a washer to control the flow of water by lifting up of a brass seat when the handle is turned on (righty tighty, lefty loosy). Over time the washer gets worn out or a groove called pitting occurs in the brass seat. Its similar to how water has created the grand canyon, just on a way smaller scale, both in time and size. When this happens the taps needs be pulled apart the washers replace and the brass seat re-seated. O-rings, fibre washers and grease are also involved if the tap is being properly serviced.

The type of jumper valve you use, the water pressure, and impurities in the water all play a part in how long it will be until you can expect it to start leaking again. 

Generally, jumper valve style taps will start leaking before ceramic disc or cartridge style taps.

Ceramic disc:

Ceramic disc taps have 2 discs....that are ceramic and both have a hole in them. When the tap is turned on (1/4, 1/2 or 3/4 turn) the holes line up water comes out the tap. They usually have leaver handles for the hot and cold. There's contra turn which isn't righty tighty, lefty loosy, and pro turn which is, but let's not get to deep into that right now. Ceramic disc taps are usually considered to have the longest life span, but when they do start to leak, you cant just service, or replace the ceramic discs, you have to replace the whole spindle, and there are lots of different ceramic disc spindles. It isn't just a one size fits all scenario. So while they most likely last the longest, they are probably also the most expensive to repair when they start leaking.

Cartridges:

These are what's inside your flip (or flick) mixer taps. There the taps with a single handle you turn left and right for hot and cold (hot on the left and cold on the right). You've probably got one on your kitchen sink. Depending on how sentimentally attached you are to your kitchen, basin or laundry mixer tap, or how fancy or old it is, sometimes its just better to replace the whole tap and be done with it. If you have a mixer tap in the wall, then sourcing a replacement cartridge is a better t er option than chopping out a wall and tiles to replace the cartridge housing. 

Well there you have it folks. I hope you found this informative and thanks for listening to my TED talk and have a great day/night.