Leaking mixer tap, tiled in bath panel, no access panel ... Argh, do I need to remove?

[Spongingbobsunderpants]

We've had a v slight leak from the base of our momobloc mixer tap - a tiny bit of water pushes up from the base of the fitting when turned on. However, one of the dc has tried to swivel it today (don't think it's designed for that, or at least not that vigorously) and even when the tap,is off, water is pushing up through the fittings again.

Problem is, our bath fits between two walls and has a tiled in bath panel. The fitters, to our dismay, did not fit an access panel.

I know absolutely nothing about plumbing and was wondering does anyone know whether the problem is likely to be fixed by just being able to pop out the tap fitting externally, without having to break in via the tiled bath panel?

There is no obvious leak to the ceiling below so I don't know if we need to call someone out urgently - as I say, the original minor leak has been there for nearly two years without causing other problems. We're skint after xmas, and a bit nervous about how much the repair might be. However, I don't want to cause any longer term damage by thinking it's not serious and leaving it.

If anyone can advise I'd be so grateful.

Thanks

I am pretty sure you will have to get to the underside of the tap, and that you will have to get the bath panel out to do it. If you are lucky there will be service valves in the pipes to the tap that you can turn off while you wonder what to do. It is possible that the tap has two tiny copper pipes the size of pencils screwed into it, that have come loose. Or possibly cracked.

You are now in the right frame of mind to ensure that every future bath panel is retained by a view, easily visible, screws.

Have a look at how you get to the inside of the WC cistern too.

Thanks for your response. I 'm cross that the people who fitted the bathroom didn't think to put in an access panel. The toilet cistern is freestanding so we're ok there - we had to have that fixed recently too!