How to Fix a Leaking Bathtub Faucet

This simple DIY repair saves money and water. Larn how to set a leaky bathtub faucet.

Fourth dimension

A total day

Complication

Intermediate

Price

$51–100

Introduction

You don't have to put upwardly with the slow drip from a leaky faucet, nor with the growing stain information technology oftentimes leaves in the tub or shower. Fix it now and you'll prevent those headaches and save on y'all water neb too. The entire job, with special tools, may set you lot dorsum a scrap of cash, just doing it yourself is a lot cheaper than hiring a plumber, and usually much cheaper and easier than fierce out the one-time faucet and installing a new ane.

Worn rubber washers, seals or gaskets in the valve assembly cause most leaks. Here we'll bear witness you how to set a stem-blazon valve, which is common in older, two-handle faucets (separate hot and common cold). Nosotros won't cover single-handle faucets hither.

Tools Required

Materials Required

  • Plumber's grease
  • Stem valve repair parts

Make sure you accept new parts bachelor

The commencement step for bathtub faucet repair is to make sure you take the new parts that you need. You can fix most bathtub plumbing issues with the replacement parts available at hardware stores and domicile centers. A plumbing parts distributor volition carry a much larger pick and may be able to special-gild difficult-to-find items. There are thousands of dissimilar faucet replacement parts available to fix a leaky bathtub faucet, then bring your old parts to the store for a proper match to set up a leaky bathtub faucet. If your valve is highly corroded or the finish is wearing off, supplant the entire faucet. Salve money past doing simple plumbing repairs yourself. These plumbing fixes are completely DIY with basic tools and skills.

Project stride-by-step (6)

Step ane

Disassemble the faucet: Pry off the handle insert

leaky bathtub faucet remove handle insert

Removing the faucet handle is the toughest part of the job. Over fourth dimension, corrosion tin can virtually weld the handle to the stem. Shut off the water supply to the faucet and open the valves to bleed excess water from the system. Pry off the handle insert with the thin bract of a knife.

Step two

Bathtub Handle Replacement: Remove the Handle Screw

remove handle screw

Remove the handle screw. Then wiggle the handle and pull information technology off. If the handle doesn't come off, heat it with a hair dryer to gratuitous it. Be careful; if yous pull too hard, it'll suspension.

Step 3

Bathtub Handle Replacement: Popular loose the handle

pop loose bathtub handle

If the handle won't come off, don't strength it-it might suspension. Instead, remove information technology with a special handle puller. Turn the handle screw about halfway back into the stem. Position the handle puller's post against the screwhead and press the arms together behind the handle. Plough the post clockwise until the handle pops loose. Remove the handle screw and handle. Then pull off or unscrew the escutcheon plate.

Stride 4

Bathtub Handle Replacement: Remove the stem

remove the stem bathtub faucet

Once the handles off, unscrew the escutcheon and stem assembly (Run into Figure A below). The stem assembly controls the amount and temperature of the water dispensed through the tub spout or shower head. Remove it with a special bathroom socket wrench, which looks similar a spark plug wrench on steroids.

Slide the bathroom socket onto the stem bonnet and turn information technology counterclockwise to interruption the stem loose. If it sticks, soak it with penetrating lubricant. Unscrew and remove the stem.

Footstep v

Employ a seat wrench

seat wrench remove bathtub faucet

Leaks usually occur for 2 reasons. Over time, the seat washer stiffens and won't seal tightly. And h2o pressure level gradually erodes the brass rim of the seat. Replace the seat using a special seat wrench.

Press the seat wrench firmly into the center of the seat. Turn counterclockwise to snap the seat loose and remove information technology. If it sticks, soak information technology with penetrating lubricant. Coat the threads of the new seat with pipe dope and screw it into the fixture body with the seat wrench.

Footstep 6

Supersede the faucet stem parts

Figure A: Faucet stem assemble and replacement parts

Figure A: Bathtub faucet parts names, faucet stem assemble and replacement parts

Fig. A shows the bathtub plumbing faucet stem replacement parts and how to set the stem for reinstallation. Lubricate the parts with special plumber'due south grease. If you're working on a two-handled faucet, we recommend replacing the washers and seats in both the hot and cold valves.

  1. First, unscrew the packing nut. Twist the stem clockwise and back it out of the bonnet. Pry out the onetime packing washer with a small flat-bract screwdriver or selection. Grease the stem threads and reinstall the stalk in the bonnet. Grease the new packing washer and slide it in place, and then grease the packing nut threads and firmly tighten the packing nut. Use special plumber's grease.
  2. Second, remove the sometime seat washer screw and the old seat washer. Grease the new seat washer and the threads of the new screw and and so reinstall them.
  3. Third, pull off the one-time bonnet washer, grease the new i and slide information technology in identify.
  4. 4th, apply pipe joint compound to the bonnet threads and reinstall information technology in the faucet body (Step iv).
  5. Five, grease the handle splines and replace the escutcheon and handle.

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Originally Published: November 19, 2019