How To Repair a Leaking Bathtub Faucet

How To Repair a Leaking Tub Faucet - Replace worn out parts in a bathtub faucet.

The drip, drip, drip of a leaking tub faucet is a constant reminder to fix it. Go ahead—you’ll love the savings on your water bill!

The entire job, with special tools, may set you back $80 to $90, but that’s a lot cheaper than hiring a plumber, and usually cheaper and easier than tearing out the old faucet and installing a new one.

Worn rubber washers, seals or gaskets in the valve assembly cause most leaks. In this article, we’ll show you how to fix a stem-type valve, which is common in older, two-handle faucets (separate hot and cold). We won’t cover single-handle faucets here.

Repair a Leaking Tub Faucet: What You Need

You can fix most problems with the replacement parts available at bathroom hardware stores and home centers. A plumbing parts distributor will carry a much larger selection and may be able to special-order hard-to-find items (look under “Plumbing Parts and Supplies” in your local Yellow Pages).

There are thousands of different faucet replacement parts available, so bring your old parts to the store for a proper match. If your valve is highly corroded or the finish is wearing off, replace the entire faucet.

Removing the faucet handle is the toughest part of the job. Over time, corrosion can virtually weld the handle to the stem. Remove the handle. If the handle won’t come off, don’t force it—it might break. Instead, remove it with a special handle puller ($10 to $20).

Once the handle’s off, unscrew the escutcheon and stem assembly. The stem assembly controls the amount and temperature of the water dispensed through the tub spout or shower head. Remove it with a special bath socket wrench, which looks like a spark plug wrench on steroids.

Leaks usually occur for two reasons. Over time, the seat washer stiffens and won’t seal tightly. And water pressure gradually erodes the brass rim of the seat. Replace the seat using a special seat wrench ($10 to $20).

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

Stem Assembly And Replacement Parts

To Replace The Stem Parts:

1. Unscrew the packing nut. Twist the stem clockwise and back it out of the bonnet. Pry out the old packing washer with a small flat-blade screwdriver or pick. Grease the stem threads and reinstall the stem 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. Remove the old seat washer screw and the old seat washer. Grease the new seat washer and the threads of the new screw and then reinstall them.

3. Pull off the old bonnet washer, grease the new one and slide it in place.

4. Apply pipe joint compound to the bonnet threads and reinstall it in the faucet body.

5. Grease the handle splines and replace the escutcheon and faucet handle.

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Repair a leaky faucet in six easy steps

Repair a leakey faucet with a few plumbing tips. Dripping water faucets are not only aggrivating, but also costly. Learn how to repair a leaky faucet using six, easy-to-follow steps.

Leaking water faucets are not only bothersome, but also costly. Small leaks can waste up to 3-gallons of water each day and permanently create water spots and stains in the base of your sink. Calling a plumber can also be expensive. If the constant drip in your sink is driving you mad, learn to fix the faucet yourself, saving time and money.

A NOTE ABOUT FAUCETS

There are many types of faucets on the market today. Even though they may look different, they all have the same basic parts and are put together in the same basic fashion. Most baths and bathrooms have "mixing faucets" or "stem faucets," which allow the user to select temperature settings by controlling the hot and cold handles. Mixing faucets and stem faucets have two individual units, both of which may need to be prepared.

CAUSES OF WATER LEAKS

LOOSE NUTS
If water is leaking around the packing nut area or at the base of the handle, your connection is probably just loose. Use an adjustable wrench and tighten the nut located just below the handle. (Note: In some bathroom faucets, the nut may be located inside a designer handle. Pull the handle off to reveal the faucet's hardware.)

WASHER TROUBLE
The majority of all faucet leaks are caused by washers which are worn, improperly installed or are the wrong size. Signs of poor washers include water which drips or runs out of the handles, slow leaks coming from the faucet, and water which collects or pools around the back of the handle area of the faucet. If you're working with a stem faucet, you can determine which unit is leaking by shutting off the water supply in stages. Begin by turning off the hot water to check for leaks. If the dripping has stopped, it is the hot water valve unit washer you'll need to replace. Follow the steps below to replace old washers with new:

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

Washers of several different sizes.
An adjustable wrench.
Screwdriver.

STEP 1
Turn off the main water supply to the sink you're working on. This cannot be over stressed. We've all seen enough bad sitcom water-disaster episodes to know that you need to do more than shut off the faucet valves. You'll find the shut-off valve close to the faucet you're repairing. It's usually located under the sink basin or inside a floor cabinet Double check that you've turned the water source off by turning on the faucet. If no water comes out, you're ready for step two.

STEP TWO
Turning counter-clockwise, loosen the packing nut. (The packing nut is located just below or inside the individual faucet handles. If you're working with a decorate bathroom faucet handle, you'll first need to remove the decorator covering.) Using the faucet handle, pull out the entire valve unit by twisting and turning it until it pulls free.

STEP THREE
Holding the valve unit in your hand, locate the old washer. (It will most likely be at the bottom of the valve unit itself.) Remove the screw that is holding the old washer in place.

STEP FOUR
Using the old washer as your size guide, replace the old washer with one of equal size. Now replace the screw.

STEP FIVE
Place the valve unit back into the faucet, turning the handle to its proper position before tightening.

STEP SIX
Tighten the packing nut and turn the water back on. Test for leaks.
If your faucet continues to leak and you're fairly certain the washer is to blame, try replacing your old washer with one of a different size.

HELPFUL FAUCET REPAIR TIPS

BY WRAPPING the jaws of your pliers or wrench with masking or duct tape you'll prevent marring and damaging the soft metal parts of your faucet.

ALWAYS close the drain before attempting any faucet repair. This will prevent parts from slipping down into the drain as you're working.

PAY ATTENTION to the order in which you're removing parts so that you know how to reassemble them when you're finished.

LUBRICATE threads with plumber's grease to increase the seal.

WASHERS located on hot controlling temperature handles wear out twice as fast as those which control cold water.

Fixing a Compression Faucet Leak, how to fix a faucet, How to Repair a Leaking Faucet, How to Repair a Single-Handled Cartridge Faucet, Repairing a Leaky Cartridge Faucet.