There are several ways that you can use to fix a leaky bathtub faucet. If you don’t fix a leaky bathtub faucet, your water bills will increase each month. You don’t need to pay for water that goes for waste. This is the reason you want to understand how to fix a leaky bathtub faucet. But before you fix the leaky bathtub faucet, you need to understand what makes it faulty. If you understand this, you will be able to fix the exact issue.
First, worn out seals, rubber washers, and gaskets will mostly cause your bathtub to leak. In most cases, failure of small washers leads to the leaky bathtub faucets. What is the purpose of these small washers? These small washers are used to place the pressure against the faucet which allows you to switch off the flow of water. When you realize that you are trying to turn off the faucet handle but it is not holding firm, there is an issue with the small washers and this causes the dripping of the water.
You will not need to call a plumber to fix this issue. You can do this yourself and save the cost of paying the plumber. All you need to do now is to keep a keen attention on the details of this post.
How To Fix A Leaky Bathtub Faucet: Double Handle Faucet
The process of fixing a leaky bathtub faucet for a double handle faucet is straightforward. Before you start, ensure that you shut off the water supply. If you can access the valve for this bathtub, turn it off. In case this is not possible, you will need to turn off the main water supply. Again, if this is not possible, find the location of your water meter and turn it off from this point.
This is what you need to have before you get started:
- Seat washer screws
- Flat-blade screwdriver
- Seat washers
- Phillips screwdriver
- Liquid thread sealant
- Shower stem socket
- Faucet seats
- Seat Wrench
- Penetrating spray lubricant
Now, you need to expose the faucet handle screws. You can use a flat blade screwdriver to force open the handle buttons. Next, you need to expose the valve stem. In this case, use Phillips screwdriver to take out the screws from the faucet handles.
Over each faucet stem, slide a shower stem socket and twist it in a counterclockwise direction. Keep doing it until the moment when the stems will look frozen. At this time, take out the socket and to the stem threads, smear the penetrating spray lubricant. Allow 15 minutes for the penetrating spray lubricant to work.
Into the openings left by the stems, insert a seat wrench. You need to remove the old seats by turning the wrench in the counterclockwise direction. On the new seats, apply a liquid thread sealant to its threads. You can now install the new seat in the old faucet openings. After installing the new seat, use the seat wrench to secure them by turning in the clockwise direction.
From the end of the stems, use the Phillips screwdriver to take out the seat washer screws. From the ends of the stems, you need to force open the old seat washers. This should be followed by installing the new seat washers in the respective stems.
Use the liquid thread sealant to cover the threads of the stem. Into the faucet openings, insert the stems. You now need to tighten the stems. Use the shower stem socket and turn the stem in a clockwise direction. Use the faucet handles to cover the stem. Consequently, use the handle screws to secure the faucet handles. You need to cover the screws by shattering the handle buttons on top of the faucet handles. You can now allow the water to run from the main connection.
How To Fix A Leaky Bathtub Faucet: Single Handle Faucet
Do you have a single handle bathtub faucet that is leaky? This is how to fix it. Around the valve stem, there is O-ring. When the O-ring is worn out, your single handle bathtub faucet will be leaky. How do you solve this issue? You need to replace the worn O-ring. Before you get started with the replacement, ensure that the water source to this faucet is fully closed.
This is what you need for the replacement of the O-ring:
- A new O-ring
- A pair of pliers
- Silicone grease
- Handle puller
- Adjustable wrench
Once you turn off the water from the main source, open the tap to allow water pressure to escape. Find the screw holding the faucet handle and loosen it to remove the handle. Remove all the screws holding the escutcheon plate around the place and take it off.
Locate the bonnet nut holding the faucet stem to the house and loosen it. Straight out of the faucet housing, pull out the protruding tip of the valve stem using a pair of pliers. On the exterior of the valve stem, take out the O-ring.
Before you slide the new O-ring on the valve stem, smear its interior with a little amount of silicone grease. Reassemble the faucet system and tighten it by use of the bonnet nut. Finally, reattach the handle and the escutcheon plate. You can now allow the water to run from the main valve.
Conclusion
In brief, if your bathtub faucet drips after shut off, you need to understand how to fix a leaky bathtub faucet so that you can save yourself from increasing monthly water bills. If this is the case for a double-handle faucet, the small washers are failing and they need to be replaced because they are worn out. They can no longer help you to shut off the valve firmly. For the case of a single handle faucet, you need to replace the O-ring because it is already worn out. Once you understand how to fix a leaky bathtub faucet, you will easily solve this issue. If you find this material helpful, share it with your friends.