% of people told us that this article helped them. But they’re relatively simple to fix yourself. It's usually better to replace both, so that they are aged the same. Although repairing the faucet yourself will save you money compared to hiring a plumber, it can also cost you more if something breaks further. In this article, we’ll focus on fixing a cartridge-style faucet with a shower valve cartridge replacement. Method 1 Examine the washer, the valve stem and the handle, and pinpoint any parts that appear weak or eroded. Look inside. If needed, take the old part to your local Home Depot for a proper replacement match. The faucets are usually push-button faucets. Faucet leaks. ", Step 5: Shower valve cartridge replacement. You can do this fix yourself and save your money for the movies instead. Fixing your leaky bathtub faucet will not only save you money on your water bills, it will prevent unsightly stains from forming in your bathtub. Replace the Handle There may be a simple valve in your house or apartment that allows you to turn off the water to the bathtub. Most leaks are caused by faulty washer. A dripping faucet or showerhead leak is usually not serious since the water simply goes down the bathtub drain, but it can waste an enormous amount of water. You may also need a hair dryer. Turn the handle (or handles) to the on position and let all remaining water from the pipes drain into the bathtub. How to Fix a Leaky Shower Diverter in Your Tub Spout With a faulty or broken shower diverter valve, your only choice really is to replace it instead of actually fix something within this mechanism. We tried the fix described in this article, but the tub and showerhead faucets still leak from both hot and cold taps. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Fixing a leaky faucet is a relatively easy job that you can do yourself with basic tools and … Turn your water line back on, remove any debris or towels from your sink, and test out your faucet. I replaced the hot and cold valve and stems in my bathtub, they still drip. Screw the seat back into place with the seat wrench. Over time, this part can harden, chip or otherwise deteriorate. Unscrew the valve nut and put it … Let's start by testing to see which side of the faucet (hot or cold) is leaking. It's similar. The most common reason for a leaky faucet is an old washer that needs to be replaced. Each faucet handle (hot and cold) has its own cartridge, a valve that turns with the handle to control the flow of water into the faucet spout. Many people attempt to turn the faucet handles tighter and inadvertently shred the seals even further. Although a plumber is needed to fix major problems, you can repair most broken washers, gaskets and seals yourself with a few special tools. Reattach the handle with the set screw. All Rights Reserved. Last Updated: March 29, 2019 He jammed plumber's putty in it, it stays soft and is removable later if it is necessary to service the valves again. How do I replace my shower cartridge on my bathtub? 1. Make sure the handle is in the off position, then turn on the water by turning the knob under the sink counter clockwise. There are two small washers that need to be replaced. If the culprit is a leaking shower arm, the fix should be easy. If my tub is leaking hot water from the faucet, can I just repair the hot handle, or do I have to do both? Certainly, fixing a dripping bathtub faucet isn’t an easy job. You need to use a wrench to remove the faucet, in the place of the fixed screws to re-roll a new waterproof tape. Fixing shower leaks behind wall saves you money in water bills and expensive repairs. If … wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. This troubleshooting document relates to centerset, single-hole, wall-mount, and widespread bathroom sink faucets. Stem valve repair parts; How to Fix a Leaky Bathtub Faucet. Most bathroom faucets that have two handles are cartridge-style faucets. If you have a single-handle shower faucet, you’ll need to replace the cartridge in your valve. Getting the spout fixed as soon as you notice the issue will spare you a lot of annoyance and a high water bill. Leaky tub and shower faucets are not on our list of favorite things. The various water supply components, including the faucet valve, the faucet spout, the showerhead, or the water supply connections in the wall, may develop leaks. If the leak stops, then you need to replace the cold cartridge. You’re in the right place. ", Step 4: This article has been viewed 375,833 times. A leaky bathtub faucet can lead to excess water usage and the deterioration of your spout’s interior parts. So, it important to read both methods. Replace the necessary pieces, clean the area, and put it … Call a plumber if your handle breaks or will not come off. 4 Replace all faucet washers, O-rings, seals, and the flat washer at the end of the stem (remove the screw to replaced the washer). Fixing shower leaks behind wall saves you money in water bills and expensive repairs. For tips on how to replace the seat washer or the packing nut, keep reading! The major cause of leaking tubs is problems with the drain, body, grout, or faucet. Remove the faucet. ", Step 7: The tub faucet leaking while you’re taking a shower is a common household problem that most homeowners deal with at some point. To determine the cause of the leak, you’ll first need to dismantle the faucet. The culprit is usually a failure of the faucet’s seats and springs—rest assured, this is a relatively simple DIY fix. Press the off switch on your water main box to turn off the water. A leaking shower faucet can cause a plethora of issues for you and your home! A leaking bathtub faucet not only raises your water bill, it is a good indication that something may be wrong. One of the valves broke when we removed it, so we took the whole set up of both handles to a trusted plumbing supply for replacement parts and advice. Get those washers in and the faucet on, and test the water to verify that took care of the problem. Use it to grip the valve nut as the base of the stem. I read your very clear instructions for repairing a 2-handle faucet leak however, my Moen bathroom faucets are the single lever and I would appreciate a run-down on how to fix a leak for this type faucet. Use of this site is subject to certain Terms Of Use. References. So below are the eleven simple steps by which you can easily repair your leaking faucet. Read our guide on how to replace a faucet cartridge for more information. Repairing a Kohler tub faucet is fairly simple. A leaking bathtub faucet wastes water and may leave hard water stains in the tub. Place these items aside in a container for safe storage, then put your wrench into the hole and turn it counter clockwise to remove the seat. How To Fix a Leaky Cartridge Faucet: Pry off the decorative cap on the handle, remove the handle screw, tilt the handle back, and pull it off. As a homeowner, you should be well aware of the other, less obvious, causes of water damage in the bathroom. If you are unable to find a bath socket wrench, you can use a vice grip to hold onto the stem bonnet and loosen it. Even a small faucet leak can waste up to three gallons of water each day. Just follow our methods to fix a leaky Delta bathtub faucet single handle. After you remove the handles, examine the stem and the inside of the handles to determine what kind of condition they’re in. Here are some steps that you can follow to fix the problem: 1. Following explains how to fix a leaky faucet is n't just annoying it. 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