How to Repair a Leaking Pfister Bathtub Faucet
Price Pfister bathtub faucets use a valve cartridge assembly to regulate the rate of water flow through the faucet. When the bathtub’s faucet begins leaking, you must replace the entire cartridge. The replacement valve cartridge you install not only needs to be for a Price Pfister faucet, but must match the old cartridge exactly; otherwise it will not create a watertight seal in the faucet and will cause more leaking instead. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Allen wrench
- Phillips screwdriver
- Duct tape
- Slip-joint pliers
- Replacement valve cartridge
- Plumber’s grease
Instructions
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1
Turn off the water supply to the bathtub faucet by closing the house’s main water valve. Turn on another faucet, if possible at a level of the house that is lower than the bathtub, to release the water left in the water supply pipes.
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2
Remove the set screw from the faucet’s lever. On some newer faucet levers, the screw sits on the side and you use an Allen wrench to remove it. With older faucets, you must pry off the cap in the middle of the lever and then remove the screw that sits underneath, using a Phillips screwdriver. Pull the handle off the faucet.
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3
Wrap duct tape around the jaws of a pair of slip-joint pliers and then use the pliers to turn the retainer cap under the handle counterclockwise until it comes free. Slide the decorative escutcheon plate off the faucet assembly.
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4
Clamp the pliers to the sides of the valve cartridge and turn it counterclockwise until you pull the cartridge free of the faucet. Spread plumber’s grease on the outside of a replacement cartridge before inserting it in the faucet.
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5
Put the faucet back together by reversing the steps you took to access the faucet’s valve cartridge.
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6
Open the house’s main water valve and turn on the bathtub faucet to check for the presence of leaks.
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