How to Change a Tub Spout

Replacing a tub spout can improve the look of your bathroom or repair a faulty part. Tub spouts can enhance the look of your bathtub, and they are available in several styles and metal finishes. Some tub spouts come equipped with a diverter that allows a hand-held shower attachment to be added directly to the spout. Replacing your tub spout is an easy plumbing job that can be accomplished with a little elbow grease and the right tools.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Allen wrench or screwdriver Pipe wrench Plumbers tape

1. Inspect the spout to determine if it is a threaded or non-threaded. Non-threaded spouts will have screws or allen bolts located at the base of them, and they usually do not have a diverter inside.

2. Use a screwdriver or allen wrench to loosen the fasteners of non-threaded tub spouts.

3. Wrap a heavy cloth around a threaded tub spout and secure a pipe wrench onto the center of the spout. Turn the wrench in a counterclockwise direction to remove the tub spout.

4. If the tub spout is equipped with a diverter, follow the manufacturer's directions to assemble this feature.

5. Place plumbers tape onto the thread of the copper pipe before installing the new tub spout, to ensure that there will be no leaks between the copper pipe and tub spout. For threaded spouts, hold a cloth between the pipe wrench and the spout so that the wrench doesn't leave marks on the metal.

Tips & Warnings

• A diverted tub spout will feature a pull knob located at the front of the spout, and it will be threaded so that it screws directly to the tub plumbing. Diverter tub spouts will have a mechanical system inside. A non-diverted tub spout will not have a pull knob at the front of the spout. This type of tub spout assembly can come in either a threaded or non-threaded model, and it will not have a mechanical diverter system inside of it.