Things You'll Need:
- Screwdriver
- Pliers
- Washers
- Seats and springs
- Small Allen (hex head) wrenches
- Tub Socket
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Step 1
Turn off the water to the tub faucet. Sometimes shutoffs are in the wall behind the faucet, accessible through a panel. If not, you will have to shut off water at the main, located in the basement or a utility room, directly before or after the water meter.
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Step 2
Open both the hot and the cold water to take off the pressure. After the water has stopped, remove the handles. A screw usually hold the handles in place but it may have a cap on it. Pry the cap off with the tip of a flathead screwdriver. Some handles are held in place with an Allen wrench screw on the side. Set these aside and don't lose anything. It is a good idea to set all the parts for the hot side together and the cold side together because they are sometimes different.
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Step 3
Unscrew the flange around each handle stem. Now the top of the stem or cartridge is exposed. Unscrew the ring nut holding these in place with a wrench or, if the nut is below the tile or tub surround, a tub socket.
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Step 4
If you have a Delta or similar brand, remove the white plastic cartridge by rocking side to side as you pull. Behind this you will find a hole with the seat and spring. Take the end of your screwdriver and remove this. Insert the new seat and spring the same way, by placing the seat and then the spring on the tip of you screwdriver and guiding them into the hole, so that the spring is first. Either replace the old cartridge or install a new one.
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Step 5
If you have a compression faucet, unscrew the stem out of the wall. On the end of the step will be a washer held in place by a screw. Take out the screw and replace the washer with one of the same size, then replace the screw.
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Step 6
Replace everything as is was originally. Turn on the water and test to see if the leak is stopped.
