How to Fix a Bathtub Faucet Drip

Bathtub faucet drips can become persistent problems that can add serious costs to your water bill. Fortunately, fixing a bathtub faucet drip is not extremely difficult and can usually be accomplished in an hour or less. Additionally, fixing a dripping bathtub faucet yourself can save you big money over the cost of hiring a plumber, not to mention the savings that you will see when your next water bill comes.

Things You'll Need

• Wrench
• Rag
• Screwdriver

Instructions

1. Shut the water off by locating the main water source and turning the value counterclockwise.

2. Use a rag or drain stopper to clog the bathtub drain. This will prevent you from losing any parts.

3. Prior to taking the bathtub faucet apart, set down a rag and be sure to set down your parts in the order in which your removed them. This will make re-assembly much easier.

4. Pop off the plastic cap in the center of the bathtub faucet handle. For two-handle assemblies, determine whether the drip is hot or cold water. Then pop off the appropriate plastic end cap using a screwdriver.

5. Remove the screw in the center of the bathtub faucet handle.

6. Slide off the bathtub faucet handle or wrap a rag around it. Loosen it with a wrench if you have trouble removing it by hand.

7. Remove any type of covering using a wrench to expose the faucet valve assembly.

8. Unscrew the packing nut to reveal the valve stem.

9. Unscrew the valve stem and inspect all parts you have removed for visible damage. Look at the packing nut and all rubber o-rings and washers for signs of wear.

10. Locate the seat washer screw on the end of the valve stem and unscrew it. Inspect the seat washer closely, which is a common cause of bathtub faucet drips. If the seat washer appears to have marks, abrasions or any other type of damage, take it to a local hardware store and find a matching part to replace it.

11. Install any replacement parts and put the pieces back together in the order in which you removed them.

12. Shut the water back on at the main source and test the faucet. Your dripping bathtub faucet should now be fixed.

References

• servicemagic.com: How Do I Find and Repair a Bathtub Leak?
• Dannty Lipford: How to Repair a Leaky Bath Faucet
• Hammer Zone: Replacing A Faucet Washer To Fix A Leaky Tub Faucet