How to Fix & Repair a Leaky Bathtub Faucet

A leaking bathtub faucet wastes water and money.

A leaky bathtub faucet can create quite the nuisance with the sound of constant dripping. In addition, the leaking faucet wastes water, racking up a higher bill from the water company until you fix it. You can try stopping up the tub and letting the water accumulate for a few hours to see just how much water is going down the drain. Fixing the leak does not require a high level of expertise and only takes a short amount of time to complete.

Things You'll Need

• Flat head screwdriver
• Phillips head screwdriver
• Hair dryer
• Bath socket

Instructions

1. Turn off the water going to the tub. Either turn the shutoff valve located on the wall behind the tub, or turn the main shutoff valve for the house to the off position.

2. Use a flat head screwdriver to remove the center piece on the handle. Use a Phillips head screwdriver to remove the screw in the middle of the handle.

3. Remove the handle by jiggling it from side to side. If you cannot remove the handle, heat it up with a hair dryer and try removing it again.

4. Place the bath socket over the faucet cartridge. Turn the socket counterclockwise to remove the cartridge from its spot.

5. Take the old cartridge to your hardware or plumbing supply store to make sure you buy an exact replacement. Reverse the disassembly instructions to put the faucet back together.

References

• The Family Handyman: How to Repair a Leaking Tub Faucet