Why does bathtub faucet leak

Once the water is turned off, turn the handles of your bathtub faucet as if you were trying to run a bath. This will allow you to drain any excess water from the pipes before you start. In order to replace the washers in your tub faucet, you will first need to remove the handles.

Start by using a pocketknife to pry off the handle inserts. These are the coverings on the handles. Once the inserts are removed, you will see a screw on each handle. Remove the screws with a screwdriver. With the screws removed, you will be able to disconnect the handles from the stems. This is often the most difficult step in this repair, as corrosion can cause the handles and stems to stick together.

Now it is time to replace the washer. First, use a screwdriver to remove the seat washer screws from the stems. This will allow you to take the old washers off. If you have any questions about faulty bathtub faucets or are having some problems with it, call Atlantis Plumbing today at We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Bathtub faucets can leak for a variety of reasons. The 5 possible culprits can be Worn out washers Problems with your faucet stem Problems with pipe connections Improper installations High water pressure Worn Out Washers Washers play a major role when it comes to creating tight seals around pipes for bathtubs and sinks - without them you might find yourself dealing with extra unwanted disasters like leaky faucets.

Faucet Stems Perhaps the faucet itself is the problem and that usually presents itself in the faucet's stem that is connected to the handle. Pipe Connections If the plumbing to your bathtub was not properly installed or the materials are somehow faulty, the pipes may have gotten loose and disconnected to some extent which could end up causing a leak.

When the water hits that closure, and essentially has nowhere to go it creates a loud thud. Improper Installations Another common culprit is improper installation of the bathtub or the plumbing associated with it. High Water Pressure High water pressure can cause leaky pipes, leaky fixtures, pipes to explode which end up causing premature failure of faucets and fixtures.

If the problem is a faulty washer you will need to replace that washer. That means removing the faucet and the handles and replacing the worn out washer.

If the problem is the faucet stem - you may be able to have it repaired but as we said earlier, more than likely it may be better to simply replace the entire faucet. If the issue has to do with loose pipe connections, water hammer problems or improper installations then a professional plumber will have to come in th assess the problem and provide you with solutions.

Insert the stems into the faucet openings. Use the shower stem socket to turn the stems clockwise and tighten them. Cover the stems with the faucet handles. Secure the faucet handles with the handle screws.

Snap the handle buttons back on top of the faucet handles to cover the screws. Turn the water supply to the bathtub faucet back on. Cecilia Harsch has been writing professionally since She writes mainly home improvement, health and travel articles for various online publications. She has several years of experience in the home-improvement industry, focusing on gardening, and a background in group exercise instruction. Harsch received her Certified Nurses Assistant license in She attended Tarrant County College and studied English composition.

By Cecilia Harsch Updated December 10,