Of all the appliances inside your home, some are more important than others. Since most of these appliances will have one primary use, keeping them all in good condition is important. Ensuring they are taken care of will not deteriorate in quality over the subsequent years.
While this sentiment is usually true for most appliances, some will dwindle in quality. The bathtub in your bathroom is exemplary, where one of the various issues can spontaneously occur. A leaky faucet is one of the most common problems.
Here is how to fix a dripping bathtub faucet:
Step #1: Close water supply
As mentioned previously, most of the appliances in your home are important beyond the obvious reasons. That is because most of them may be connected to a water supply inside your home. Before any repair action is considered, you must ensure this supply is shut off.
By doing this, you can then begin work on the specific issue. If you live in a house, head down to the basement and look for the valve. Shut this off, and ensure it is turned off completely. Sometimes, homeowners may neglect to turn it off fully, which can put you in a precarious situation.
Step #2: Remove the faucet
After finishing the initial groundwork, you must consider the faucet itself. Head back to your bathroom, and take a good look at the faucet. To truly determine what is going on with the leak, you must completely remove it. Dismantle the applicable hardware using the tools that you have behind you. If you don’t feel comfortable with this step, contact a plumber for help.
Use a screwdriver to loosen the screws in the middle of the faucet’s handle as a start. You may also have to remove the faucet’s decorative cap to fully reach the exposed area. Once all the screws have been taken out, loosen the handle of the faucet, and pull it out. You are now in a prime position to get to work.
Step #3: Assess the components
The faucet in your bathroom can become a leaky mess for various reasons. However, once you get to the point where the back-end is exposed, you can assess what is malfunctioning. Case in point, there could be a component or two that needs to be replaced as soon as possible.
Take an initial look at the stem or cartridge, which should be directly inside the faucet. Look for signs of wear and tear, such as the parts corroding or just appearing faulty. Note which parts need the right action, and place them aside for now. You will have to head to a department store to get newer components.
Step #4: Fix the washer
For most homeowners, your leaky bathtub faucet will become faulty due to the washer. The washer is the rubbery part on most faucet stems or cartridges. Once the washer is in your hand, look for signs of general weakness, such as deteriorating material. Take this to the department above the store.
Your specific faucet washer needs to be of a specific size since other washers may be inoperable. After obtaining the right one, place the new one back into the faucet. Screw the part holding the washer back on and reassemble the faucet. Everything should now be fine with the faucet!
Step #5: Fix the stem
If the washer is not an issue, you may also have to contend with the stem. First, look at the base of the faucet and any signs of rust or leftover wax. Then, by using a wrench, remove the front-facing bolts and the old stem. Install the new stem, screw back on the required bolts, and you will be ready.
Step #6: Fix the faulty handle
In some cases, the handle itself may cause your bathtub’s faucet to leak now and again. Thankfully, all that is generally required at this part is simply replacing it with a newer model. Compared to other problematic areas, this one is pretty easy.
Step #7: Get professional help
Even with your best efforts put forward, you may not be able to get a bead on why your faucet is leaking. Should this occur to you, you will have to make contact with a professional plumber. These individuals are at the top of their class and will be able to diagnose any issue with your bathtub. It may cost a bit more, but their services are well worth it for this particular issue!