How To Fix A Leaking Bathtub Faucet (DIY) | Family Handyman

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Bathtub Faucet Leaking? Here’s How to Fix It

Total Time:A full dayComplexity:IntermediateCost:$51–100

By Family Handyman

Family Handyman's Editorial Process

Updated on Jul. 25, 2024

This simple DIY bathtub faucet repair saves you money and water.

Time

A full day

Complexity

Intermediate

Cost

$51–100

Introduction

Don't put up with a bathtub faucet leaking, nor with the unsightly stains it often leaves behind. Learn how to fix it here.

You don’t have to put up with the slow drip from a leaky faucet, nor with the growing stain it often leaves in the tub or shower. Fix it now and you’ll prevent those headaches and save on you water bill too. With the right tools, the entire project may cost a few dollars, but it is far less expensive than hiring a plumber, and usually easier and cheaper than tearing out the old faucet and installing a new shower faucet.

Worn rubber washers, seals or gaskets in the valve assembly cause most leaks. Here we’ll show you how to fix a stem-type valve, which is common in older, two-handle faucets (separate hot and cold). We won’t cover single-handle shower faucets here.

Bath faucet replacement parts

The first step for bathtub faucet repair is to make sure you have the new parts that you need. You can do most bathtub repairs with replacement parts available at hardware stores and home centers. A plumbing parts distributor will carry a much larger selection and may be able to special-order hard-to-find items. There are thousands of different faucet replacement parts available to fix a leaky bathtub faucet, so bring your old parts to the store for a proper match to fix a leaky bathtub faucet. If your valve is highly corroded or the finish is wearing off, replace the entire faucet. Save money by doing simple plumbing repairs yourself.

We also have a step-by-step guide for fixing a leaking sink sprayer. 

Tools Required

• Adjustable wrench
• Bath socket wrench
• Handle puller
• Seat wrench
• Utility knife

Materials Required

• Plumber's grease
• Stem valve repair parts

Project step-by-step (6)

Step 1

Disassemble the faucet

Removing the faucet handle is the toughest part of the job. Over time, corrosion can virtually weld the handle to the stem. Shut off the water supply to the faucet and open the water shutoff valves to drain excess water from the system. Pry off the handle insert with the thin blade of a pocketknife.

Step 2

Remove the handle screw

Remove the faucet handle screw. Then wiggle the handle and pull it off. If the handle doesn’t come off, heat it with a hair dryer to free it. Be careful; if you pull too hard, it’ll break.

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Complete DIY projects like a pro! Sign up for our newsletter! Do It Right, Do It Yourself! Step 3

Remove shower faucet handle

If the handle won’t come off, don’t force it-it might break. Instead, remove it with a special handle puller. Turn the handle screw about halfway back into the stem. Position the handle puller’s post against the screwhead and press the arms together behind the handle. Turn the post clockwise until the handle pops loose. Remove the handle screw and handle. Then pull off or unscrew any tub faucet trim behind it.

Step 4

Remove stem from bathtub faucet

Once the handles off, unscrew the escutcheon and stem assembly (See Figure A below). The stem assembly controls the amount and temperature of the water dispensed through the tub spout or shower head. Remove it with a special bath socket wrench, which looks like a spark plug wrench on steroids.

Slide the bath socket onto the stem bonnet and turn it counterclockwise to break the stem loose. If it sticks, soak it with penetrating lubricant. Unscrew and remove the stem.

Step 5

Use a seat wrench

Leaks usually occur for two reasons. Over time, the seat washer stiffens and won’t seal tightly. And water pressure gradually erodes the brass rim of the seat. Replace the seat using a special seat wrench.

Press the seat wrench firmly into the center of the seat. Turn counterclockwise to snap the seat loose and remove it. If it sticks, soak it with penetrating lubricant. Coat the threads of the new seat with pipe dope and screw it into the fixture body with the seat wrench.

Step 6

Replace the faucet stem parts

Figure A: Bathtub faucet parts names, faucet stem assemble and replacement parts

Fig. A shows the bathtub plumbing faucet stem replacement parts and how to prepare the stem for reinstallation. Lubricate the parts with special plumber’s grease. If you’re working on a two-handled faucet, we recommend replacing the washers and seats in both the hot and cold valves.

1. First, unscrew the packing nut. Twist the stem clockwise and back it out of the bonnet. Pry out the old packing washer with a small flat-blade screwdriver or pick. Grease the stem threads and reinstall the stem in the bonnet. Grease the new packing washer and slide it in place, and then grease the packing nut threads and firmly tighten the packing nut. Use special plumber’s grease.
2. Second, remove the old seat washer screw and the old seat washer. Grease the new seat washer and the threads of the new screw and then reinstall them.
3. Third, pull off the old bonnet washer, grease the new one and slide it in place.
4. Fourth, apply pipe joint compound to the bonnet threads and reinstall it in the faucet body (Step 4).
5. Five, grease the handle splines and replace the escutcheon and faucet handle.