how to fix a dripping bathtub faucet

Download Article

Dripping bathtub faucets can increase your water bill every month. Many people attempt to turn the faucet handles tighter and inadvertently shred the seals even further. Although a plumber is needed to fix major problems, you can repair most broken washers, gaskets and seals yourself with a few special tools.

1

Gather the proper tools. You will need a monkey wrench, bath socket wrench or vice grip pliers, a Philips screwdriver, a flat-head screwdriver, a jar gripper, plumber's grease, a rag, Teflon tape and possibly tub caulk. You may also need a hair dryer.^[1]
2

Turn off the water intake to your house. You will need access to the pipes for the next hour or so. Tell family members or tenants that they will not have water during this time.^[2]
3

Open the hot and cold valves on the bathtub faucet. This will drain any remaining water in the pipes.
4
Insert a Philips head screwdriver into the hole and unscrew the handle from the wall. Over time, handles can corrode and weld the faucet on. Use a hand dryer to heat the handle and loosen it.
- Don't use too much force or it can break. Call a plumber if your handle breaks or will not come off.
5
Unscrew the trim and the collar from the wall by hand. The trim is the decorative piece that fits around the outside of the faucet, generally just behind the handle, while the collar is generally a tubular piece that fits around the internal faucet parts. They should unscrew fairly easily. You can use a hair dryer to loosen them as well.
- Repeat for the other handle if your tub has two.
6

Set the faucet handle inserts, faucet handles, screws, trim and collar parts aside in a small container. You will need to reconnect them in a similar fashion when you are done fixing the faucet.
7
Remove the stem bonnet, which is the packing nut that holds the stem in place^[3]. These are sometimes also called "cartridges." Insert a bath socket wrench and turn it counterclockwise.
- If you are unable to find a bath socket wrench, you can use a vice grip to hold onto the stem bonnet and loosen it.^[4]
8

Insert the seat wrench into the opening where the faucet was. It has an elongated end so that you can stick it deep into the seat and turn it counterclockwise to remove the seat. The seat is the back portion of the faucet that extends into the pipe.

1

Identify faulty parts. Look at the parts you have just removed. You must find the part to replace. The best way to ensure you will fix the leak is to fix all the wearable parts on both hot and cold faucet valves.^[5]
2
Locate replacement parts. Take your old parts to a hardware store or home center. Since there are thousands of replacement parts available, bringing your old parts with you will ensure you purchase the correct replacements. In some cases, the parts may need to be purchased from a plumbing supplies distributor.
- If you're buying the parts before you take apart the faucet, buy a kit with an assortment of washer sizes. That way, you'll be more likely to have the right size on hand.^[6]
3

Replace parts inside the stem bonnet first. You can replace the washers or the entire stem and bonnet portion of the faucet.^[7] Grease each new part with plumber's grease before screwing it back on.
4
Replace the seat washer. Unscrew the seat washer screw at the back of the seat. Peel off the rubber seat washer. Replace the seat washer screw and the seat washer after greasing them.
- Screw the seat back into place with the seat wrench. Tighten it with your hand. It should be tightly sealed but easy to remove by hand.
5

Replace the bonnet washer. Remove the bonnet washer from the end of the bonnet. Grease it and replace it on the bonnet.
6

Replace the packing nut. Remove the packing nut in the middle of the stem bonnet. Pry the rubber-packing washer from the nut with a flat-headed screwdriver. Grease the stem threads on the front of the stem and insert it into the bonnet.
7

Replace the packing washer. Grease your new packing washer and place it in front of the greased packing nut.
8

Replace the bonnet. Apply some pipe joint compound to the threads in your bonnet. Insert the bonnet and tighten it with your bath socket wrench or vice grip.
9

Replace the collar, faucet trim, faucet handle, faucet screw and faucet insert. Repeat on the other side to replace parts in the opposite handle.
10

Turn the water back on and test your repair job. If you spring a new leak, you may want to call a plumber.

Add New Question

Question

I see that you patched the opening in the wall? What did you use for that?

He jammed plumber's putty in it, it stays soft and is removable later if it is necessary to service the valves again. You can find it in tubs right in the big box stores' plumbing area.
Question

If my tub is leaking hot water from the faucet, can I just repair the hot handle, or do I have to do both?

It's usually better to replace both, so that they are aged the same. Saves a job later.
Question

How do I solder a pipe to a hot water heater?

Get a propane torch, rosin core solder, and copper pipe. Heat the pipe until it's hot enough to melt solder, put the connectors, elbows, etc. onto the pipe, heat them up, and let the solder flow or sweat into the joints. It's a good idea to have a fire extinguisher nearby!
Question

Is this procedure the same when working on a kitchen faucet?

It's similar. Most kitchen faucets these days are a cartridge style, which is very different from this stem and seat style faucet. In a cartridge, you unscrew a retainer and the entire cartridge just pulls out and you replace it as a unit.
Question

What if water is still leaking after the main valve is shut off?

There is still water in the pipes, so let it drain out, then work on it. If you are going to solder the pipe, it is necessary to drain the water.
Question

If water is leaking from a white pipe, can I just replace the faucet?

First, turn off your water. Remove the faucet. Look inside. There are two small washers that need to be replaced. When you look inside, perhaps one or both washers are missing. If you purchase a new faucet, it will come with the washers. A little tricky getting them in, but doable. Get those washers in and the faucet on, and test the water to verify that took care of the problem.
Question

What do I do if my plumber replaced the washers on my faucet and it's still leaking?

Call the plumber to come back and do the job right. There should be some type of guarantee with the plumbing business.

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Video

To secure the seat further, wrap a piece of Teflon tape around the threads in the seat before reinstalling it into the pipe. Make sure there is an open hole for the water to go through.
Although repairing the faucet yourself will save you money compared to hiring a plumber, it can also cost you more if something breaks further. Don't hesitate to contact a plumber if something seems wrong.

Things You'll Need

Bath socket wrench
Seat wrench
Vice grips
Philips-head screwdriver
Flat-head screwdriver
Hair dryer
Plumber's grease
Teflon tape

About This Article

Article SummaryX

If you need to repair a leaky bath tub faucet, start by turning off the water to your home and opening the hot and cold water valves in your bath to drain any water still in the pipes. Then, use a Philips screwdriver to remove the handle from the wall before unscrewing the trim and collar by hand. Place these items aside in a container for safe storage, then put your wrench into the hole and turn it counter clockwise to remove the seat. Finish by examining the parts, replacing any you find to be faulty, and reassembling the faucet. For tips on how to replace the seat washer or the packing nut, keep reading!

Did this summary help you?

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 395,135 times.

Did this article help you?