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Leaky Bath Faucet - Attempt to Repair or Call a Plumber?

Posted on 8/23/21 at 9:04 am
Posted by RickAstley
Reno, Nevada
Member since May 2011
2029 posts
Posted on 8/23/21 at 9:04 am
One of my bathtub faucets is dripping non-stop when turned off. I am not very self sufficient with home repairs. Are leaky bath faucets relatively easy repairs or should I just proceed with calling a plumber?
Posted by gumbo2176
Member since May 2018
16344 posts
Posted on 8/23/21 at 9:31 am to
Pretty easy to do but does require a few specialty tools to pull the valve stems out and either change out the parts or simply buy new stems and replace the old ones. It takes a pretty deep socket type tool to reach into the faucet body to access the stems and any big box store will have that set of stem remover tools.

Depending on what faucet you have, you may be able to find new stems at a big box store, but it is best to take the stems to a real plumbing supply place so you can get exactly what you need.

First things first is to turn off the water coming into the house or once you remove the stems you're shooting water everywhere.
Posted by belowmebama
Member since Jul 2008
7320 posts
Posted on 8/23/21 at 9:37 am to
All of this. And I will add that you’re going to want to grab/have 2 pairs of good pliers (straight jaw) to lock down on both sides which will allow you the extra force to tighten down new stems. Plumber putty and Teflon tape are your friend too.
Posted by BeerMoney
Baton Rouge
Member since Jul 2012
8556 posts
Posted on 8/23/21 at 9:50 am to
I called a plumber for this the first time. It was dumb simple. He literally just took pliers, twisted off the valve stem and replaced it. $250. I could of done it for $30 and a trip to the store. Valve stems do look intimidating if you’ve never messed with them before. After you do it, it’s simple.
Posted by ItzMe1972
Member since Dec 2013
10661 posts
Posted on 8/23/21 at 9:55 am to
"I am not very self sufficient with home repairs"

Just call a plumber.

There are tons of different valve stems that you have to match up. And you need to know how to shut off the main water supply, etc.

This post was edited on 8/23/21 at 9:57 am
Posted by gumbo2176
Member since May 2018
16344 posts
Posted on 8/23/21 at 9:57 am to
quote:

He literally just took pliers, twisted off the valve stem and replaced it.


If replacing the valve stems, you can use pliers, channel locks, vise grips, etc. to remove them, but I'm betting dollars to donuts he used the valve stem socket type tool to put the new stems in so he didn't bung up the end the faucet handle secured to.

Yes, vey easy job to do with the right tools and just a bit of knowledge. Hell, there's probably hundreds of u-tube videos on how to replace faucet stems.
Posted by pweezy
Member since Oct 2018
347 posts
Posted on 8/23/21 at 11:59 am to
It’s not that complicated if you have the right replacement part, but if you screw it up your water will be shut off until you get a plumber over to fix it.
Posted by CAD703X
Liberty Island
Member since Jul 2008
82072 posts
Posted on 8/23/21 at 12:50 pm to
quote:

bathtub faucets


could be tricky. do you have a whole house water shutoff? most bathtub fixtures are inside the wall itself.

a sink faucet is simple if you know the brand and you might look at this as an opportunity to replace the faucet itself with something newer/better. they're pretty cheap and maybe less hassle than trying to take an old one apart and locate difficult-to-find parts.
This post was edited on 8/23/21 at 12:56 pm
Posted by CAD703X
Liberty Island
Member since Jul 2008
82072 posts
Posted on 8/23/21 at 12:56 pm to
quote:

if you screw it up your water will be shut off until you get a plumber over to fix it.

this

just know this going in and have a plumber on standpoint or look forward to a very angry spouse
Posted by RickAstley
Reno, Nevada
Member since May 2011
2029 posts
Posted on 8/23/21 at 1:28 pm to
Good to know. I do have two whole house shutoffs. One at the street and the other butts up against the house where the water line enters.

I would be starting from scratch here to do the repair myself. I don't have the tools, nor the experience obviously. I certainly need to learn some of this for the long-haul, but I'm lacking on motivation here.
Posted by TU Rob
Birmingham
Member since Nov 2008
12951 posts
Posted on 8/23/21 at 1:38 pm to
quote:

Good to know. I do have two whole house shutoffs. One at the street and the other butts up against the house where the water line enters.



If you decide to do this yourself, just cut off where it enters the house, and go find your lowest fixture. Usually it is a hose faucet outside. Turn that on until the water runs out of all the pipes. With no water pressure, gravity will let it clean out the lines of any water. Doesn't necessarily have to be the lowest, but needs to be lower than the tub you're working on. After that then you can replace the faucet parts. Tub stems aren't that bad, and I learned this one the hard way years ago after paying a plumber to replace one.

When you go to turn the water back on, do it slowly. My cutoff inside is in the basement and is a round handle like on a hose faucet. Open it up just a little bit until you hear water running, and once it goes for 10-15 seconds, open it up a little more. Then turn it all the way back on. This helps it fill the water lines back up slowly since there is now air in them, and turning it on full blast and it filling up quickly can cause issues in older fixtures.
Posted by Miketheseventh
Member since Dec 2017
6259 posts
Posted on 8/23/21 at 1:45 pm to
quote:

And you need to know how to shut off the main water supply, etc.

That’s pretty basic. Go to the meter and turn the valve 90 degrees. You don’t necessarily have to have the tool to turn it off. A crescent wrench works fine
Posted by Mr Fusion
The American Dream City
Member since Dec 2010
7461 posts
Posted on 8/23/21 at 1:57 pm to
If you can't get the bonnet nut off by twisting with average force, don't try to use your muscle to untighten it. Either call a plumber, or get a large set of slip joints to bend it or crack it free, then replace the trim kit.

Trust me. Otherwise you can break the copper supply lines and end up with a shower remodel on your hands. Or so someone told me...
Posted by easy1234
Baton Rouge
Member since Oct 2010
262 posts
Posted on 8/23/21 at 2:06 pm to
Take a picture put on this forum some will help you. should not by hard if newer just O rings or ask a friend .I never call a plumber.
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