Bathtub faucets are surprisingly simple in design and typically provide years of trouble-free service. However, after years of use, bathtub faucets may require repair or replacement. The faucet's rubber or plastic seals are almost always the cause. These seals tend to crack or loose their integrity over time, causing leaks. Thankfully, repairing or replacing a bathtub faucet is a simple task, particularly once the existing faucets have been removed.
Instructions
1. Locate and turn off the water supply shutoff valve. The valve is usually next to the water meter, and must be turned in a counterclockwise direction to turn the water off.
2. Remove the faucet handle, which is attached to the faucet's stem with a single retaining screw. Your faucet handle may have a plastic or metal piece to conceal this screw. If so, pry the piece off of the handle with the blade of a flat head screwdriver to reveal the retaining screw. Remove the screw with a Phillips screwdriver, then pull the handle away from the faucet to remove it.
3. Remove the escutcheon plate to reveal the faucet valve. The escutcheon plate is a circular decorative piece located behind the faucet's handle. Most escutcheon plates are held in place with one or more screws. To remove an escutcheon plate with this design, simply remove the screw(s) with a screwdriver and lift the plate off. Escutcheon plates are sometimes held in place with a bead of caulking around the plate's circumference. Cut through the caulking with a plastic putty knife, then lift the plate away.
4. Remove the faucet's bonnet nut. The bonnet nut surrounds the faucet valve and can be removed with an adjustable wrench.
5. Remove the faucet. There are two kinds of bathtub faucets: cartridge faucets and compression faucets. Cartridge faucets are made of plastic, while compression faucets are metal. Cartridge faucets can be removed by simply pulling the cartridge away from the plumbing pliers. Compression faucets, which screw into the water supply line are removed by sliding a deep-set ratchet wrench onto the faucet, then turning the faucet in a counterclockwise direction until the faucet disconnects from the water supply pipe.
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