How To Replace Bathtub Faucet Stem
The packing which looks like string keeps water from leaking out around the stem.
How to replace bathtub faucet stem. Take your new shower faucet stem and make sure that it is a suitable match for the other. Once the bolts are free the old stem can be taken off. Wiggle the handle and pull it off. These faucets have no aerators and are found mostly in laundry.
Then unscrew the faucet handles and remove them to expose the faucet stem underneath. Replace the bathroom faucet stems to stop the drips and save money on your water bill. A leaky stem faucet usually means that the packing is worn out or needs tightening. You need a perfect stem double in order to prevent leaking.
This old house plumbing and heating expert richard trethewey fixes a faulty shower valve with new valve stems and seats. You may need a faucet handle puller if the handle. Removing your old valve and installing a new one can take time but with patience a novice handyman can do it without the help of a plumber. Push the new stem into the wall and tighten the bolts back up.
The main difference is in the length of the stem. Unscrew the handle screw with a flathead or phillips head screwdriver as needed. If your shower valve is damaged beyond repair you may need to replace it to prevent leaks. Knowing how to fix a leaky stem faucet saves money and the process is easy.
To change a bathtub faucet start by turning off the water supply to the faucet and opening the faucet to drain any leftover water inside of it. Removing bathtub faucet handles is essentially the same whether you have a one or two handled design. In a newer simple system there is usually only the collar but older faucets especially bathtub faucets may have a knurled fitting that can be removed with a channel lock. Shut off the water supply lines by turning the hot and cold valves beneath the sink clockwise.
As you replace your shower valve work carefully to make sure you don t forget any important details. Beneath all the fancy trim bathtub faucets with separate hot and cold valves are nearly identical to those of other washer type faucets. Step 5 replace the stem and put the faucet back together. Next unscrew the faucet stem and remove it so you can take it to a hardware store to find a matching replacement.