Expert Advice on Home Improvement

After years of daily use, a faucet may develop a leak around the handle when it is turned on, or drip constantly from the faucet no matter how hard you try to turn it off. Both problems can often be solved by replacing the washer and sealing the valve threads with Teflon tape.

Start by turning off the water, then remove the screw in the handle of the faucet.

Next, pry off the faucet handle. If corrosion has it frozen in place, you may have to use a spray lubricant like WD-40 and slowly work it loose.

After the handle is off, use a deep well socket and wrench to unscrew the valve from the housing.

Once the valve is loose, take it out of the housing.

Remove the screw in the end of the valve, and take out the washer.

Replace the old washer with a new one of the same diameter and thickness and tighten the screw holding it on.

Wrap the housing threads on the outside of the valve with Teflon tape to prevent it from leaking at the handle.

Screw the valve back into the housing, being careful not to strip or over tighten the threads.

Replace the handle, turn on the water, and you should be ready to go.

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13 Comments on “How to Repair a Leaky Bath Faucet”

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1. Joe Says:
   October 22nd, 2007 at 02:06

   I have water leak under my bathtub. water coming down the drain pipe. i can’t find where is the leak coming from.How can find my problem. Please help

2. John Cannamela Says:
   November 5th, 2007 at 18:13

   Joe ,Infrared can find it.If Danny doesn’t mind,
   tell me what part of the country you live in and I can get somebody that can help.

   John Cannamela
   http://www.infraredsurvey.com

3. JANICE MILLER Says:
   November 11th, 2007 at 20:37

   I have a leak behind my bathtub faucet that has caused the drywall to get wet and the tiles are loose. Whenever we shower the water drips in my laundry downstairs. can you help me?

4. Betty Ford Says:
   December 17th, 2007 at 15:32

   Hi, I am trying to repair the drain pipe under my sink in the bathroom. This is an old 1939 Spanish house and it has rusted thru and leeks in the elbow. I have purchased the items and bot a wrench. Is there anything I should be aware of when taking off and replacing the new one. I was told not to use plumber’s tape. Thanks, Betty

5. Kimberly Says:
   May 4th, 2008 at 14:52

   We tried the fix described in this article, but the tub and showerhead faucets still leak from both hot and cold taps. One of the valves broke when we removed it, so we took the whole set up of both handles to a trusted plumbing supply for replacement parts and advice. When we followed directions but still had a leak, we tried taking it apart to re-do it, but of course that only made things worse. Any ideas?

6. nelson Says:
   November 30th, 2008 at 15:15

   I have attempted to repair my leaky tub faucet in the recommended fashion, however it continues to leak a lot and it is the hot water that is leaking. We have to turn the water off from the circuit box so the water pump does not run and burn out. Will we have to replace the pipes and the valve? I hope not, that may be expensive. Help.

7. vicky Says:
   January 25th, 2009 at 10:07

   I had leak from my hot water faucet on the bathtub and had someone come in and fix it, but that person couldn’t and made it worse by taking out the o rings and not replacing them and now the nob won’t turn the water off or on. The plastic tube that’s inside the metal tube could be put on wrong also cause the water is running and the nob is not working. Please help me. Urgent

8. Sally Chattin Says:
   June 18th, 2009 at 18:45

   Thanks so much for the pictures! I’ve read several articles on fixing leaky bathtub faucets but for a non-plumber, this was much easier to understand with pictures included.

9. alex schooler Says:
   July 7th, 2009 at 16:09

   Am cursed with a old style brass single handle tub/shower dripping faucet(probably from ’60s or ’70s). Removed brass cartridge, with 2 o-rings. Replaced o-rings, using plumbers grease. Reassembled, but still leaking. Old brass cartridge cannot be replaced. What can I do, short of cutting into the fiberglas surround (one piece tub and surround)and trying to replace old with new tub/shower fixture, or calling a plumber?

10. 

    Ben Erickson Says:
    July 7th, 2009 at 17:00

    Hi Alex,
    If the faucet isn’t fixable, try to gain access to the back side of it so you can replace it without tearing up the fiberglass tub.

11. Lou Fejes Says:
    July 10th, 2009 at 08:43

    I keep having the same problem over and over. I have to replace my valve stems every 3 months because the tub starts to drip. This time I replaced them and the drip is still going !!! Can you please help me out here cause I’m at my wits end !!! By the way my valve stems are gerber 11B 1HC

    Thank you,
    Lou Fejes

12. Mr DIY Says:
    December 23rd, 2009 at 17:26

    While this tutorial is quite helpful, it omits one step: one must replace the packing if the fixture is composed of two parts. In the case of the bathroom fixtures in my 40 year-old house, the valve is comprised of two parts, both of which are eight-sided, threaded nipples.

    You may need to use either a flat washer or a beveled washer to make the inner part work properly.(See photos #5 and #6). That is the innermost part of the valve). Buy both. Try the flat washer first.

    Equally important is the PACKING material which lies between the first joint/nipple and the second. In all probability, You’ll have to replace that. It may look like crumbled black rubber by now. Scrape it out as well as you can and replace it with tubular Teflon packing. (It looks like white string and it comes in varying thicknesses).

    Those who are experiencing a leak behind the drywall and/or tile may be in need of replacement packing as well as a replacement forward washer. If there is a second hex-shaped joint, that’s where the packing would go.

    BE SURE to clean all screw surfaces with CLR (Calcium Lime Rust — available in most grocery stores and all Home Depots)with a small wire brush to remove all of the crud before putting the assembly back together. This will make everything clean as new.

    Regarding the “deep well extension wrench”: Look for one in your automotive store. They’re sold as spark plug wrenches. They’re less expensive than the ones sold by Home Depot. I used standard socket wrenches and a vice grip!

    It’s really easy!

13. J.L. Says:
    December 24th, 2009 at 19:56

    Hello: We have an old fashioned bathroom faucent (two handles for hot & cold) that is leaking. The problem is it does not have a pop up piece to find the washer. Instead it seems everything is connected. There is a tiny hole but I am not sure if that is where we would need to insert an allen tool to get it loose. Perhaps it is and it is so worn. I can’t even describe this kind of sink – perhaps you my know what I am talking about. We thought we could get to it via the handles, but the wooden knobs just unscrew and there is no washer in there. Please give us some insight as to what kind of faucet we have. The house is old and the previous owners did some kind of remodeling in the late 60’s or 70’s. Any kind of help would be most appreciated.

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