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How to Fix a Leaky Bathtub Faucet?

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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.


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. 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.


Turn the water back on and test your repair job. If you spring a new leak, you may want to call a plumber. The finish should not be affected by you removing the tape, but with some finishes, it still may not be ready for use. Read the instructions on the bathtub finish you purchased to know how long it needs to cure completely before you use the bathtub again.


Press the razor into the tub surface at a 45 degree angle, then slide it into the caulk repeatedly to scrape it up. If any proves harder to remove, scrape it off with 120 grit sandpaper. This may be the longest, hardest portion of the job, as all the caulk needs to be removed. Rinse or brush away the caulk as you remove it so you can easily see what you’re doing.


Check the drain shoe from the access panel you cut earlier so see if any water is leaking underneath your tub. Check with your city’s waste department to find out how to properly dispose of the old bathtub. Don’t attempt to lift a cast-iron or steel tub out by yourself since they can be extremely heavy.

How Cleaning Faucets?

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Rub in the cleaning agent. Use a sponge, cloth, or soft bristle brush and make tight, circular strokes. If your shower is very dirty, then you may need to rinse your sponge, cloth, or bristle brush in-between passes. Don’t use hard bristle brushes, and never use metal scrubbers. These can scratch your walls and tub.

Rinse the shower wall with clean water. Use your cup or bucket to splash water on the wall, removing the remaining cleaning agent and the grime. If you have a detachable shower head, then use that to rinse the shower wall instead. If your shower wall still looks dirty, then re-apply the cleaning agent and repeat the process. Repeat for the remaining shower wall sections and tub. Spray the next section, let it soak, rub in the cleaner, and rinse for each of the three to four sections.

Scrub grout with a bleach-water mixture. If you have grout, clean it with bleach and a small scrub brush. Mix two parts water and one part bleach. Use a grout scrubber to clean the grout with your mixture. Use an old toothbrush as a scrubber. Don’t clean your grout with bleach and water while you clean your shower walls with the cleaning agent. Mixing chemicals is dangerous. Turn on the shower for a final rinse. Allow your shower to run for about a minute so that the bleach and any remaining cleaning product are rinsed away.

Rinse your faucet. Splash water up over your faucet to wet the surface and wash away debris.You should clean your faucet weekly to remove spots and stains. Toothpaste and soap often leave flecks on faucets, and they are easiest to remove when they are recent. Mix equal parts vinegar and hot water. Create a cleaning and polishing agent using white vinegar and hot water. Your water should be hot, but not boiling.

Wet a cloth. Dip your cloth in your vinegar-water mixture. Be careful not to burn yourself with the hot water. Wipe your faucet to remove spots. Work the cloth in circular movements as you polish away hard water spots and other splash marks on your faucet. Use a clean cloth to dry the faucet so that you don’t leave streaks.