It’s infuriating to turn off the water and discover that the faucet of your bathtub faucet is leaking after water is turned off. It might be challenging to diagnose the issue and ultimately halt the leak.
However, do not be alarmed! This article will lay some fantastic solutions for resolving this issue, so continue reading to learn more about why your tub may be leaking and what to do if it occurs.
Why Do Bathtub Faucets Leak?
At first, let’s examine each of the likely explanations for a bathtub faucet leaking in further detail below.
Additionally, this article will inform you straight away that the quickest and most dependable approach to resolve these concerns is to contact a reputable plumber.
- Worn Out Washer
Washers are critical in forming tight seals all around bathtubs or sink pipes. You can encounter more unwelcome calamities, such as leaking faucets without the washers.
There are several varieties of washers available on the market. Still, they have one common feature: they are designed to generate watertight seals.
But, with wear and tears over time, these components will begin to deteriorate or even shatter.
When this occurs, there remains nothing to contain any surplus water—resulting in drips, leaks, and damage to a bathtub, like rust stains or different mineral deposits.
- Pipe Connections
In any case, the plumbing for a bathtub is not built correctly, or all the materials are defective in some way, the pipes can become loose and detached to some degree, resulting in leaks.
Such a case often happens if you are experiencing water hammer troubles.
The word “water hammer” comes from the sound made when flowing water collides with a closed door or valve that is meant to remain open if the water collides with the closure finding nowhere to access further, loud and noisy thud results.
- Exceeding Water Pressure
Extra water pressure may result in leaky pipes and leaky fixtures. Water pressure can also cause burst pipelines, prematurely failing fixtures and faucets.
A minor leak might result in hundreds of gallons of extra water wasted on a water bill. The above-mentioned worn-out washer is also the most prevalent cause of this issue.
So, if you have got a leaking pipe triggered by this, stop wasting money and invest in a brand new one.
- Faucet Stems
Perhaps a faucet can be an issue that often manifests itself in a stem that directly connects the faucet to the handle.
If you find this the case, it can still be possible to repair the faucet. However, more often than not, it is just advisable to replace a bathtub leaking from the faucet entirely.
- Improper Installation
Another frequent cause for a leaking pipeline or bathtub is a faulty installation process of a bathtub or accompanying plumbing.
If you have just built your bathtub, the pipes may not be sufficiently tight to resist the pressure created by the daily flow of gallons after gallons of water.
- Corroded Seat of a Valve
The valve seat is located at the lowest base of your faucet handle. It is responsible for controlling the water flow.
Minerals remaining in the water may erode this seat over a period of time, resulting in leaks around that handle.
Make an appointment with an expert plumber to evaluate the faucet’s valve seat. If that valve becomes rusted, it must be replaced.
If a plumber discovers further corroded components within your faucet, they may propose replacing it entirely.
- A Damaged or Faulty Cartridge
Certain bathtub faucets use a cartridge system to regulate water flow as well as temperature.
These cartridges may decay and ultimately fail, which may explain how and why water is leaking from your faucet.
If that is the case, rather than trying to disassemble the faucet all on your own to replace those cartridges, it would be best to seek help from a plumber.
An expert can evaluate the faucet swiftly and replace/repair the defective cartridge.
The Danger Of Having A Bathtub Leaking From Faucet
To emphasize the critical nature of resolving these types of leaking problems immediately and not deferring them until it gets more convenient.
We have compiled a brief list of the most common four hazards associated with neglecting a leaking faucet.
- Water Waste
While eco-friendly and sustainable living is not a top concern for every householder, many people take it very seriously. Many homeowners try diligently to preserve water, energy, and waste if possible.
Although it may come as a surprise, one leaking faucet in a house may add up to a stunning amount of water lost each day.
For example, a fixture dripping 4,000 water drips per day might waste an entire liter of water every day.
Over time, lost water can mount up, and given that the majority of houses have any leaking faucets, it’s simple to understand how all the wasted water might accumulate.
- Rust
In most circumstances, metal and dampness do not get along. If metals are exposed to excessive moisture, rust may rapidly accumulate within and outside the metal pipes.
This rust may accumulate within steel pipes when plumbing lines, eventually clogging the valves on your faucet.
Regrettably, rust tends to swiftly escalate into a more serious problem if not addressed promptly. Not only the faucet continues to leak with the rust accumulating, but it also begins leaking more water often as the pipes develop fractures and weak areas.
This may ultimately consequence in the pipe collapsing, causing considerable water issues and repairs.
- Rot
A leaking faucet is almost certain to affect the adjacent surfaces. All wood shelves, cabinets, worktops, and floors get in danger of warping, cracking, and decay due to the constant water dripping.
This warped, as well as rotten wood, is not only unsightly; it may also be hazardous, as your cabinets may become too frail to hold the stored objects, and your flooring may become incapable of supporting your and your family’s weight.
How To Fix A Leaky Bathtub Faucet?
So, since we have learned about what causes a leaky bathtub and how a leaky bathtub can endanger your home and your property now, this section of the article will lay out how to fix the leaking bathtub faucet yourself and get back to normal life.
- The Tools You Need
Before you start, you need to ensure you have all the necessary tools to takedown the faucet fixing endeavor.
- Adjustable wrench
- Clean cloth
- Multi-bit screwdriver
- Washers
- Socket wrench
- Faucet stem
- Faucet handle
Now that you have everything, let’s begin!
- Turn off Your Water Supply
Once you’ve collected all the necessary equipment and supplies, find and shut off the supply valve of the water. If the main valve is not visible, you may cut off the supply pipes.
After that, turn the faucet’s handle to the on position. Allow any leftover water in the pipes to drain into the drain.
- Lose the Handle
To determine the source of a leak, you must disassemble the leaking bathtub faucet.
- Remove the ornamental cap first. Loosen up all the screws at the handle’s middle using a suitable screwdriver.
- Once your screws are removed, pull the faucet handle on to detach it from your wall.
- This can be challenging if the faucet handle has become old since water deposits and rust can make it more difficult to remove.
- If your handle refuses to come off, you should not push it. This might result in harm. Rather than that, try warming the handle with a hairdryer or even a little bit of hot water.
Additionally, you may use tools known as handle pullers, which are attached to that handle and makes it simpler to push it free.
- Assess All the Parts
After removing your faucet handle, inspect the stem and the inner part of the handle for damage.
Look for degraded components on the handle, washer, and valve stem. The most typical cause of a leaking faucet is worn-out washers. This should have been the first component inspected when removing those stem assemblies. If your washer is no longer serviceable, it will seem twisted and hardened.
Any components removed should be placed in a tiny container. When it becomes time to reinstall all of these components, you will want to reassemble them the same way you have removed them.
- Remove the Handle
After several years of continuous usage, bathtub handles may break or corrode. If your handle shows indications of significant wear, you should consider replacing the handles.
Another possibility for your faucet to leak is that your handle is not entirely shutting off or holding the water.
In that case, you should install a new handle and start to run the water supply, based on the kind of your faucet’s type, to see whether it is the source of the leak.
- Replace Your Washer
You’ll see an exposed component made of rubber at the peak of a faucet’s stem. These are referred to as seat washers, and their role is to prevent water from flowing through.
As previously stated, washers degrade with time. And to replace them, unscrew the retaining screws and replace them with new ones.
If you’re uncertain about the correct screws to utilize, you can bring the old ones to hardware shops and have them match it exactly. If the leak persists after replacing the washer, you might need to repair the stem.
Conclusion
Dealing with a bathtub faucet leaking after water is turned off might be inconvenient. If you notice leaking bathtub faucets in your home, you may choose to attempt a repair on your own. It’s a rather simple task that doesn’t need much knowledge. While you can acquire specialized equipment to finish the job, you will still save money.
But you must fix those leaks as soon as possible.