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Bathtubs faucets can look nasty if corroded with rust, hard water deposits, mineral build-ups, or soapy accumulations. However, it is never too difficult to replace the old bathtub faucet yourself with a new one. The new faucet does not only look neat but also help to get rid of all the problems and germs it accumulates over time.
You can consider a replacement if you suffer from a bathtub faucet that has been worn out, damaged, accumulated with multiple deposits, or leaks. One of the reasons can be that when you pull the diverter, both your shower head and bathtub faucet start water flow. If you want to change your bathtub faucet, it is a quick plumbing fix. In this article, you will get a step-by-step guide on how to change a bathtub faucet. You will be able to do it easily.
Continue reading to find out the best tools and methods to change your bathtub faucet.
Identify the Type of Bathtub Faucets
This step is quite substantial. There are two main types of bathtub faucets in the market. Make sure you are not making any wrong purchases when going for faucet buying. These are known as threaded models and slip-on models.
If there is a set screw underneath your faucet, it means that it is a slip-on faucet. However, if your faucet does not have any set screw then it is a threaded one. Nowadays, there are universal faucet models that allow the tab to adjust on both fittings. You can purchase the universal faucet. Do not forget to measure the size of the pipe in case your protruded faucets piping infuse with the main pipeline and you do not want to change it.
A complete Guide to Change Bathtub Faucets
This plumbing technique is not that difficult. You can easily take off the older faucet with little or no effort and replace it with a new one, just like many other people. You will require only a few things for this purpose.
Things you will need:
- Pump plier
- Teflon tape
- Screwdriver
- Rag
- Hex wrench
- New bathtub faucet
2.1. Remove the Old Faucet First
To install the new faucet, you need to take off the older one first. This step is not that difficult. Firstly, find out if there is a set screw.
- If you find one screw underneath, take a hex wrench.
- Put it on the hexagonal set screw and rotate until it is loose.
- Now pull out the screw, roll the spout, and it will come off.
- In case you do not see any screw, it means you need to push the faucet by hand.
- If it is so tight, you can use a plier.
- Once it is loose, take the old faucet out.
2.2. Change the Old Fittings
If your old fitting pipes are too rusty, you can also change them. Buy a new fitting along with bathtub faucets and replace it first.
- Take a pipe wrencher and attach it to the old fitting pipe.
- Now take the plier and unscrew the old fitting by rotating it.
- Once it is loose, you can pull it out by hand.
Clean the erosion on the threads so that any leftover rust or Teflon tape does not remain. This step will increase the smoothness and will tighten the new faucet.
2.3. Install the New Faucet
Now it is time to install the new pipe fitting and faucet. For this purpose, you must have instructions on the spout. Use the right-sized attachment couplings and nipple pipes so that your faucet fits tightly and perfectly.
Once you have removed the old bathtub faucet, it is time to replace it with the new one.
- Take the Teflon taper.
- Wrap the tape around the protruded main pipeline connector in a clockwise direction.
- Take a small amount of joint compound. Apply it on the Teflon tape.
- This step will ensure that the Teflon tape will not leave its place.
- Now take the attachment and roll it in the threads of the main connector.
- Put Teflon tape on both ends of the pipe nipple and put on some joint compound.
- Now repeat the same process and attach the pipe to the attachment.
- Install the faucet on it, rotate and tight with a plier.
- Make sure you do not leave scratches on the faucets while tightening.
- Your new faucet has been installed successfully.
Ensure Leakage and Diverter after New Faucet Installation
Once you have installed the new faucet, it is time to double-check. Make sure that the diverter is supplying water to both the showerhead and the spout. Check out the connections for the water supply by switching to both ends one by one.
You need to be vigilant about leakage. Make sure that water is not running down the wall from the back end of the spout. To avoid this leakage, fill the minor gaps with silicone filling. The filling should be between the shower wall and the tub spout.
When you want to switch the water connection from the showerhead to the spout do not do it when the diverter is open.
- Close the water supply.
- Turn off the shower head first and then open the spout.
- Do not keep disengaging both shower and spout while the water is running.
- This step will increase the longevity of the rubber washer that diverts water.
- Otherwise, it will loosen up, and water will keep drizzling from both ends.