How to Fix Your Leaky Bathtub Faucet
A leaky bathtub faucet if not repaired promptly, can results in expensive damages, and increase monthly water bills for homeowners.
As soon as a leak is detected, its best to act quickly to preserve the integrity of your plumbing system and home as well as reduce the amount of wasted water.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, “a leaky faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year.”
Know these common causes of a leaky bathtub faucet to protect your home and save on costly repairs.
H2: Common Causes of a Leaky Bathtub Faucet
All bathtub faucets are manufactured with multiple tiny components that work together to control features such as water pressure, temperature, and flow of the water coming into your bathtub.
Due to their small nature, these parts can fail because of their age or corrosion:
1. Worn Out Washers
Washers for bathtubs are typically made from plastic or rubber and are intended to create watertight seals.
Over time, the constant contact with water can cause the washers to crack, losing their watertight seal and lead to leaks.
Replacing your bathtub’s faucet washer is inexpensive and quick way to resolve a leak.
If you’re unable or are struggling to replace the washer, call a plumbing professional at Chas Roberts for service.
2. Corroded Valve Stem and Cartridges
Your bathtub’s valve stem or cartridge is located within your shower wall.
If your tub has one handle, you’ll find a cartridge in your wall.
If your bathtub features two handles, you’ll find a faucet stem within your shower walls.
Both these devices manage the flow of water into your bathtub.
However, minerals in the water can cause corrosion over time — leading to leaks around the handles of your tub.
When dealing with this type of leak, we recommend you contact a plumbing pro to repair the components inside the wall and to ensure there are no other leaks that could further damage your home.
3. Failing Faucet Seats
Another component that could be failing and causing your bathtub faucet to leak are faucet seats.
This component is usually located at the base of the faucet handle and is used to turn the water on and off.
If you notice water beginning to leak from the base of your bathtub faucet, your seat could be failing.
When To Call a Plumber
While many homeowners can tackle their leaky bathtub faucet repairs on their own, a professional is still the best route to take.
If you take apart your faucet and are unable to determine the cause for the leak, or if you have made several attempts to fix the leak, but the problem is still persistent, a plumber is recommended.
A homeowner may also find that after taking apart their bathtub faucet, repairing the leak themselves appears more complicated than anticipated.
Contacting a plumbing expert at Chas Roberts can prevent plumbing mistakes from growing into even more expensive repairs.
Conclusion
A leaky bathtub faucet is a common occurrence that many homeowners will face at some point.
While it’s inexpensive to resolve, if left untreated the leak could grow, causing more water damage to your home.
Contact the plumbing pros at Chas Roberts to fix your leaky bathtub faucet once and for all!
Chas Roberts is the largest plumbing and HVAC provider in Arizona and has been family-owned and operated for over 75 years. Contact us for reliable, affordable service.
