If your bathtub faucet is leaking or dripping for a while then it is time to replace bathtub faucets.

Easy as it may sound there’re a couple of factors you should look in to while replacing the faucet.

Follow the tips presented here and bathtub faucet replacement will be an easy task.

Faucets allow water flowing through pipes to be utilized in controlled way. Generally almost all bathtubs have either 2 valve or three valve faucets.

They generally start leaking when washers become stiff and corroded. Water pressure also hastens this process. In older design faucets there used to be rubber or neoprene washers. In the latest systems cartridge is utilized instead of washers.

It is usually necessary to purchase a correct faucet. Faucets are available in lots of sizes and styles. When you need to change a faucet it is necessary to take a precise measurement of holes from centre to centre. While style is optional but size is important.

Also you should have a correct tools to replace a faucet. There are various kinds of wrenches for plumbing jobs.

For square or hex nuts open end wrenches are best suited as these have smooth jaws. If your pipe is chrome coated and you don’t wish to mar the surface then you may go for a strap wrench. If the pipe diameter is small then you must have vise grip wrench.

Generally 2 pipe wrenches are required for plumbing jobs. One to hold and one other to turn.

While installing bathtub faucets look for the faucet assembly behind the walls. Generally builders would have provided a rear access panel in the rear of the tub. Read the instruction manual while assembling the two valve or 3 valve faucets.

Here are some usual sequence of tasks to change a dripping water faucet.

• To start with turn off the water. You might turn off the main water supply for the entire house.

• Then remove the faucet’s handle. Tap or pull softly. Over the years the handle may have gotten welded to stem. So don’t force it. Incase it doesn’t come out gently then use a special handle puller.

• Now remove the stem and the trim assembly.  The stem assembly is needed to control the amount and temperature of water output to the bathtub. Utilize a bath socket wrench to dis-assemble this.

• Afterward take a look at the washer . If it’s torn or brittle then this is the cause for the drip. Replace the stem and the washer.

• Look closely at the seats. If they are not smooth then they too must be replaced. Use a seat wrench to remove it.

• When replacing the various components you must put it all back together. Grease the nut threads, washer and stem threads. Then slide them all back and fasten the nuts.

• Incase it’s a cartridge type faucet then take out the trim and handle. Then change the cartridge.

So with a little bit of know-how you might fix it by yourself for $80-$90.

In the same vein, it’s easy to fix that leaking shower faucet too.