How do you change a bathtub faucet?

Question

My bathtub faucet is old and leaky. I've looked online for instructions on how to remove the old one and install a new one, but I can't find any. Can anyone give me some simple directions or guide me where to find them?

Thanks!!

Answer 1

go to lowes and ask. a new faucet should fit right where your old one goes with no plumbing changing. Use pipe tape to seal the threads of all pipes.

Answer 2

Lowe's is a good suggestion, or Home Depot. It isn't that hard, but the devil is in the details. The best place to start is to remove the knobs so you can check the diameter of the sleeves that poke through the wall and distance between them. It's easier to get a new fixture that matches the holes already in the wall, although with a hole saw and electric drill you can make them bigger. The trim plates behind the knobs have a set screw with a slot, you only need a small screwdriver. (There's a setscrew under the spout too, but it may be frozen in place. The spout unscrews from the pipe once it's loosened.) I've found that with any plumbing task, it's wise to assume that you'll be making repeat trips to the store before it's done. It's less frustrating to simply assume that. I hope you get lucky, but that's how it works for me the first time I have to do something. If you don't have valves to shut off the water right at the tub, buy a couple of threaded pipe caps so you can seal the pipe ends if you run into trouble after removing the old fixture. They're cheap insurance against an emergency trip to the store if you have trouble getting the new fixture in, so you can turn the water back on in the bathroom.

Any problem you run into has a fix, so go for it. I replaced one that was probably the cheapest thing out there so there were no replacement parts (if it's a common brand and merely leaky, you can rebuild it) and I had every problem that I could run into. But it felt good to have it done and if I can do it, anyone can.

I'll bet they have a how-to plumbing book at the store, so buy one and see what the job is like. If you pick out a faucet and want to know the specifics of putting THAT one in, maybe you can get them to throw the directions on a copier for you to check out at home.

Answer 3

there is no easy way or an easy trick if your not familiar with plumbing don't try it it will cost more after you mess with it and tear something up then if a plumber like myself just goes in makes a material list goes gets the parts and replaces