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| Welcome To Bath-Faucets |
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| Faucet Repair |
Bathtub faucets are generally one-handled washerless faucets, or two-handled compression faucets.
There are three types of washerless faucets: cartridge, disc, and ball faucets. Fixing a bathtub faucet is very similar to repairing a sink faucet. You should review this procedure using the procedure manual before attempting to fix your bathtub faucet. Follow all steps in the repair carefully, and be sure to have the necessary plumbing tools on hand. Any tool box should have what you need, so don’t go out and buy expensive tools to fix your faucet.
A washerless tub faucet is very similar to a washerless sink faucet. Once you know how to change the cartridge in one, the other is a piece of cake. The retainer nut or clip must be loosened so that you can remove the cartridge.
A ball faucet needs to have new seals and O-rings.
A Compression faucet, has two handles, one for the hot water and one for the cold water. In order to control the water pressure, compression faucets use a system of seals and washers. If you have a compression faucet on your bathtub, look for the "packing nut," located at the front of the stem assembly, may be located in the wall or tub itself. This is the nut that basically opens up the entire assembly. This can make it difficult to remove, so using a wrench may be useful to unscrew the entire faucet from its mount.
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| Compression Faucet |
The most common household problem is a leaky faucet. If your compression faucet is leaking, it is probably being caused by an worn out stem washer. Washers in the hot water tap wear out quicker that those in the cold water tap. However, your washer may also not work if your valve seat (the place where the spigot rests) is rough. If your faucet leaks more often through one of your spigots, the valve seat may be the problem. If the leak is coming out of one of the handles, you will need to replace the rubber O-ring that forms an internal seal.
TIP: Always shut the water supply off before trying to repair your faucet!
- Shut off the water going to your faucet by turning off the sink's shut off valve, that is usually located underneath the sink. If you can't find it, you can shut off the main water supply. Turn into the open position to drain out any water that’s still in the pipes.
- Take off the decorative covers on both faucets. Remove the screws with a screwdriver.
- Remove the faucet handles.
- Using a wrench or a pair of adjustable pliers remove the retaining nut. Make sure you don’t scratch up this nut with a toothed wrench.
- Put the handles back on, to assist you to screw off the remaining stem assembly. Check the threads. If they are worn out, you may have just found the problem
- Inspect the valve seat, which is the hole where the stem assembly is on. If it is rusted, cleaning it may help, though replacing it would be a better option.
- A special seat wrench is what’s needed to remove the seat. Push the wrench into the valve seat and turn it counterclockwise. The seat should lift out. Make sure you have the right replacement before trying to remove the valve seat. Before installing it, coat it with joint compound or wrap plumber's tape around it.
At times, you may deal with a stuck valve seat. That’s where a seat dressing tool comes into use.. You can buy this inexpensive product at any plumbing store. Select a coarse cutter head that is slightly smaller than the seat valve, and put it on the dressing tool. Push the head gently into the valve seat. It should fit fairly tightly. Press the tool directly downwards, but don’t push at an angle. Turn the handle clockwise two or three times. You will then need to switch the coarse cutter head to a finer cutter head. Repeat the entire process.
- Remove the stem screw.
- Put in a new stem washer. Check again to make sure its the same type as the original washer.
- Take off the O-ring from the threaded spindle and put on a new one. Some faucets have packing string which looks like black thread and must be scraped off. Wrap some more packing string around the stem, just under the retaining nut. The string should be wrapped in a clockwise motion.
- Use vaseline or heatproof plumbing grease, completely coating the spindle threads and packing string.
- Reassemble the faucet assembly.
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| Cartridge faucet |
Cartridges or O rings may be the cause of leaks or in a cartridge faucet. It is better to replace both the cartridge and the O ring when you attempt to fix the faucet. It is always a good idea to keep a few appropriate replacement parts for your cartridge faucets. Each brand is different and comes with its own set of instructions.
- Shut off the water supply going to your faucet, which usually should be located underneath the sink. Turn into the open position to drain out any water that’s still in the pipes.
- Take off the decorative head and loosen off the handle screw.
- Wiggle the handle back and forth gently until it comes off the faucet.
- Replace the O rings.
- A nut or a clip, depending on the brand keeps the cartridge in position. Take the nut or stem off. Lift out the cartridge out of the faucet using regular pliers.
- Insert in the new cartridge Firmly attach the cartridge using the nut or clip that you removed.
- Reassemble the faucet
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| Ball Faucets |
Ball faucets as their name says, has a little ball that is located inside the faucet assembly. These faucets should be easy and cheap to repair. Buying a ball faucet plumbing kit may be a good idea if you don’t have any experience in simple plumbing jobs.. They can save you money and a lot of hassle.
- Shut off the water supply going to your faucet, which usually should be located underneath the sink.
- Undo the tiny screws on the faucet. allowing you to remove the decorative handle.
- Adjust the ring that is inside the cap. Usually a simple wrench or a pocket knife is all it takes. This simple measure may take care of the leak.
- Remove the adjusting ring and cap. This will expose the faucet assembly. Carefully remove any seals
- Gently scrape off any calcium deposits and grime that may have built up over the years.
- Replace the O rings and seals if any.
- Check out the ball and see if it looks worn out or scratched up. It may be worth replacing anyways since you have opened up the faucet to fix a leak.
- Reassemble the faucet carefully.
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| Disc Faucets |
These faucets are inexpensive and easy to fix. Most of the problem with a leaky disc faucets is a worn out rubber seal. These are simple to replace with a few simple tools.
- Shut off the water supply going to your faucet, which usually should be located underneath the sink.
- Pull up the handle and locate the screw under the handle. Loosen it a bit with the appropriate wrench to the point that you can take off the entire handle and cap in one piece.
- You will then see the faucet cartridge, usually locked in with one or two small screws. Unscrew the cartridge and remove it.
- Now you will be able to inspect the inlet seals, under which will be the outlet seal. Replacing all the seals is a good idea.
- Clean out the assembly with a damp cloth
- Replace the cartridge, making sure the seals are well in place
- Reassemble the faucet.
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| Shower Heads |
Generally, the problem with showerheads is a block or a leak. Showerheads may leak where they attach to the outlet stempipe, or may have blocked faceplate holes. These problems are easy to fix and fairly inexpensive.
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| Fixing a leak |
- Shut off the water supply going to your shower head.
- Remove the showerhead from its outlet stempipe.It may be a good idea to use a cloth at the point where the showerhead screws on to the outlet stem, to prevent any damage to the showerhead. Use adjustable pliers or a smooth wrench to remove the showerhead from the outlet stem
- Replace the shower head if you want at this time. Check out the threads and clean out the connecting surfaces. Using plumbers tape or plumber joint compound on the threads creates a water tight seal.
- If you have a showerhead that swivels, coating the swivel ball with vaseline before you install it, will make sure it rotates smoothly.
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| Fixing A Clogged Showerhead |
- Shut off the water supply going to your shower head.
- Remove the the faceplate on the showerhead by loosening the screws If the faceplate is not removable, loosen the collar using a smooth wrench that attaches the showerhead to the outlet stempipe.
- Soak the faceplate in white vinegar or any commercial limescale cleaner such as CLR solution. The solution/ vinegar should dissolve the lime deposits clogging up the showerplate. Use a nail, or old bristle toothbrush to clear the outlet holes on the faceplate. Rinse off
- Reassemble.
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