Bath/Shower Faucet Repair

Discovering any type of problem with your bath shower faucet can be enough to send you running for the telephone to call the first available plumber. However, by following a few steps, you will find that you can undertake the repair without the assistance of a professional.

Step 1 - Disconnect Water

Begin by turning off the water supply to the bathroom to reduce the risk of damage resulting from the potential escape of water.

Step 2 - Inspect the Area

Though you may have noticed a problem with the visible section of the bath shower faucet, this is likely to have been caused by the mechanisms that are hidden beneath the bathtub or behind the wall. In addition, the fasteners that secure the faucets in place will be below the surface.

You will need to remove the relevant panels to gain access to them with the help of a screwdriver. This process will also be necessary if you have noticed a leak but are not sure where it is coming from. Remove the panel and use a flashlight to help you inspect the pipes and mechanisms.

Step 3 - Clean

Some problems that can affect a bath shower faucet, such as leaks or reduced water pressure or flow, may not even be as a result of any damage but rather be due to a build-up of debris and/or mineral deposits.

You can rectify this by using a wrench or a pair of pliers to remove the parts that are causing the problem. Deposit the parts in a container filled with white vinegar and leave it to soak for a short while before using a scrubbing brush to scrub away the blockage. Don’t overlook the threads of nuts and bolts where deposits can also build up.

Step 4 - Look at Wear and Tear

Whether you have noticed water dripping from your bath shower faucet or if water is pouring from the joint between the shower hose and the faucet, it is likely to be a result of worn or damaged parts or simply from parts that have become loose. Use a wrench or a pair of pliers to remove loose nuts and apply some plumber’s tape around the thread before tightly screwing the nut back into place.

Alternatively, use the relevant tools to remove the fasteners from the point of the leak to enable you to examine them as well as any washers and rubber seals that are in place. Replace any damaged components with exact copies before reattaching fasteners

Step 5 - Replace

If the bath shower faucet has sustained damage that cannot be repaired with a replacement part, it may be necessary to replace the entire unit. Use a wrench to remove the fasteners that hold the faucet unit in its holding from the underside.

If necessary, take the faucet with you to the hardware store to enable you to get a replacement of the same specifications to reduce the risk of potential problems.

Similarly, if you use a mixer tap that comprises a shower hose that has split or suffered irreparable damage, remove the nuts at either end of the hose to fit the replacement.