After you have replaced the O-ring and washer, reassemble the water faucet. Shut off the water supply to the faucet by locating the supply valves below the sink. Start tightening it using the screwdriver or an adjustable wrench. If the valves won't turn easily, you may have to find the main water shut-off valve for the house and turn off the water there. The stem wont have the proper grip in both cases, so the water will continuously flow through it. If it's still draining out, remove the overflow plate and lengthen the linkage a bit more. Start by turning off the water to the sink. Be careful not to damage the faucet body itself during this process. There are over 100 different brands and makes of faucets, and most of them take different parts. Any ideas? Toss in a hair dryer, makeup, spare soap and toothpaste andwell, you get the idea. Remove it with the correct screwdriver or hex wrench. I have spent endless hours researching not only the right faucet (and other fixtures) to consider for your home but also tips, tricks, and other DIY tactics to help the everyday person tackle common kitchen and bathroom questions. The rubber O-rings inside your faucet wear out from age, exposure to air, and exposure to heat from the hot water flowing through the faucet. Thank you for being a loyal Delta Faucet customer. A basic faucet repair kit should have these tools and supplies: As you unpack the faucets insides, you may find you need a brand-specific cartridge puller. Because you use the faucet everyday, what you don't notice is that gradually the internal parts of the faucet gain a buildup of minerals from the water, and the parts wear. Figured it needed grease on the rubber gasket. Faucet handle hard to turn. Thanks. However, it is a temporary solution, and thus, you need to prepare to replace it with a new faucet handle ASAP, preferably within a few months. Aug 12, 2012. Take out the handle by. Read Our Comprehensive Review. You can either go to the big box type stores or a local hardware; they each have their own particular strong points. We have a Delta Leland single handle faucet, handle was getting very sloppy with 1" of free play, getting hard to shut of completely. We might be able to do something about it. Put the handle back on without the screw and gently push it in the direction it needs to go. If you dont buy the correct cartridge, it might not work, or you could end up with a handle that turns in the wrong direction. Arnold studied English at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. And when the bathtub faucet wont turn off, you need to identify the cause and fix it ASAP. ), Trip Lever Tub Drain That Wont Stay Open: (Fix It Now! This is usually the case for older faucets, as the internal parts begin to wear out, allowing the faucet to turn further than usual. Carefully brush off the entire stem and remove all the debris properly. Remove the index button, or faceplate, located on the middle of the faucet handle. Reason I know is the stainless plate on the cartridge can be twisted 1/4 turn from the stem portion. They should be identical, mirroring the others position. We appreciate your feedback. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If this is a Moen faucet, this is when you use the removal tool. Reinstall the screw, then check if the handle still rotates too far. The reason for this? Start by turning off the water to the sink. Heres what youll need to check: Cover the drain with a towel to prevent losing any parts. At times the stem may catch debris and waste deposits. When you see the bathtub water is constantly running, even after your 10th time trying of turning off the faucet, you need to fix the problem immediately. Then crawl under the sink with some tissue and wipe around the joints with it. Remove the handle screw, then pull the handle off. Take the handle assembly apart and pop out the diverter with a screwdriver and soak it in a bath of equal parts white vinegar and boiling hot water. Compression faucets use O-rings to create a watertight seal inside the faucet. However, when you fail to turn off the bathtub faucet after a relaxing bath, things can get scary, but it wont stop. Faucets are a great example of thisone day you realize the faucet is difficult to turn, and wonder how it ever got that way. Can worn seats/springs allow water to leak out the back of a tub/shower handle mechanism? After you drain the lines, remove the handle. (In this step, all parts removed should match the new parts which you picked up at the store.). Then, you should press the handle of the faucet right through the thread-tape-wrapped stem. If the temperature at the tap is too hot at this setting, adjust the thermostat to a lower setting. Fortunately, or unfortunately, we cannot all become plumbers. The bathtub faucet comes with single or double handles. There are over 100 different brands and makes of faucets, and most of them take different parts. If you dont want to risk hurting your hand, pry off the stem with a wrench. You can also opt to replace the cartridge, using plumbers grease to lubricate the threads. Replace the cartridge according to the original orientation. Then it looks like the stops have broken off due to overtightening of the tap. In fact, with cartridges in some faucets, brand-specific cartridge-pullersare needed. The handles of compression-type faucets may become stiff due to hardening of the O-rings caused by age and regular exposure to air and the heat from hot water. They are often not opened and closed for years at a time and can freeze in position, so a quick or forceful turn can snap off the valve handle. It often happens to me as a plumber. The pliers accommodate a variety of nut sizes, and having multiple screwdrivers prevents issues related to damaging the screw head while you repair . This causes the internal parts to resist movement and thus, the handle is increasingly difficult to move. If so, use needle nose pliers to remove it. Also, the stem may get damaged. Tips and guideline for delta shower faucet repair parts. Here's how to fix cranky faucets without a plumber. Some plumbing changes in your home happen so slowly, you do not even realize anything is different. 9) You can now install the new parts and work your way backwards through the steps as you reassemble the faucet, remembering to replace all retaining clips and rings. Check that the water is off by turning the faucet handles. If you have a stiff faucet handle that you can't turn, using the faucet becomes unnecessarily difficult. Dig through the debris and locate the valves. The plate should lay horizontal but I've seen a few lately come with it in the vertical. If the damage appears to be fairly extensive, it is best to purchase a replacement part. Finally, turn your shower off and on and see if the water has stopped coming out when the faucet is in the off position. Loosening the stiff faucet handle will take a bit of time, but it is not hard to do. Turn off the water beneath the sink atthe hot and cold water supply lines. Luckily, its not a complicated fix. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. If you'd like to support the site, please allow ads. On an electric water heater, look for two panels screwed to the top and bottom of the tank or one panel along the side of the tank--the thermostat will be located under these panels. Pull the valve out, either straight up or by rotating it in a counterclockwise direction with an adjustable wrench. When you are ready with all the parts to fix the faucet, start working. Step 2 - Contact us. For some brands, this is where the cartridge-pulling tool is a must, to avoid breakage. Shut off both the hot and cold water supply valves underneath your sink. Remove them. Reassemble the faucet in the reverse order you disassembled it, using the parts in order from the shoe box. It looks pretty spiffy, but the handles are off to turn them off, you have to turn them past the point where they should stop. Thanks for supporting the free content here at Basic Works! Do Gerber Faucets Have A Lifetime Warranty? Turn off the water to the faucet before you take apart the handles to access the seals, which you can do using either the water valve handles found under the sink or in an access panel on the wall behind the shower or tub faucet. It is a bit difficult task, and so, you need to prepare properly. When you pry off the cover, you will find the screw. Raise the control lever on the overflow plate and turn on the water. Place a socket wrench over the bathtub faucet stem until it covers the hex nut. Now, check the stem closely to find if it has any damage or faults. When it happens, you must replace the handle. Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. A scrub brush can help loosen deposits. The kitchen sink sprayer offers a dribble where once there was a spray. During this process, be careful not to damage the stem or the handle. There are a couple of causes that can result in hard-to-turn faucet handles. After the faucet is reassembled, the water is back on and you have tested it to make sure it works well, show off your work to your spouse or friends. Does the faucet leak water around the base of the spout? Turn the water back on. Take a picture of the faucet and show the picture to the plumbing supply store clerk. The rubber O-rings inside your faucet wear out from age, exposure to air, and exposure to heat from the hot water flowing through the faucet. They will shut off if installed sideways. Lets assume a Delta: Look under the handle and you will find an 1/8" set screw, loosen that and the handle comes off: NOW you will see the stem ; there is a cap the stem goes thru which unscrews; after that you will see the cartridge and a ring with 2 slots that is what has to be loosened a bit, If Delta you can get the combo tool which is allen Replace the faucet spout sleeve over the faucet body and tighten the faucet . These affiliate advertising programs are designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to specific sites. Remove the locking nut by rotating it counterclockwise with an adjustable wrench or a pair of channel-lock pliers. Your job is helped by knowing (through a little tinkering) what the cause is. If it still fills the bathtub with water, we suggest you call for a plumber and let him take over the charge and fix or replace the entire faucet. Remove the handle of the faucet by popping the cap to uncover the set screw. Tools needed 1.phillips screw driver, 2.safety pin ,3. Removed the cartridge, applied Danco waterproof grease to the rubber gasket on the cartridge and to the inside of the valve body, reassembled. JavaScript is disabled. If you recently purchased a replacement cartridge and just noticed the issue upon installation, you bought the wrong one. Gently lift the faucet cartridge out with your fingers or channel-lock pliers. For this, turn off the valve and start working. Was any work done in the house or in the street recently? Turn on the faucet and let the last of the water trickle out to completely drain the water lines. Tie a long string around the end of the faucet so that the water drips onto the string and runs down it silently. At this stage, your smartphone camera would come in handy. If tightening the handle doesnt work, check the interlocking notches. ), Bathroom Mirrors Offer Bright Design Solutions: Add Style and Function to Your Bath, Low Water Pressure in Shower after Replacing Valve: Reasons & Solutions, Drywall Next To Shower Getting Wet: Heres a Way to Fix and Prevent It, Standard Bathtub Framing Rough In Dimensions Explained, Why Is There No Cold Water In Shower? It does not leak from the spout anymore but it is much harder to turn and operate the handle. If left inside the faucet, the aging O-rings will make turning the faucet's handles increasingly difficult and can also lead to leaks inside the faucet. Another possible reason lies in the faucet's cartridge, which can eventually develop problems that make the faucet handle hard to turn. Remove the handle by loosening the screw in its center. Finally, turn on the water supply, test the faucet handle, and check for leaks. 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