Leaky Bathtub Faucets, Are you sick of hearing the constant drip, drip, drip from your bathtub faucet?
A leaky faucet can waste a lot of water and make an annoying sound. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, a faucet that drips at a rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons annually.
Needless to say, your leaking bathtub faucet needs to be repaired as soon as possible. This article will walk you through the most common causes of a leaking bathtub faucet and some tips for solving this problem.
Table of Contents
What Causes Your Bathtub Faucet to Leak?
A variety of things might cause bathtub faucets to leak. The five major culprits might be…
- Damaged washers
- Issues with the stem of your faucet
- Poor pipe connections
- Improper installation
- Excessive water pressure
Damaged Washers
Without washers, you could deal with more unwelcome disasters like leaky faucets. Washers are crucial in creating tight seals around pipes for bathtubs and sinks.
Various kinds of washers are available on the market, but they all share the same primary goal: making watertight seals. However, with use and time, these components will deteriorate or possibly crack. When this occurs, nothing stops any extra water from flowing out. This could cause damage to your bathtubs like rust stains or mineral deposits, in addition to drips and leaks.
Issues with the Faucet Stems
Perhaps the issue is with the faucet itself, which normally manifests in the stem connecting the handle to the faucet. Leaky Bathtub Faucets could occasionally be possible to rectify the problem, but more often than not, replacing the faucet is preferable.
Poor Pipe Connections
If it was poorly fitted or made of inferior materials, your bathtub’s plumbing may have been loose and detached. This could have leaked. Water hammer issues often cause this. Water hammer is the sound made when rushing water hits a closed valve that should be open. A loud thud is heard when water hits the obstacle since it has nowhere else to go.
Improper Installations
Poor bathtub installation or the plumbing connected to it is another frequent culprit. The pipes in your newly built bathtub might not be secure enough to resist the pressure of the numerous gallons of water flowing through them daily.
Excessive Water Pressure
High water pressure can result in leaking pipes, exploding pipes, and leaking fixtures, leading to an early fixture and faucet failure.
How Can A Dripping Bathtub Faucet Be Fixed?
Plumbing issues never go away on their own; they only worsen and get more complicated. There are ways to fix or stop a dripping bathtub faucet, even if you think the only option is to completely replace the faucet.
- If a worn-out washer is the cause of the issue, you will need to replace the washer. This entails taking apart the handles and faucet to replace the worn-out washer.
- If the faucet stem is the issue, you might be able to fix it, but as we already mentioned, it’s probably best to replace the complete faucet.
- If the issue involves water hammer problems, poor pipe connections, or installation errors, a professional plumber may need to come out to analyze the situation and provide you with a solution.
- If the water pressure is the root of the issue, installing or replacing a water pressure regulator will be necessary. However, note that there may be additional causes for your high water pressure.
DIY versus Expert Faucet Repair
Leaky Bathtub Faucets is strongly advised against attempting to address the identified issues yourself if you don’t have any plumbing experience and instead proposed that you call a professional.
This is why:
- Time is saved for you: A plumber has the equipment, spare parts, and know-how to swiftly and effectively fix your faucet. A skilled plumber can usually fix most faucet leaks within an hour. If you have no prior plumbing experience, the job may take substantially longer.
- Your faucet will be safeguarded: If not handled carefully during a repair, faucets can easily be harmed. Thanks to their equipment and expertise, a plumber can correctly remove and fix it. If you try to remove the faucet yourself, you could unintentionally cause further harm, which results in more costly issues.
- You’ll receive fully guaranteed repairs: Reputable plumbers guarantee their repair work, so if the faucet leaks again, the plumber will fix it free of charge. Also, plumbers can identify minor problems with your bathroom plumbing or faucet before they become major ones, ultimately saving you money and time.
What Will Happen if a Leaky Faucet is not Repaired?
The following will result from a leaky faucet:
- Water Wasted by the Leaking Faucet Will Increase Your Bill
When your faucet is leaking, you may see money flow away. While the trickle may not seem like you are losing much water, it will pile up rapidly and can significantly increase your monthly bill.
- Mold and Mildew May be Caused by the Additional MoistureFrom the Faucet
A persistent drop will cause the region to get more and more moist, eventually encouraging mold and mildew growth. This may result in costly house improvements and impact indoor air quality.
Mildew spreads more quickly if the leak is under the faucet because of the damp, dark atmosphere that has been established.
- Faucet Features Will Need to be Replaced Sooner Rather than Later
Even though faucet features are made to handle water, this does not mean that they are resistant to damage from excessive moisture. The faucet’s components will degrade faster and need to be replaced the longer the drip persists. By having the leaking faucet fixed, you may extend the life of your faucet and prevent corrosion.
- The Leak Will Not Close by Itself and Will Only Get Worse
Leaky faucets won’t fix themselves; instead, they’ll continue to worsen over time. Call a plumber to repair the faucet rather than putting up with that unpleasant drip. Without the constant drip, not only will your atmosphere be more peaceful, but you’ll also avoid future expensive repairs and charges.
