Regular home inspections and preventive plumbing maintenance can keep your bathtub fixtures working without fail. Here are a few tips to keep everything working like new.
Prevent Clogs and Leaks
Clogged drains and leaky faucets are the most common problems involving the bathtub plumbing. Minor repairs can often be made by the do-it-yourself homeowner using just basic plumbing skills, and a few simple tools. And, many of the components needed to fix the bathtub plumbing can be purchased at the local home improvement store or any store that specializes in plumbing supplies. However, more advanced plumbing problems might require significant technical repairs performed by a professional plumber.
Leaky Valves & Faucets
Like every other plumbing component in the home, the bathtub valves can easily become worn out over time. This often results in extensive repairs when they are not properly addressed in a timely fashion. A leaky faucet can cause significant damage behind the walls.
Before beginning any type of bathroom plumbing repair, it is essential to make sure that the water supply has been turned off. Typically, the water supply to the bathtub is located behind the faucet wall of the bathtub. If that is inaccessible, it will require turning off the water supply to the entire house (either in the basement, or located just outside) to ensure minimal leaking during the process.
Next, the faucet handle will need to be removed, which simply requires a small Phillips head screwdriver. Remove the handles by sliding them off the faucet stems. Next unscrew the faucet’s stem collars and remove the escutcheon plates that are typically made of chrome and used to hide the openings for the handles, the showerhead and the spout.
Next, unscrew the faucet valve stems using an adjustable wrench. When the valve stem has been removed, you will need to unscrew the old washer and replace it with the new packing provided from the home improvement store or hardware store. Once the new packing has been installed, just reverse the process and thread the stem back into the valve. Put the escutcheon’s back on, followed by the stem collars and finally the handles. Be sure and turn the water on slowly to ensure that the valve has been tightened completely. If the faucet is still leaking, it likely requires professional repair.
Unclogging a Drain
By removing the screen or plug at the bottom of the bathtub, it is possible to see visible debris and hair that is clogging up the drain. The process of removing these components can be messy and better performed by wearing rubber gloves. If that does not unclog the drain, feed a bathtub drain snake through the opening of the drain hole and turn it to grab whatever is blocked farther down the line. Try to avoid using harsh chemicals as they can cause significant damage to the drain pipe.
Know When to Call a Professional Plumber
Not sure you can handle a bathtub repair or any other preventive plumbing maintenance? Call Hubb! Give your home the professional and courteous plumbing service it requires. No job is too big or too small. Our mission is to provide professional plumbing service at fair pricing and to leave you with a great sense of customer satisfaction. We have been and continue to be referred by generations of local Snellville families. And because we know how valuable your recommendation is for our success, we sincerely honor your trust.
Call Hubb – 404-925-4675
