You think to take a relaxing bath and go to the bathroom. You turn on the bathtub faucet to fill the bathtub but after filling the bathtub when you turn it off, you can’t. You try to turn off the bathtub faucet but the water still flows continuously.
When your old bathtub faucet won’t turn off, you may see dripping water from the faucet or a rapid flow of water. It is not a good sign because it will waste lots of water and cost you a high water bill.
If this is happening to you don’t worry, fixing the bathtub faucet not turning off issue is simple and inexpensive with. Follow the simple process from this guide.
Why Old bathtub Faucet Won’t Turn off?
- Corroded or Stripped Handle – Over time, due to regular use of the faucet, its handle won’t stay as same forever. It may become corroded or stripped and start creating trouble when you try to turn it off.
- Damaged Stem – The stem stops the flow of the water when you turn its handle. But if the stem is damaged, the water fill flows continuously or drips when you turn off the handle.
- Water Pressure Issue – In some cases, the old bathtub faucet won’t turn off at some specific times of the day, and at other times it works perfectly. If this is happening to you, it means there is an issue with the high water pressure in the faucet. You can use a pressure-regulating valve to control the water pressure.
How To Fix a Bathtub Faucet That Won’t Turn Off?
If you have the right tools, any plumbing work is not difficult. Here are the right tools to turn off a bathtub faucet.
- A Wrench
- A Set of Small Allen Wrench
- A flat-head screwdriver
- A Needle-Nose Pliers
- New Stem (If needed)
Step 1 – Turn off the Water Supply
When faced with a bathtub faucet that won’t turn off, the first step is to locate the main water shut-off valve. It helps to stop the water flow for the entire home. Turn it off to stop the water supply for the bathtub faucet. It will help you to work without any mess.
Step 2 – Tighten The Handle Screw
A loose screw might cause an old bathtub faucet won’t turn off issue. With time, the screw becomes loose so you need to tighten it.
Find the screw on the handle, it might be at the side or under the handle. It might be covered under the cap. A flat-head screwdriver is the right tool to remove the cap. To pry off the cap, insert the screwdriver into the groove on the handle.
After removing the cap, you can see the screw. Use the appropriate tool (Phillips or flathead screwdriver, or an Allen wrench) to loosen the screw slightly. The tool selection will depend on the type of the screw your faucet handle has.
Before tightening the screw, hold the faucet handle in the right place. Turn the tool in a clockwise direction to tighten it. After tightening the screw, check if the handle is secure and doesn’t wobble. If the screw is stripped you need to replace it.
Now check whether the bathtub faucet is turning off properly or not. If not, you need to replace its stem.
Step 3 – Replace The Damaged Stem
Replacing a bathtub faucet stem involves a bit more work than simply tightening a screw.
To replace the stem, you need to remove the handle. Remove the screw of the handle and pull the handle out.
- You’ll now see the stem assembly that needs to be replaced. This might be secured with a nut or threaded onto the faucet.
- Use an adjustable wrench or pipe wrench to carefully loosen and remove the stem assembly. You can use penetrating oil if the parts are corroded or stuck.
- Take a photo of an old stem or take it with you to any hardware store to get a new one. Make sure, you get an exact matching stem.
- For better grip, apply plumber tape on the threads of the stem.
- Insert the new stem into the valve housing and use the wrench to tighten it securely. Now put back the faucet handle and tighten its screw.
How To Turn off Water To Bathtub Only?
When your bathtub faucet won’t turn off, you might have to turn off the water supply to this faucet. Is it possible to turn off the water for only the bathtub? Yes, you can do it if there is a separate shut-off valve for the bathtub faucet.
Turn that valve into an off position and it will shut down the water supply to the bathtub.
It is useful because if you turn off the main valve of the house, you can’t use other faucets of the house till the repair process is going on. But if you turn off the valve of the bathtub faucet, still you can use bathroom or kitchen faucets.
When Should I Replace an Old Bathtub Faucet?
It’s generally a good idea to replace a bathtub faucet that is over 15-20 years old. After such a long time, its inside parts won’t be in good condition and start showing problems. When you see frequent leaking, dripping, difficulty in turning handle, lower water pressure, or an inability to shut off water completely, it is time to replace the old bathtub faucet.
James Lewis is a seasoned plumber and faucet enthusiast who shares his expertise on Faucetsavvy.com. With over 15 years of experience in the plumbing industry, he’s passionate about helping homeowners find the perfect faucet for their needs. He’s also dedicated to empowering DIY enthusiasts with the plumbing knowledge and skills needed to repair and maintain their faucets.