A Delta tub faucet will leak after prolonged use, and if you do not want to pay for a plumber to fix it, installing a new cartridge should solve the problem. Leaking faucets contribute to water stains and sometimes water damage if the surrounding wall board is affected by water. This leads to rot or mold, so fixing the problem is a priority. The skills required are basic, and the entire process takes about half an hour. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Turn off the incoming water supply by closing the main water valve to your home.
2. Take off the small cap on the faucet handle by prying it up with a knife or small screwdriver. Remove the screw on top of the faucet with either an Allen wrench or a Phillips head screwdriver. Some models have Allen head screws, while others use a Phillips head.
3. Slide the handle off the faucet stem. Remove the retainer clips around the cartridge on the faucet with needle-nose pliers, if clips are present. If the faucet does not have clips, remove the bonnet and dome cap by twisting them to the left with adjustable pliers. Not all Deltas have these parts, so it will depend on your model. You should be left with just the cartridge after this step.
4. Pull the cartridge out of the faucet, using the needle-nose pliers if necessary. Remove the seat gaskets inside the faucet with a small screwdriver. Replace the seat gaskets, then install a new cartridge into the faucet head by lining up the grooves on the side of the cartridge with those on the faucet head.
5. Replace the retainer clip or dome and bonnet cap, and tighten them by hand. Slide the handle back on the stem. Thread the screw into the handle, and tighten it to secure the handle to the stem.
Tags: faucet with, cartridge faucet, faucet head, left with, needle-nose pliers