How to Supervene upon a Bathtub Spout

Cutaway photos show how to supersede the iii well-nigh common types of bathtub spouts when they are leaking or broken.

Time

An hour or less

Complexity

Beginner

Toll

Less than $twenty

Introduction

Replacing a broken bathtub spout is a simple, inexpensive project. In this commodity, nosotros'll testify you the most common types of spouts, and how to replace them. Even if yous've never tackled a plumbing projection before, you tin handle replacing the spout. And don't worry. You don't need whatsoever special skills or plumbing tools.

Tools Required

Materials Required

  • Nipples
  • Silicone caulk
  • Spout
  • Thread record

Project step-by-step (3)

Pace 1

How to supercede a tub spout

Unscrew the old nipple

Unscrew

Unscrew the old nipple with a pipe wrench. If the nipple is too short to grab with a wrench, utilise an "internal" pipe wrench ($10).

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Footstep 2

Install the new nipple

Install

Wrap both ends of the new nipple with thread tape and screw information technology into the plumbing equipment within the wall. Seal effectually it with silicone caulk and screw on the new spout. Bathtub spouts can get bad in iii ways: Starting time, the tub spout diverter can article of clothing out and then it no longer blocks the water menstruum and sends water to the shower caput. Second, the threads within the spout tin can crack or corrode where the spout screws onto the pipe. Water can then trickle forth the pipe and baste inside the wall. Finally, the spout's cease tin can fleck off or corrode.

Replacement is the solution to whatever of these problems. A new spout ($10 to $20) and everything else yous might demand are available at hardware stores and dwelling house centers. Only before you lot buy a new spout, decide what type you need. Get-go wait nether the spout. If you run into a setscrew (Photo A), you have a "slip-on" spout.

The setscrew might be smaller and harder to see than the one shown here; yous may need a flashlight to spot it. Replacing a slip-on spout is piece of cake: Just loosen the setscrew (ordinarily with a hex wrench) and pull the spout off the copper pipe that protrudes from the wall. Twist the spout as you pull and be gentle then yous don't loosen whatsoever pipe connections within the wall. Then slide on the new spout and tighten the setscrew.

If the spout doesn't accept a setscrew, it's a screw-on spout (Photos B and C). Twist the old spout counterclockwise to remove it. If the pipe that protrudes from the wall is copper with a threaded fitting (Photo B), merely cut off the plumbing fixtures with a tubing cutter ($10) and install a new slip-on spout (Photo A). If the piping coming out of the wall is steel (Photo C), yous need a new spiral-on spout.

Ideally, the new spout will fit perfectly onto the old pipe. But at that place'south a good chance that the pipe protrudes also far or not far enough. There's also a gamble that the threads are too corroded for you lot to screw on a new spout. Either way, you'll have to remove the old pipe (Photo 1) and screw in a new pipe of the correct length (Photo ii). Short sections of threaded pipe (called "nipples") are usually available in 1-in. increments. They cost less than $2 each, so purchase a couple of unlike lengths and save yourself a trip back to the store.

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Pace 3

Spout types

Slip-on spouts

Slip

Slip-on spouts slide over 1/2-in. copper piping and fasten with a setscrew. This "universal" version besides has threads within, and then information technology can screw onto threaded pipage.

Screw-on spouts

Screw

Screw-on spouts accept threads deep within. They can connect to a copper threaded fitting or to steel pipe.

Screw-on spouts with threads at the back end

spouts

Screw-on spouts may have threads at the back end. Nigh come with a bushing so they fit either 1/2-in. or iii/four-in. pipe.

These are the three most common types of spouts.

Tip:

Plumbers tell united states of america that leg-shaving is the leading cause of tub spout trouble. The spout makes a user-friendly footrest for shaving, but that can impairment the tub spout diverter or loosen pipe connections.

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Originally Published: November 20, 2022