How To Repair A Tub Faucet Diverter Stem

Repairing a Delta faucet is a lot easier than most people think. This is especially true for leaks, the most common issue with faucets. Some just choose to ignore a leaky faucet rather than repair it, but you don't have to be an expert plumber to repair a Delta faucet leak. In fact, you can avoid paying for a new faucet if you deal with the problem before it becomes worse.

A leaking faucet also wastes an average of three gallons of water daily, which means a smaller water bill once you take care of the leak. Of course, you also do the environment a favor by conserving water. For this DIY, you need an Allen wrench, a screwdriver, needle-nose and tongue-and-groove pliers, and your Delta replacement parts. This step-by-step guide works for ball valve Delta faucet types.

Shut Off the Water Supply

Shut off the water from the isolation valve that is nearest to the faucet instead of the main water supply valve. This avoids interrupting water service to the rest of the house. Turn on the faucet to release any remaining water and pressure in the pipes.

Take out the screw cap in the middle of the handle, and then take out the screw with the screwdriver. Remove the handle to expose the adjusting ring. Newer faucets may not have an adjusting ring. If your faucet has one, take a closer look at the ring. If the leak is coming from there, use the needle-nose pliers to adjust it. If this doesn't work, proceed to the next step.

Remove the Adjusting Ring

Unscrew the adjusting ring to take it out. Wrap a piece of cloth around the cap and gently try to unscrew it, taking extra care not to cause any damage. Remove the ball as well as the cam and packing of the faucet. If the leak is coming from this part, replacing the parts with new ones should solve the problem.

Remove the Seat and Springs

You should see a small mechanism inside the valve. These are the seat and springs. Pry them out using the Allen wrench.

Install the Replacement Parts

Reassemble the Delta faucet in the reverse order that you took out the faulty parts. Start with the seat and springs, the ball assembly, the cap of the adjustment ring and the adjusting ring. Finally, reinstall the handle.

Test the Faucet

Turn the water supply to the faucet back on. If you don't see any leaks, then you're done.