Many people complain that bathtub faucets are turned off, but the water is still dripping on the floor. The moisture can damage the subfloors, allowing the mold to grow and making the area slippery.
If a bathtub faucet is turned off but water is still running, it can be due to broken cartridges, cracked washers, high water pressure, partially closed faucets, damaged O-ring, damaged valve seats, and loose faucet fittings.
People add different styles of faucets in their bathtubs, and you can detect and fix the leaks according to their design and working principle.
| Reasons | Solutions |
| Broken cartridge | Replace the cartridge or unclog them |
| Cracked washers | Install washer seals of the correct size |
| High water pressure | Check the water pressure regulator valve |
| Partially closed faucets | Ensure proper closing of faucet handle |
| Damaged O-ring | Lubricate O-ring |
| Valve seat issue | Clean valve seats after every 3 months |
| Loose faucet fittings | Use a basin wrench to tighten the fittings |
Broken cartridge
The cartridge-type bathtub faucets contain rubber or plastic-like materials known as cartridges. The primary function of this item is to control the water flow.
It is helpful to control water from the hot and cold sides and turn off their supply when you turn them. It turns off the supply by propelling the cartridge in the valve and limiting the flow.
The wear and tear in these rubber and plastic-based components are common because of their fragile and breakable material. In addition, the worn-out cartridges develop leaks and cannot control the supply from the main valve.
You can see the leakages in the spout area, which can also make the floor wet. The failure of cartridges comes due to the daily use of these components.
Moreover, the continuous friction from the turning knob increases the risk of breaking and cracking. These can develop cracks and become defective because of insufficient lubrication of their internal parts.
The corrosion can also make them defective because of minerals buildups. The minerals from the running water can accumulate on the internal parts of these cartridges and clog them.
Replace the cartridges, and remove the cap from the handle to prevent dripping. Unscrew the bolts that hold the cartridge and take them out.
You can reuse the old ones if the issue comes from clogging. People use various methods for their unclogging. However, I prefer to wash them with vinegar because of their mild effect.
You can install them again after unclogging and adding the caps on the handle.
Cracked washers
The compression bathtub faucets contain washers instead of cartridge seals to control water flow. These are made of rubber material and are located inside the handle to prevent dripping issues.
The failure of washer seals leads to leakages and water waste. These seals work on the compression principle and compress in the opening to stop the supply when you turn and move the handle.
The rubber material of washer seals can get damaged because of their daily use. In addition, these are prone to wear and tear because of their age. Moreover, the rubber material cracks easily when you turn the faucet handle frequently.
When you move the handle, these can wear out because of the friction between their parts. In addition, the leakage from the spout area occurs because of the poor installation of rubber washers.
These cannot properly control the water flow when installed incorrectly. Furthermore, the issue comes from their incorrect and small size.
Sometimes people add the smaller ones during repair, and these cannot control the supply from the spout area. These can also contract over time because of their daily use; eventually, their size decreases.
Replace the washer seals by disassembling the faucets using the wrench. Remove the turning knob and remove the defective seals from the inner assembly.
Clean the parts to add a new washer seal and reassemble the parts correctly.
High water pressure
People often complain about water leakages from closed bathtub faucets at a specific time. However, there is an issue with water pressure from the main supply when you face the problem repeatedly.
The continuous leakages come from faulty internal parts and damaged seals. Sometimes the pressure in the main supply valve increases, which can cause leaky fixtures.
The issue comes from a failure of the regulator valve located at your home’s main supply. The defective pressure regulator valves cause fluctuations in pressure, eventually causing leakages.
The high-water pressure can also cause misalignment of rubber seals, washers, and O-rings. Check the water pressure from the main line and set them to a moderate level.
Replace the pressure regulator valves if they fail to control the supply and work unevenly.
Partially closed faucets
The water dripping sound from the bathtub annoys people sleeping at night. It can disturb their sleep and make them awake all night.
The issue comes when faucets are not closed completely. The partial closing can cause leakages from their opening in the form of droplets.
Many close the handles partially when in a hurry and feel the water droplet sounds when pressure from the main supply increases.
Moreover, the children do not close them completely, and you can face leakages. Ensure that the handles of these fixtures are completely closed before rushing to any costly repair procedures.
Damaged O-ring
The O-ring is part of the cartridge that controls water from the main supply area of the bathtub faucet. It is the rubber ring that seals the gap properly and prevents leakage.
You can see water dripping from the handle sides because of the damaged O-ring. The O-rings wear out when you frequently move the turn handle.
Sometimes the issue is not a damaged ring; broken showers make the floors wet. The water sediments can also corrode these seals.
In addition, people use harsh cleaners to wash them, which can seep inside their internal parts and deteriorates the rubber seals.
These can also wear out because of their poor lubrication. Lubricate the O-ring with vegetable oil during its installation for smooth functioning.
Valve seat issue
Valve seats connect bathtub faucets to the main body or spout area, and people face leakages at this site. In addition, the water dripping from this side damages the sink and the floors.
These are made of chromium or metal material which can corrode easily. In addition, mineral deposits or water sediments can rust the valve seats.
Repeated daily use can also cause the valve seat to wear out. Maintenance and cleaning can reduce the risk of their failure.
I prefer to call the plumbing expert once after 3 months for their cleaning. You can also do the procedure at home by removing them with a seat wrench and cleaning their internal parts.
Loose faucet fittings
You can also face the water dripping issue after closing bathtub faucets because of their loose fitting. The fittings and their connected parts become loose because of their daily use.
The wobbly fixture increases the risk of leakages because it leaves gaps for water movement. You can see the leakages from the base and their installation area at the sinks.
It can occur because of their poor fixing and loose screws. It is necessary to tighten them when you feel the shaky movement of these parts.
Use the basin wrench to tighten their head, base, and mounted bolts.
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