How to Replace Bathroom Tub Fixtures

A bathtub.

The spout, faucet, and hot/cold valves on a bathtub can accent and upgrade your bathroom's appearance. Sometimes these bathroom tub fixtures are easy to replace, but other times they can be quite difficult to change.

Step 1 - Turn Off the Water

Before tearing into your home's bathroom tub fixtures, it is wise to turn off the water valve to the entire home. You will not be able to use the sinks or toilets, but the inconvenience is better than a flooded bathroom.

Step 2 - Find the Same Sized Fixtures

The easiest way to replace your fixtures is to find new fixtures that are the same size, with the same fittings and the same type of threads. This may or may not be easy to find, depending on the age of your bathtub fixtures. If you are able to find a similar fixture, it would also probably be wise to replace the fixture's o-rings, just to be on the safe side.

Step 3 - Replace the Fixtures

Sometimes replacing fixtures require the assistance of a professional plumber. Since many faucets have different layouts of the hot and cold water valves, as well as the knobs that turn the water on and off, you might need to cut into the wall. Even if your new shower is in the same style as your old shower, it is difficult to replace the fixtures through only a small hole. After your new fixtures are installed, the remaining holes in your wall can be covered by specially designed plates. Some of these plates are even made to resemble your tiles.

Step 4 - Use a Crawl Space

Depending on the layout of your home, you may be able to access the space behind your bathtub fixtures through your home's crawl space. This can save you the trouble of cutting and covering additional holes in your tile. You may have to cut out a portion of the drywall backing behind the shower, but drywall is comparatively easy and cheap to replace. Crawling through your crawl space will also require old clothes that cover your arms and legs, as well as a mask to protect your lungs from any fiberglass fibers. While using your crawl space might take more effort, the result will look more professional.