Stop leaks by replacing your ball-style faucet.
Ball and stem assemblies in faucets are often prone to wearing down over time, like any other faucet part. In the ball and stem style faucet, the position of the ball controls water by the alignment of holes in the ball with the valves underneath. To repair a leak in one of these faucets, replace the ball and stem along with the washers to the valves. This tightens up the seal and prevents water from streaming through the assembly and into the spout.
Instructions
1. Close the main water valve to stop the flow of water into the shower.
2. Find the stem nut on the side of the faucet handle and loosen it with an Allen wrench. Some ball faucets have a Phillips-head screw under a cover on top of the handle. Remove the cover by pulling it off and then loosening the screw underneath with a screwdriver.
3. Remove the handle by pulling it straight back and off of the ball stem; remove the handle by hand to avoid scratching the faucet.
4. Wrap a cloth around the dome nut under the handle, or tape the ends of a pair of channel locking pliers, and then grip the dome nut with them. Gently turn the dome nut until it comes loose, and remove it.
5. Pull the ball and stem out of the faucet by hand. Remove the gaskets and springs inside the faucet head with the tip of your screwdriver. Insert new gaskets into the holes and then install a new ball and stem on top of them.
6. Replace the dome nut and tighten it by hand. Replace the handle and rethread the screw. Tighten the screw with your screwdriver or Allen wrench.
