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Install New Faucet and Reconnect Plumbing — Install New Components

Beginner4 hours

Part of project

Tub Faucet & Shower Valve Replacement: A Complete DIY Guide · Step 5 of 6

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Carefully insert the new faucet's threaded inlets through the holes in the shower wall. From underneath, thread the new mounting nuts onto the faucet inlets and hand-tighten them to secure the faucet firmly against the wall. Then, reconnect the hot and cold water supply lines to their respective inlets on the new faucet, tightening them by hand. Finally, reattach the shower hose to the top of the faucet from inside the shower.

Goal: Install and connect new faucet

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This Old House

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FAQs

What should I do if I can't find or turn off the main water supply to my house or apartment?

Locating and shutting off the main water supply is the most critical first step. If you can't find it, check your water heater for a shut-off valve, or contact your building manager or a professional plumber. Do not proceed with the project until the water supply is completely off to avoid significant water damage.

Besides the screwdriver and adjustable wrench, are there any other essential supplies or tools I might need for this tub faucet replacement?

Yes, it's highly recommended to have plumber's tape (Teflon tape) for sealing threads, penetrating oil for loosening stuck or corroded old parts, and a small wire brush for cleaning debris. You might also find a basin wrench helpful for reaching nuts in tight spaces behind the tub wall.

I've replaced everything and turned the water back on, but the faucet is still leaking. What should I check first?

First, re-check that the new valve stems are fully seated and securely tightened, but not overtightened. Ensure all O-rings are correctly positioned and intact, as a misplaced or damaged O-ring is a common cause of leaks. Also, verify that the connections to the water supply lines are tight and sealed with plumber's tape.

Is 4 hours a realistic estimate for a complete beginner, or should I budget more time, especially if I encounter stuck parts?

While 4 hours is a good estimate for someone with some DIY experience and no major issues, a complete beginner should budget more, perhaps 6-8 hours. Encountering corroded or stuck parts, or making unexpected trips to the hardware store for forgotten items, can significantly extend the project time.

Transcript
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All right cap back on. Okay so now I'm just going to head back over to where I took out the old one and we're going to put it back in. So just to remind you these are the two that I took off and these are the two new ones that came with the fixture. So I'm going to use these this time. So here's my new fixture with the caulking just a very thin layer and then once I actually attach it I'm just going to wipe that off also the excess that comes out. So you're just going to put it back in these two holes and pull it on here and then you're going to attach these little rings on the backside. Okay I'll now show you what it looks like on the other side. So I just screwed in the backside and I'll screw in this front one here. So you just put it over and screw it on and now I'm going to tighten it tightly as I can. Okay so those are both on and now I'm ready to attach my water supply again. So the pipes obviously they haven't moved. They stayed where they are. So this is the cold water and this one back here that you can't really see because this one back here that's the hot water. So I'm just going to reattach them and then I have to go outside, turn on the water and we'll see how it goes. Okay I can take out the type of wire now since I won't be needing this I hope and just check and wipe up any excess down here. Okay so I haven't tightened them as much as I could have yet so I'm going to try and do that now. Both of them are now on as tight as I can get them. Fingers crossed it's as tight as they are on when they started. I don't think so so I might try to wiggle some more but the other problem is if you overtighten them is also not good. I might just turn on the water and see what happens. Okay and the last thing I got to do is attach my hose again. All right let's turn on the water. Okay so I just

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