Bath Tub Cartridge Replacement

Written By: Sohaib Zaheer

Comments: 2

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

30 minutes - 2 hours

Introduction

This repair is needed to fix any water leakage in your bathtub or shower. The water is controlled by a device call a cartridge. When the cartridge is damaged, it becomes loose and begins to crack. Over time, these cracks let out even more water.

This guide will help you fix a leaky faucet, or any leakage of water that is occurring in the tub. This procedure is very safe, and the only hazard is slipping in the tub. The process is straightforward and can be achieved at home with the right tools. There are no special requirements for this guide.

However, you will need to be patient, as parts of this guide will be frustrating due to the size of the tools being used. Replacing a tub cartridge will seem intimidating at first, but it is a lot easier than most would think. This guide will show you how to open up your faucet, find the cartridge, and replace it with a brand new one; doing so will fix the leaking water problem as well.

Tools

Parts

DELTA RP46074 MultiChoice 13/14 Series Cartridge

Step 1

Turn off the water supply for the home. This is usually found in the basement next to the ventilation system.
If this is not done, the bathroom will overflow with water.

Step 2

Loosen the faucet screw using an Allen key.
Every tub faucet is different, so yours may require a different size Allen key or screwdriver.

Step 3

When the screw is loosened, slide the handle off.
To keep screws from falling down the drain, place a towel over the drain to catch the screws.

Step 4

Remove the metal cap by sliding it off.

Step 5

Use your hands to turn the ring to the left to loosen it. If the ring is not turning then use a wrench.
Do not use force when using the wrench as this will damage the pile.

What do you do if it will not budge?

NatilieandShawn Wooldridge -

Step 6

Use your hand to slide the cartridge out.
If the cartridge is stuck, you can use a spudger to remove it. There is a slight nook in between the pile and cartridge which can be used for leverage.
Not much force is needed to remove the cartridge.
Once the cartridge is removed, water remaining in the pile will flow out.

Step 7

Line up the side of the new cartridge with the pile.

Step 8

If the cartridge is successfully installed, it will be flush with the pile. For an extra measure you can push the cartridge inward, but do not use a lot of force.
The front end of the cartridge will be able to determine the temperature of your water. Pull the plastic toward yourself, and turn it to the right for cold water, and to the left for hot water. You can also keep the plastic in the middle, but the temperature of the water will be less accurate. This means it will either be too cold or too hot.

Step 9

Place the ring back on and turn it to the right to tighten it. Use your hands before using the wrench to tighten.
Slide the metal cap back on.

Step 10

Place the screw back into the handle before placing it back onto the cartridge.
Make sure the tip of the cartridge is lined up with the inner part of the handle; if they are lined up, the handle will be able to slide on without any difficulty.

Step 11

Use the Allen key to screw the handle back onto the cartridge.
Do not screw on the handle too tightly because if a problem occurs, you will have to unscrew it again.
Once the handle is on, you will be able to move it to the right and left.

Step 12

Turn the water supply back on.
One person should be in the bathroom to check if the shower and faucet are working properly. Once the water supply is turned on, the faucet will make a noise—this is perfectly normal and will go away after one to two minutes.

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Author

Sohaib Zaheer

Member since: 17/09/20

205 Reputation

One comment

This guide was very helpful in showing me how to replace the cartridge in my bathtub faucet. The instructions were clear and easy to follow, and the photos were very helpful. I was able to complete the repair myself in just a few minutes, and now my faucet is working like new again. Thanks for the great guide!

Royal Bathrooms -