Is there anything more annoying than the steady drip of a leaky faucet? No, there probably isn't. Couple that with wasted water and dollars, and this is one problem that deserves attention. A leak in your tub or shower is generally a sign that a part is worn out and needs to be replaced. The washers and seals wear out over time due to normal use. There are ways that you can simply repair the interior parts of the faucet and save the time and money involved in replacing the entire unit.
Depending on the type of faucet you have, you may have a stem assembly or a cartridge assembly. If you do not know what type of faucet you have, you will need to research what assembly you have. Do so by shutting off the water and removing the handle to assess the interior parts.
If you have water dripping from your tub spout and you have a two handle faucet, you will need to determine which handle is the problem. You can determine this by placing your hand under the drip and testing the temperature of the water (before you shut off the water, of course). If the water is hot, the hot handle is at issue. If the drip is cold, the cold handle is the culprit. To solve this problem, you will likely need to replace the stem or cartridge.
If you hear noise when the water is turned on, most likely you will need to tighten the screw that holds the Bibb washer on the stem. You will need to remove the stem to do this.
If you are experiencing problems with the water not diverting the water flow from the tub spout to the shower head, you will need to focus on the diverter stem, which is typically the middle handle in a three-handle faucet. You will need to remove the stem to determine if you need to repair the Bibb washer and seat or if the stem needs to be repaired altogether.
So get ready, you're about to come full circle with the repair of one of life's most annoying things....faucet leaks. And saving money in the process is the cherry on top!