Bathtubs are fixtures that can be used for years on end. Even if your bath tub develops nasty cracks or is completely stained, you can still save a great deal of money by replacing your tub instead of buying a new one. However, if you have decided to change your bathtub, here's what you need to know about bathtub removal.

Removing a bathtub is something that can be done on your own. But, you will need another helper to assist you during bathtub removal and sometimes you may have to hire a plumber to attach the drain lines and faucets after you have finished removing the bathtub.

The first thing you need to remember before removing bathtubs is to shut off the water supply to that particular bath. Once that is done, you have to then move on to bathtub faucet removal, bathtub drain removal, and removing any other accessories your bath tub may have.

Bathtub Faucet Removal

If your bathtub is the free standing type, the faucets can be removed very easily. All you have to do is unscrew the faucets and remove the entire tap along with the hot and cold mixers if any. For built-in bathtubs, you have to first remove the water connections that run behind the faucets. Simply remove the screws holding the water pipes in place. After that, unscrew all the nuts and bolts on the faucet from the front and simply pull the faucet out. Make sure to remove the faucet spout and stem as well so that they do not protrude and hamper bathtub removal.

Bathtub Drain Removal

Once again for freestanding bathtubs, you simply disconnect the drain lines and lift the entire drain out. Since you have easy access to these, drain removal is an extremely quick job. For built-in tubs, you have to uncover the drain pipes that run either below or to the side of the tub. Unscrew these pipes to get the drain out. Make sure you remove the drain pipes as well as the overflow pipes (if any). Once the pipes are unscrewed, you can easily remove the bathtub drain.

At this point, free standing tubs can be removed from the bathroom. For built-in tubs, after you have removed all the bathtub accessories, you should remove the bathtub surround (if any) and unscrew the tub. The bathtub should now be free from all attachments and can be removed from the bathroom.

While removing certain bathtubs, you may have to cut some sections of the wall out in order to remove the tub properly. If this is the case, it is best to get professional help with bathtub removal so that the tub is removed properly without damaging the site for the new bathtub.