Faucets can sometimes get worn out and will require being changed. Often times they will start leaking or just simply not work right. This is such a simple task that it would really stink to have to call someone and pay them to fix it. Now, it may seem overwhelming at first but once you learn you will wonder why you weren’t doing this by yourself all along. The following is a step by step process on how to easily change out a faucet!
- Turn off the water to the faucet you’re going to replace. You can do this by using the shutoff valves under the sink, or the main shutoff to the water for the entire house.
- Disconnect supply lines from shutoff valves or piping by using the correct size wrench.
- Using a lavatory wrench, remove the supply lines from the faucet. Also using the lavatory wrench, remove the holding nuts from the faucet. If it has a sprayer, remove the spray head from the hose and remove the clip from the end of the hose along with the washers and nut. You will need to shove the hose down through the hole that it’s sticking up through. Remove holding nut for the “sprayer holder.”
- Once the holder for the sprayer head and faucet are removed, clean mounting surface with cleaner. You may need to use a type of scale remover to make sealing surface clean.
- Depending on the faucet you have, there may be a plastic gasket for the base of it that needs putty applied to it. Apply putty to the base of the gasket that will be placed between the sink and the new faucet. A small amount of putty is all that’s needed. Do the same with the sprayer holder. Some faucets may come with a self-sealing gasket which will remove the need for putty.
- Set faucet on sink and center it. Push down on it to seal putty in place. Attach holding nuts underneath the sink. Make sure as you are tightening the nuts that the faucet doesn’t move and go out of alignment. Tighten nuts securely and remove excess putty from base of faucet.
- Install sprayer holder, tighten nut, and remove excess putty much like the previous step.
- Reattach supply lines to faucet. It’s always a good idea to replace supply lines when getting a new faucet—old supply lines can allow leakage.
- Remove aerator from spout of faucet. Turn the water back on and run water through the spout to rinse and objects out. Reinstall aerator and you’re ready to use your new faucet!
Note: Any time you attach anything to piping, you should always check for leaks before turning the water back on.
Read More:
How to Find The Source of a Water Leak
How to Replace a Toilet