Installing or Replacing Sink Faucets

Like a lot of things in your home kitchen and bathroom, faucets require replacing from time to time. Like everything else in life or your home, they seem to go in and out of style. Even if your old faucets are working just fine, you might want to update them so your kitchen and bathroom can reflect the latest fashion. Faucets are available in a broad price range from as low as $39 for one made primarily of plastic or several hundred dollars for the more stylish. The more expensive faucets are made mainly of metal (brass) and will come with a multi- year or a lifetime warranty. Like most things you only get what you pay for. Many different faucet designs and styles can be purchased from a plumbing supply store or home improvement center. Changing faucets is a relatively easy DIY project that can be completed in approximately an hour using standard tools found around most handymen’s home.

How to change those old faucets:

Items you will need:

• Replacement faucet

• Locking pliers, adjustable wrench

• Slip joint or water pump pliers

• Basin wrench (possibly)

• Utility knife

• Plumber's putty or silicone caulk

• Flashlight (to see under the sink)

• Water supply lines and Teflon tape

Removing the old faucet:

1. Your first job is to get rid of your existing faucet. Start by turning off the water supply, either by shutting off the main water supply to your house or by closing the shutoff valves on the water supply lines to your faucet. Then, open the tap to allow the water to drain out of the lines and remove any water pressure.

2. Use the adjustable wrench and disconnect the hot and cold water supply lines running to the faucet. If you're going to replace the lines, disconnect them at the shutoff valve. If you are going to reuse the lines disconnect them at the base of the faucet itself.

3. Faucets are attached in one of two ways. Bottom mounted faucets are removed from the top of the sink. To remove a bottom mount faucet, you need to take off the faucet handles and escutcheon to get to the nuts holding the faucet in place. Once the nuts are exposed, use your wrench to take them off. Top mounted faucets are held in place by nuts located on the underside of the sink. They must be removed from under the sink. In most cases you'll be able to use your slip joint or locking pliers to loosen the nuts. If pipes are in the way, you'll need to use a basin wrench (a wrench specially designed to work in tight spaces where you don't have room to use an ordinary wrench or pliers).

4. After removing the nuts holding the faucet in place, lift the faucets off the sink. If there is some caulking holding the base to the sink, slide the blade of a utility knife carefully around the faucet base to cut it loose. Remove any old caulking or "grunge" that may have built up around the old faucet.  

5. Installing the New Faucets:

6. If you are installing a bottom mounted faucet, put the faucet in place and put on the washers and mounting nuts, then hand tighten. Line up the faucet with the back of the sink and tighten them with a wrench. Run a bead of silicon caulking (or plumber's putty) around the base of the faucet; install the escutcheon and the faucet handles.

7. Install top mounted faucets by laying a bead of plumber's putty or silicone caulk before you place the faucet into the sink openings. You may need assistance as you will be working from underneath the sink. Having someone working on top to align the faucet and hold it while you use a wrench to tighten the nuts.

8. Once the faucet is firmly attached to the sink, reinstall the water lines. Turn the water back on and check for leaks. Clean up any plumber's putty or silicone caulk around the faucet itself before it has a chance to set up.

That was easy and you have brand new faucets.