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Your old kitchen faucet is broken or outdated? The faucet is one of the important elements in the kitchen that is used frequently and wears out with time. You might be considering replacing the outdated element in the kitchen, but the most difficult part is removing it. In most cases, the fixture encounters unexpected problems that nobody can foresee due to the years of wear and tear.
In this tutorial, we are going to lay down instructions to replace the kitchen faucet and also provide in-depth information on the problems. You should be ready to bear the extra replacement expenses that arise. We do recommend seeking assistance from fixtures experts as they can minimize the overall expenses.
Note: Contact a professional plumber, if you are looking to replace advanced design fixtures.
Tools Required to Replace a Kitchen Faucet:
- Adjustable Wrench.
- Flexible Supply Lines.
- Channel-locking Pliers.
- Basin Wrench or Socket Wrench.
- Putty.
- Tape Measure (optional.)
You May Read: How to Fix a leaking Kitchen Faucet
Do not miss out on the required tools as they come in handy to remove the entire faucet comfortably.
Replace a Kitchen Faucet In 10 Easy Steps:-
1. Turn off Valves
You have to turn off the water valves that are connected to the hose. Make sure to check every single valve connected to the subject and remove them gently. Please don’t be harsh on the old design as it may have gotten stubborn over the years. You should remove the Hot & Cold water valves that are located under the sink. In older sinks, there is a dedicated cabinet that holds the connectors, and you should find it under the fixture.
Take an adjustable Wrench and start loosening up the screw that is holding the valves together. We implore the readers to take a considerable amount of time to avoid further damages during the removal procedure. We don’t want the readers to have avoidable damages that minimize the overall cost of the replacement.
2. Pressure
Professional plumbers relieve the pressure from the faucet to avoid water leakage. You don’t want to be bothered by the leaking water that could potentially interrupt the replacement. The modern design includes metal manufactured sinks that are prone to dents and scratches. Removing the old faucet is considered a difficult process as it has been sitting in one position for such a long time, so be gentle while releasing the pressure.
3. Disconnection
We have turned off the valves successfully in the first step and moving on to disconnecting the water lines. Two water lines are connecting the faucet that has to be removed without question. We would not hesitate to replace the gasket and supply lines because they are worn out and not in the condition to hold on for another five years.
If you own an outdated fixture, then you should consider flexible supply lines for the replacement because of the build quality, and improved lifespan. In this case, you need an adjustable wrench coupled with a pair of channel locking pliers.
4. Removing Nuts
We are expecting a lot of patience here as removing the nut holding the faucet is difficult to process. Years of usage create corrosion and rust builds up between the nut, and that could potentially make things difficult. We recommend using a socket wrench and if you don’t have one, then go with a basin wrench. You can use two different tools to remove the nut that is holding the faucet tailpiece assembly.
5. Cut-Off the Line
Once you have opened up the fixture, then look deeper into the design, and you should find a line that is connecting to the hose. Your faucet is connecting to the hose, and it has a connecting line, which needs to be disconnected before proceeding. In most cases, you should find one, but there are expensive solutions that don’t have a line, so you can proceed further if the line is missing in your sink.
6. Cleaning
Finally, you have successfully removed the old faucet comfortably. It would help if you prepared for the replacement to minimize corrosion, dust, and rust to enter the new nozzle. Start cleaning the surroundings, including under the cabinet, which is located under the sink. Do not skip cleaning every single part of the disassembled region for a longer lifespan of the replacement part.
7. Read & Follow
Fortunately, manufacturers bundle instruction manuals in the box, and it is an excellent source to learn about the replacement. Pick up the measuring tape, and start measuring the center to the center distance to ensure that there are no errors in choosing the right one. Don’t skip the measuring part as it is a compelling way to determine the compatibility, and avoid further damage costs.
8. Replacement Process
Professional plumbers use a gasket to seal the lips of the plate and also apply putty around the base of the faucet. You should make good use of thread to seal off the hoses, and stop the leakage of water particles. Don’t skip putty as it is a crucial compound that strengthens the replacement fixture. Now, you have applied putty, gasket, and threaded the hoses, and then place the faucet in the right place.
9. More Threads
We have removed the connecting nuts, and flange that was blocking our procedure. Now, we have to put them back in place by using a socket wrench, or a basin wrench also comes in handy. Find the cabinet underneath the sink, and thread the flange and nut to avoid water leakage. Tighten the connecting nuts using the wrench of your choice, and move on to the next step.
10. Supply Lines
Put everything back in the place, and now, apply supply lines that were removed earlier. There are two hoses available in the faucet and cold water on the right & hot water on the left. You can turn on the water supply to double-check the replacement process status and confirm, whether it was successful or if you need to work on it again. You will run through common problems such as leakage, and you should be able to fix the problem.
We do recommend learning a couple of things before proceeding that might save your money in the long term. Bringing the correct faucet to avoid incompatibility. Most non-professional individuals focus on buying a replacement based on the design and size. We suggest that you remove the old faucet from the sink and let the store employee find the correct replacement for you. If you prefer to get involved in the professional measurements, then you can note down the “on center (OC)” and center-to-center configurations.
- Keep scrap plywood aside. You might have to get down to take a better look at the uneven surface of the cabinet. We have a wide range of designs in the market that has a different structure of the cabinet, and you don’t want to end up having a broken back.
- Don’t take uncalculated risks that could potentially cost you more than you could have imagined. What is the point of fixing the faucet, if you had to call in professional assistance and end up paying double the original cost? Calculate the risk involved, and then make your final judgment to try out DIY or assign a professional plumber.
- Don’t take uncalculated risks that could potentially cost you more than you could have imagined. What is the point of fixing the faucet, if you had to call in professional assistance and end up paying double the original cost? Calculate the risk involved, and then make your final judgment to try out DIY or assign a professional plumber.
Conclusion On How to Replace a Kitchen Faucet
The instructions that we laid out here are suitable for kitchen faucets, and you won’t have any complications in replacing them. Make sure to calculate the risk involved in the process and focus on a clean replacement.
Faucets FAQ
Below is all our Faucet FAQ To make your experience a bit smoother, we have organized them in one place. Feel free to browse through a few and find exactly what you’re looking for.
Thanks for reading.
