Basic Faucet Replacement

Basic Faucet Replacement

Faucet replacement is really quite easy, almost anyone can accomplish it by following a few basic steps. You should begin with the purchase of a new faucet. You may also need to purchase plumbers putty or thread tape, for the installation process.

Home Depot, Lowe’s, Menards, and other home-improvement stores carry a large selection of faucets and other plumbing supplies.

Before making your selection, measure the faucet you plan to replace, and decide if you want a single or double handled faucet.

Most faucets have standard sized hook-ups. Kitchen faucets usually have an eight-inch hook-up while bathroom vanity faucets usually have a four-inch hook-up.  Bathtub faucets have either four-inch or eight-inch hook-ups.

When measuring a double handled faucet, measure the handles’ from center to center, to determine the correct size of faucet needed.

For a single-handled faucet, measure the distance between the hot and cold water hook-up lines placed on the bottom of the faucet.

Once you purchase a new faucet, you can prepare to take out the old one, and install the new unit. Gather your tools and a few old towels to catch any water that may drip during installation.

You will need a couple of different sized wrenches, one to hold the shut-off valve and one to take out the supply line going to the old faucet. You may also need a pair of channel lock pliers, or a basin wrench for taking out the large nuts, which attaches the faucet to the sink or tub.

If possible, it would be best to use a basin wrench, which is designed for working in tight spaces, like underneath, where the faucet is mounted to the sink.

Begin the removal of the old faucet by shutting off the water supply to the sink, or tub.

After all the water lines going to the faucet are shut off, you can begin removing the supply lines coming from both sides of the faucet. After that, remove the large retainer nuts that hold the faucet to the sink. Lastly remove the old faucet from the sink.

You may need to clean the sink around the area where the old faucet was installed.

Once you have finished cleaning up, place the new unit in the holes where the old unit was attached. Place plumbers putty or thread tape around the threaded ends of the pipe to prevent leaks or dripping at the joints, specifically between the faucet and sink.

You may need an assistant at this point, to help keep the faucet centered while you install the retainer nuts below. Once the faucet is in place and the retaining nuts tightly screwed, you can hook up the water supply lines again.

Turn the water back on and test for leaks or other problems. If any leaks appear check the tightness of the fittings.

Take caution when tightening the fittings, they should be firm, but not over-tight. If you still have some leaks, gently tighten the fittings just a little more, and test again before you determine if you need to reinstall.