Change Those Kitchen Taps

Without question there are millions of older homes where the kitchen sink has the original separate hot and cold handles 8 inches apart with the swing spout in the middle. Most keep dripping or leaking water all over the drain board.

When they get old, the handles get wobbly, which is sign they are worn out; due for replacement. A crescent wrench or a good set of spanners is about all you need, except for one wrench that few people have, a basin wrench. Five to ten bucks. It’s about a foot long with a self adjusting spring loaded little wrench on the end that can be flipped over to loosen or tighten the nuts that hold the taps. That’s the only wrench that works in the narrow space between the sink and the wall.

Often those nuts are corroded, very difficult to get started so before you disconnect the supply lines, see if they’ll move. A penetrating spray like WD40 often helps.

Okay: so the nuts will be no problem. Now turn off the water (there is usually a shutoff valve for both hot and cold) check to make sure the water is off before you loosen the supply to each tap; usually a slip nut you also undo with the basin wrench. If the supply lines are brass (rigid) and have been pushed up inside the taps, keep lifting the taps while backing off the nuts till the pipes come clear the taps. Then back off the nuts and lift the whole thing off the drain board. Clean it thoroughly and follow the directions included with your new taps. Replace the rubber washers on the supply lines, or get a new set of plastic supply lines, very easy to work with. There you go! All done. Jonsig.

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