Photo: Manuela Durson (Shutterstock)
Whether you have a slow leak or just want to spice up your kitchen, updating your old faucet can help save water and make your kitchen more efficient. While doing the job yourself may seem intimidating, it is absolutely doable and pays off in the form of lower monthly bills and avoids a potentially costly repair in the future. How to start.
Gather your tools
As always, before you begin, make sure you have everything you need to get the job done. If you extend this fix over two days because you forgot an important tool, it will be a headache.
The wrenches first – you’ll need a crescent wrench as well as a faucet wrench. And while it’s not always necessary, a faucet or basin wrench makes it a lot easier to reach the nuts that hold your faucet together, and one usually costs around $ 10, so worth considering. Plumber’s tape (also called a thread sealant) is another good item to have on hand. it enables you to make the connections on your pipelines watertight. You will also need a flashlight as the space under your sink will undoubtedly be dark and tight. If you can see, you can avoid a wet surprise.
Check for leaks
Start by checking for leaks. Turn the existing faucet to a low stream and check under the sink to see if any moisture is coming from the pipes down there. If so, try tightening the fasteners that hold the hoses together. Place a wrench on one side of the connection point and one on the other. Turn the working key to the right. When this clears the leak on all the connections under the sink, you can move on.
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Find your shut-off valves
If you come across a more stubborn leak (or if you want to replace your faucet instead of fixing it) you’ll need to turn the water off before taking the next step. The shut-off valves are usually located under the sink and are often oval. There should be two – one for hot water and one for cold water – and they will most likely be under the sink on the wall. To stop the flow of water, turn the handles clockwise.
Check your hardware
Once the water is turned off, continue to check for leaks by disconnecting the hose connections from the faucet and stop valves. There should be some thread sealant tape on these ports; If not, you can add some. Remove the old tape and look for any corroded or cracked washers. Check the hoses to see if they are in good condition. If you need to replace washers or hoses, new ones can be purchased from the plumbing section of any hardware store. If you’re not sure which type you need, bring your old parts for comparison.
Choose a faucet
If your leak is from the top of the sink, or if you just want newer hardware, you’ll need a new faucet. Most faucets are available in standard sizes, so installation mainly depends on how many water pipes you need. If there’s room for a separate spray nozzle or other accessories, you’ll need a faucet with three water lines. For other types of sinks, you can only use two. It’s a good idea to take a close look at your old faucet before buying a new one to make sure you are getting one that will match your sink. (Maybe bring a picture – details can be surprisingly hard to remember when faced with dozens of shiny new options.)
Install your new parts
If you’re just replacing washers and hoses, reinstall your new parts by using about three turns of plumber’s tape on each joint and tightening the nuts.
If you are also replacing the faucet, you will have to remove the old one. With many kitchen sinks, a basin wrench is useful here, because the nuts with which the existing mixer is attached to the sink are located behind the sink, under the counter between the basin and the wall, and good luck on reaching them. Once those nuts are loosened and the hoses disconnected, the existing faucet should simply be lifted out. Then make sure you use thread sealant tape wherever there is a connection between the hoses, you can attach the hoses to the new faucet and thread them through the holes in your sink. This step avoids having to tighten these connections in the tight quarters behind the pelvis.
Next, use the hardware that came with your new faucet and your sink wrench to secure the new faucet to the sink. Connect the new hoses to the water pipes coming from the wall using your plumber’s tape wherever two hoses connect. Make sure all of your hardware is firmly in place, then turn the water back on by turning the shut-off knobs counterclockwise.
Check your hardware
Once the water is on, check again for leaks. When everything is dry, test your faucets and check again. If you have a small leak, turn off the water and retighten all hose connections. You can also add a thread sealant if the connection is a little loose. With new hardware, this should do the job. Finally, check that everything is still dry. Congratulations! You just fixed your own sink.
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