Faucet Replacement Made Easy by Kaye Fretz
If you want to make a useful home improvement that is affordable and easy for you to do, you can choose to do a faucet replacement and replace an old faucet with a new one. This will immediately improve the aesthetics of an old room and get rid of the irritating noise that a dripping and leaky faucet produces.
One of the first things you have to consider in faucet replacement is choosing the right faucet. Nowadays, there are many faucets available in the market that comes in a variety of types, styles, and combinations. But no matter, the first thing you should be worried about is whether the new faucet will fit the old sink.
Be informed that there are two possible ways for different supply connections. That is why you should determine what supply connection your faucet has - flexible copper supply inlet found in the center of unit, or one that is located under the hot and cold handles.
Before you start tinkering with the faucet, you have to do certain things. One of which is to shut off the main water supply. It is also best if you prepare the necessary tools and materials beforehand, including a penetrating oil in case mounting nuts are hard to pry loose. It is also recommended if you have someone to help you around with handing of tools while you do your work. And, don’t forget to plug the drain with rags to avoid small parts from going down the drain.
- Remove the old fixture
If your faucet contains a sprayer, first remove the nuts that secure the hose to the faucet body and also the spray head to the sink. Unhook the supply lines and set them aside. Using your wrench, loosen and remove the mounting nuts that hold the faucet body to the sink. If it is hard to pry loose, you can use penetrating oil.
Once faucet is removed, clean the sink from putty and mineral deposits by scraping it off (you can use a steel wool).
- Attach new faucet to the sink
You can use a rope of plumber’s putty or install a gasket either to the sink or to the faucet. Put the new faucet in place, making sure that it is parallel to the backsplash. Move under the sink and ask someone to hold the faucet for you while you work. Screw on a washer and mounting nut on every inlet, and tighten using basin wrench.
- Connect supply lines
Wrap inlet threads with Teflon tape or apply pipe joint compound on it. Twist supply line nut on the inlet and tighten it (by hand, then by wrench). Connect the other end of supply line to the shutoff valve in the same process.
If your faucet is using flexible copper inlets, you can do the same, but just keep in mind that no copper tubes should be twisted. Otherwise, the whole faucet might be destroyed.
- Connect and adjust the pop-up drain assembly
Insert a ball rod into opening found in the drain body and secure it using a nut provided. Slip the rod through the clevis strap and again secure it, this time using spring clips. Lower the rod and let it pass through the hole near the rear of the faucet sprout and upper end of clevis strap. Tighten thumbscrew, adjust rods, and set everything in place.
And with that, you have the steps to faucet replacement. Never would you have to call on a plumber again to do the work for you. Just follow the steps religiously, and you’ll be Mr. HandyMan in no time.
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Tags: dripping faucet, faucet replacement, fixing leaky faucet, leaking faucet, replace faucet