It’s one of the simplest ways to add style or utility to your kitchen – a new kitchen sink faucet is actually a pretty easy install, and all you’ll need are a few basic hand tools to get the job done. The right faucet can offer style, beauty and usability, and installation doesn’t have to be a daunting prospect. Here’s what you need to know about installing a new faucet for your kitchen sink.
First Things First
Before you do anything else, get under the sink and check to see how many holes the faucet takes up. It may be one, two, three or four. You’ll need to make sure that the new faucet matches up. As a note, you can use a deck plate to allow you to install a one-hole faucet in a three or four-hole setup, but this doesn’t work in reverse (a one-hole sink can only use a one-hole faucet).
Gather Your Tools
Assuming you’ve now determined the type of faucet and hit the DIY store to buy your new one, the next step is to get your tools together. You’ll need just a few. You need a basin wrench, as well as a couple of adjustable wrenches. You may also want to have some caulk and a caulking gun to really seal things up, but this isn’t always necessary.
Getting Started
Now we get to the good stuff – the actual process. First, remove the old faucet. You’ll need to get underneath to loosen the nuts, but make sure you first turn off the water. Disconnect the water lines from the faucet’s lines (these might be quick connects, or they could be threaded). Remove the nuts that hold the faucet in place, and it should just lift straight off.
Once the old one is off, get the new one out of the box. Put the rubber grommet in place, and then feed the lines through the holes and set the faucet in place. Crawl back under the sink and tighten the nuts that hold the faucet in place, and then connect the water lines. You will also need to install the weight on the main faucet hose (the one that runs to the actual faucet head) to keep it weighed down.
Double check that all of your water connections are tight, and that the nuts holding the faucet in place are secure, then turn on the water. Check everything for leaks, and then test that the faucet works properly. Once the water has been on for several minutes, double check that there are no leaks. If there are none, you should be good to go. Congratulations – you’ve just installed a kitchen sink faucet on your own.
No Comments