One of the easiest and less costly ways for you to make a useful improvement in your home is to do faucet replacement, which is to replace an old faucet with a new one. Doing so will eliminate the occurrence of irritating leaks and drips, and it could make an amazing difference in improving the aesthetics of an older room.
The first step in faucet replacement is looking for the right faucet. Although there are many types, styles and combinations of faucets in the market today, the first thing you have to be concerned about is whether the faucet you choose will fit into 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.
There is a list of to-do's that is recommended before you start removing the old faucet. Make sure that you switch off the main water supply. It would also be better if you prepare all the necessary materials and tools beforehand, so that you wouldn't waste time looking for it later on. Make sure you also keep penetrating oil handy, just in case the mounting nuts are stuck. It is also suggested that someone guide you when you work, especially in handing you tools. And last but not the least, plug the drain using rags to prevent small and important parts like screws from going down the drain.
- Remove the old fixture
First, remove the nuts that attach the hose to the faucet body and the spray head to the sink (if you're using a faucet with sprayer). Remove supply lines and set them aside. Remove the mounting nuts that hold the faucet body to the sink. Use your wrench for this. If mounting nuts are difficult to pry loose, 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
Cover inlet threads with Teflon tape or with pipe joint compound. Afterwards, twist the supply line nut on the inlet and start tightening it, by hand at first, and then by wrench. Connect shutoff valve to the other end of supply line using the same procedure.
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 those are the steps to faucet replacement. It may look hard, but once you're at it, everything will become much easier. So, give it a try!
The first step in faucet replacement is looking for the right faucet. Although there are many types, styles and combinations of faucets in the market today, the first thing you have to be concerned about is whether the faucet you choose will fit into 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.
There is a list of to-do's that is recommended before you start removing the old faucet. Make sure that you switch off the main water supply. It would also be better if you prepare all the necessary materials and tools beforehand, so that you wouldn't waste time looking for it later on. Make sure you also keep penetrating oil handy, just in case the mounting nuts are stuck. It is also suggested that someone guide you when you work, especially in handing you tools. And last but not the least, plug the drain using rags to prevent small and important parts like screws from going down the drain.
- Remove the old fixture
First, remove the nuts that attach the hose to the faucet body and the spray head to the sink (if you're using a faucet with sprayer). Remove supply lines and set them aside. Remove the mounting nuts that hold the faucet body to the sink. Use your wrench for this. If mounting nuts are difficult to pry loose, 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
Cover inlet threads with Teflon tape or with pipe joint compound. Afterwards, twist the supply line nut on the inlet and start tightening it, by hand at first, and then by wrench. Connect shutoff valve to the other end of supply line using the same procedure.
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 those are the steps to faucet replacement. It may look hard, but once you're at it, everything will become much easier. So, give it a try!
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