|
How to replace a faucet
nstalling a new kitchen faucet isn’t tough at all. Actually, the directions that come with your new faucet are
probably all you ill need to do that part of the job. Barring unforeseen problems, you could be washing up under the new faucet
in an hour or so.
But what the directions dont mention are the bugaboos that can pop up while you're trying to get the old one out. You
may be faced with bush-whacking your way through a dark, dank jungle of drainpipes, water lines, a garbage disposer and maybe
more, just to access the faucet. Then, youl2l be called on to perform pretzel-like contortions inside the sink cabinet to
pull an old faucet with connections that may be so badly corroded you'll swear they're welded together. TIP
Before disconnecting the drain lines, take a Polaroid snapshot or make a sketch of the layout to help you put it all back
together. How to replace a faucet - Plumbing Contractors
Click image to enlarge.
We'll show you the unexpected problems that crop up—and how to solve them Here's what you need to know to get
through the tough parts. TIP
Prop up a scrap of plywood on some 1-qt. paint cans in front of the cabinet. You'll be much more comfortable lying under
the sink. Otherwise, the edge of the cabinet would be digging into your back (see photo). The Right Stuff
Chances are, you'll need to make more than one trip to the hardware store for parts, but to give yourself a fighting shot
at completing the job with one-stop shopping, consult this list.
* Shutoff valves: Before you shop for your new faucet (see Selecting a Faucet, below, take a look under the sink and
make sure that there are shutoff valves feeding the faucet. If you don't have shutoff valves, add them. If you have them,
confirm that they're in working order by turning on the hot and cold water at the faucet and shutting off the valves. If the
faucet still drips, install new ones. Most likely you have 1/2-in. copper supply pipes. If so, add easy-to-install solderles
compression fitting valves (Photos 9 and 10) to your shopping list. But if not, buy whichever valve type is compatible with
your pipes.
* Supply tubes: Next, measure the existing supply tubes and buy new stainless steel sleeved supply tubes (Photo 9).
They're designed to give rupture-free service for years and can be routed around obstacles without kinking.
* Basin wrench: Also buy a basin wrench ($15; Photo 4). This weird little wrench is made specifically for removing
and installing those hard-to-reach fasteners that clamp older faucet assemblies to the sink. (Newer faucets have plastic wing
nuts that can usually be loosened and tightened by hand.) A basin wrench’s spring-loaded jaws pivot so you can either
loosen or tighten nuts in tight spaces. If you need to remove drain lines to access the faucet, get a pipe wrench or a slip-joint
pliers (Photo 1). For cutting copper tubes, buy a conventional tubing cutter. But if your copper supply lines are within a
few inches of the back of the cabinet, buy a special mini tube cutter (Photo 3). You’ll also need a set of open-end
wrenches for disconnecting and hooking up the water lines.
TIP
Plan on replacing your faucet during store hours. Chances are better than 50/50 you’ll need at least one more
part. Getting At It
After you pull out all of the cleansers, buckets and old vases from under the sink, go ahead and lie under there and see
if you can easily access the faucet. If so, go right to Photo 3. If not, it’s time to start dismantling the things
blocking your path. Most likely, the main obstacles will be the pipes and P-traps that drain the sinks. Don’t be
afraid to pull them out, but more important, don’t be afraid to replace them with new ones. If you have older, chrome-plated
drain lines, the pipe walls may be so corroded that they’ll crush in the jaws of a pipe wrench or slip-joint pliers.
After you remove them, throw all the parts in a box for matching them exactly at the store later. If you have plastic drain
parts, be careful during removal—you’ll probably be able to reuse them. TIP
If you’re replacing the kitchen sink along with a new faucet, install the faucet before setting the sink into
the countertop. Sometimes a garbage disposer can be a 20-lb. roadblock. Don’t be discouraged—it’s
easier than you think to remove it and then reinstall it after the faucet is in (Photo 2). Unplug it and pull it out of the
cabinet to get it out of the way. If it’s hard-wired, shut off the circuit breaker that controls the disposer, disconnect
the disposer from the sink and set it aside inside the cabinet with the electrical cable still attached. Disconnecting the
Old Faucet
The first step in removing the old faucet is to disconnect the water supply lines (Photo 3). If there are no shutoff valves
and the water pipes are hooked up directly to the faucet supply lines, or if you're replacing defective valves, turn off the
main water supply valve to the house and cut off the pipes (Photo 3) below the connections with a hacksaw or tube cutter.
Make sure new valves are closed before turning the water back on to the house. Once the water lines are disconnected, use
the basin wrench to loosen the old faucet and remove it (Photo 4). TIP
With most faucets, only three of the four holes are covered, so you’ll either need to get a blank insert or
use the extra hole for a liquid soap or instant hot water dispenser. Plan to do the installation while you’re under
the sink with everything torn apart. Selecting a Faucet
When you're buying a faucet (as with most other things), you get what you pay for. Faucets that cost less than $100 may
be made of chrome-plated plastic parts with seals and valves that wear. They're OK for light-duty use but won’t
stand up long in a frequently used kitchen sink. Faucets that cost more than $100 generally have solid brass bodies with durable
plating and washerless controls that’ll give leak-free service for many, many years. Some even come with a lifetime
warranty. Quality continues to improve up to about $200. Spend more than $200 and you're mostly paying for style and finish.
Stick with brand name products so replacement parts will be easier to find—in the unlikely event you’ll
ever need them. When All Else Fails. . .
Sometimes, in spite of all your best efforts, it’s simply impossible to loosen the old faucet nuts. Calm down!
Try soaking the threads with penetrating oil and try again. If that doesn’t do it, it’s time to pull out
all the stops and pull the sink so you can get at the nuts. It’s not that tough to do. Loosen the screws on the
bottom of the sink rim for a clamp-down sink, or cut the caulk between a drop-in sink and countertop with a utility knife
and lift out the sink. Then you’ll be able to go after those nuts with a locking pliers or a pipe wrench to free
the old faucet. Follow the manufacturer’s directions to mount the new faucet, then remount the sink (with the new
faucet) and hook up the water lines as we show. How to replace a faucet - Plumbing Contractors
Click image to enlarge.
1. Disconnect the drain lines and p-traps if they block your access to the faucet and water supply pipes. (Place a bucket
or coffee can under the P-trap to dump residual water after you pull it free.) How to replace a faucet - Plumbing Contractors
How to replace a faucet - Plumbing Contractors
2. Unplug the garbage disposer, or shut off the circuit breaker in the main service panel if the disposer is directly
wired. Disconnect the dishwasher discharge line and place a 1-gal. paint can under the garbage disposer with some rags on
top to cushion the disposer when it drops free. Release the disposer by tapping the retaining ring with a hammer in a counter-clockwise
direction. How to replace a faucet - Plumbing Contractors
3. Shut off the water below the sink if you have valves, or shut off the main water supply valve if your old faucet is
plumbed directly without valves. Open the kitchen faucet and another lower faucet to bleed off any pressure and to drain the
water. If you’re installing or replacing valves, cut the water lines directly below the fittings with a tube cutter
or hacksaw. How to replace a faucet - Plumbing Contractors
Click image to enlarge.
How to replace a faucet - Plumbing Contractors
4. Reach up behind the sink, fit the basin wrench jaws onto the tailpiece nuts and turn counterclockwise to loosen. Then
disconnect the spray nozzle hose, remove the faucet and clean the sink area under the old faucet flange. How to replace a
faucet - Plumbing Contractors
Click image to enlarge.
5. Follow any manufacturer’s preassembly instructions and place the optional flange (see Photo 8) over the faucet
opening. Finger-tighten the flange nuts underneath the sink and check the alignment of the flange, faucet and sink hole from
above. How to replace a faucet - Plumbing Contractors
6. Check the operation of the faucet and handle to confirm you’re not putting it in backward, and thread the
feeder lines through the flange and sink holes. Then slip on the faucet washer, and thread on and tighten the faucet-mounting
nut from below, gently spreading the faucet supply tubes if necessary to gain tool clearance (sometimes manufacturers provide
a special tool for this). How to replace a faucet - Plumbing Contractors
Click image to enlarge.
7. Hand-tighten, then snug up the flange nuts with an open-end wrench. You can only turn the wrench about a one-sixth
revolution at a time. How to replace a faucet - Plumbing Contractors
Click image to enlarge.
8. Thread the spray nozzle line through the faucet body, then thread the spray hose fitting onto the faucet supply tube
and tighten it. Pull the nozzle out of the faucet to make sure the hose under the sink operates freely, then attach the counterweight
following the manufacturer’s instructions. How to replace a faucet - Plumbing Contractors
Click image to enlarge.
9. Tighten the new valves onto the supply tubes and mark the feeder lines just above the compression nuts on the valves
for cut-off. How to replace a faucet - Plumbing Contractors
10. Clean the copper tubing with fine sandpaper, then slip the nut, compression ring and valve body over the pipe and
tighten. Close the valve, turn on the main water valve and check for leaks. Place a bucket under the faucet and turn the faucet
on to check for leaks. Reassemble the garbage disposer, P-traps and drain lines.
Copyright ©2005 Home Service Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.Unauthorized reproduction, in any manner,
is prohibited.
Plumbing Contractors and Plumber Professionals Please Select Your City From The Following List below to Search For
Your Local Plumbing Contractors Professionals:
Acton, Agoura, Agoura Hills, Agua Dulce, Alhambra, Altadena, Arcadia, Arleta, Artesia, Avalon, Azusa, Baldwin Park,
Bassett, Bel Air, Bell, Bell Canyon, Bell Gardens, Bellflower, Belmont Shore, Beverly Hills, Bradbury, Brentwood, Burbank,
Calabasas, Canoga Park, Canyon Country, Carson, Castaic, Century City, Cerritos, Chatsworth, City of Commerce, City of Industry,
Claremont, Cole, Commerce, Compton, Covina, Cudahy, Culver City, Diamond Bar, Downey, Duarte, Eagle Rock, East Los Angeles,
El Monte, El Segundo, Elizabeth Lake, Encino, Gardena, Glendale, Glendora, Granada Hills, Hacienda Heights, Harbor
City, Hawaiian Gardens, Hawthorne, Hazard, Hermosa Beach, Hidden Hills, Hollywood, Huntington Park, Inglewood, Irwindale,
La Canada, La Canada Flintridge, La Crescenta, La Mirada, La Puente, La Verne, Lake Hughes, Lake Los Angeles, Lake View Terrace,
Lakewood, Lancaster, Lawndale, Lennox, Leona Valley, Littlerock, Llano, Lomita, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Los Nietos, Lynwood,
Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Mar Vista, Marina del Rey, Maywood, Mission Hills, Monrovia, Montebello, Monterey Park, Montrose,
Mount Baldy, Mount Wilson, Newhall, North Hills, North Hollywood, Northridge, Norwalk, Oak Park, Pacific Palisades, Pacoima,
Palmdale, Palos Verdes Estates, Panorama City, Paramount, Pasadena, Pearblossom, Pico Rivera, Playa del Rey, Pomona, Porter
Ranch, Quartz Hill, Rancho Dominguez, Rancho Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach, Reseda, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rosemead,
Rowland Heights, San Dimas, San Fernando, San Gabriel, San Marino, San Pedro, Santa Clarita, Santa Fe Springs, Santa Monica,
Saugus, Sepulveda, Shadow Hills, Sherman Oaks, Sierra Madre, Signal Hill, South El Monte, South Gate, South Pasadena, Studio
City, Sun Valley, Sunland, Sylmar, Tarzana, Temple City, Terminal Island, Toluca Lake, Topanga, Torrance, Tujunga, Universal
City, Val Verde, Valencia, Valley Village, Valyermo, Van Nuys, Venice, Verdugo City, Vernon, Walnut, West Covina, West Hills,
West Hollywood, Westchester, Westwood, Whittier, Wilmington, Winnetka, Woodland Hills
Sitemap
Plumbing Contractors Home
* About Us
* Contact Us
* Do it your self
o Before you hire the wrong plumber
o Clear a shower drain
o Difference between hard water and soft water
o High water bills
o How to clean a kitchen drain
o How to fix a dripping shower head
o How to fix a leaking faucet
o How to fix a shower head
o How to fix a toliet
o How to fix frozen pipe
o How to install a dishwasher
o How to install a shower door
o How to install a shower liner
o How to install caulking around bath tub
o How to put a toliet from the basement
o How to remove a cast iron tub
o How to repair a leaky toliet
o How to repair a water heater
o How to replace a faucet
o How to replace a Garbage disposal
o How to save money on your next plumbing job
o How to tile a bathroom
o How to use a snake
o How to use your garbage disposal
o Plumbing tips on drains
o Septic Tank Repair
o Sewer Gas
o Tips of How to repair a septic tank
o Water heater does not work like it use to
o Water Heater Leaks
o Water leaking from vent in plumbing system
o When to replace my main line
o Why is tempature change when some one flush toliet
* Plumbing Contractors how to video's
* Plumbing Glossary
* Servicing area
o Alameda County Cities
+ Plumbing Contractors in Alameda
o Los Angeles County Cities
+ Find a Plumber
+ Glendale California Plumbing
+ Long Beach California Plumbing
+ Palmdale Plumbing Contractors
+ Plumbing Contractor in Whittier
+ Plumbing Contractors in Acton
+ Plumbing Contractors in Agoura
+ Plumbing Contractors in Agoura Hills
+ Plumbing Contractors in Agua Dulce
+ Plumbing Contractors in Alhambra
+ Plumbing Contractors in Altadena
+ Plumbing Contractors in Arcadia
+ Plumbing Contractors in Arleta
+ Plumbing Contractors in Artesia
+ Plumbing Contractors in Avalon
+ Plumbing Contractors in Azusa
+ Plumbing Contractors in Baldwin Park
+ Plumbing Contractors in Bassett
+ Plumbing Contractors in Bel Air
+ Plumbing Contractors in Bell
+ Plumbing Contractors in Bell Canyon
+ Plumbing Contractors in Bell Gardens
+ Plumbing Contractors in Bellflower
+ Plumbing Contractors in Belmont Shore
+ Plumbing Contractors in Beverly Hills
+ Plumbing Contractors in Bradbury
+ Plumbing Contractors in Brentwood
+ Plumbing Contractors in Burbank
+ Plumbing Contractors in Carson
+ Plumbing Contractors in Compton
+ Plumbing Contractors in Downey
+ Plumbing Contractors in El Monte
+ Plumbing Contractors in Hawthorne
+ Plumbing Contractors in Inglewood
+ Plumbing Contractors in Lakewood
+ Plumbing Contractors in Los Angeles
+ Plumbing Contractors in Mahattan Beach
+ Plumbing Contractors in Mar Vista
+ Plumbing Contractors in Marina del Rey
+ Plumbing Contractors in Maywood
+ Plumbing Contractors in Mission Hills
+ Plumbing Contractors in Monrovia
+ Plumbing Contractors in Montebello
+ Plumbing Contractors in Monterey Park
+ Plumbing contractors in Montrose
+ Plumbing Contractors in Mount Baldy
+ Plumbing Contractors in Mount Wilson
+ Plumbing Contractors in Newhall
+ Plumbing Contractors in North Hills
+ Plumbing Contractors in North Hollywood
+ Plumbing Contractors in Northridge
+ Plumbing Contractors in Norwalk
+ Plumbing Contractors in Oak Park
+ Plumbing Contractors in Pacific Palisades
+ Plumbing Contractors in Pacoima
+ Plumbing Contractors in Panorama City
+ Plumbing Contractors in Pasadena
+ Plumbing Contractors in Santa Monica
+ Plumbing Contractors in South Gate
+ Plumbing Contractors in Temple City
+ Plumbing Contractors in Torrance
+ Plumbing Contractors in West Covina
+ Plumbing in Palos Verdes Estates
+ Pomona California Plumbers
+ Repiping contractors in Los Angeles
+ Santa Clarita California Plumbing
* Yellow Page directory
o Plumbing Contractors by City
Related links
Acton, Agoura, Agoura Hills, Agua Dulce, Alhambra, Altadena, Arcadia, Arleta, Artesia, Avalon, Azusa, Baldwin Park,
Bassett, Bel Air, Bell, Bell Canyon, Bell Gardens, Bellflower, Belmont Shore, Beverly Hills, Bradbury, Brentwood, Burbank,
Calabasas, Canoga Park, Canyon Country, Carson, Castaic, Century City, Cerritos, Chatsworth, City of Commerce, City of Industry,
Claremont, Cole, Commerce, Compton, Covina, Cudahy, Culver City, Diamond Bar, Downey, Duarte, Eagle Rock, East Los Angeles,
El Monte, El Segundo, Elizabeth Lake, Encino, Gardena, Glendale, Glendora, Granada Hills, Hacienda Heights, Harbor
City, Hawaiian Gardens, Hawthorne, Hazard, Hermosa Beach, Hidden Hills, Hollywood, Huntington Park, Inglewood, Irwindale,
La Canada, La Canada Flintridge, La Crescenta, La Mirada, La Puente, La Verne, Lake Hughes, Lake Los Angeles, Lake View Terrace,
Lakewood, Lancaster, Lawndale, Lennox, Leona Valley, Littlerock, Llano, Lomita, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Los Nietos, Lynwood,
Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Mar Vista, Marina del Rey, Maywood, Mission Hills, Monrovia, Montebello, Monterey Park, Montrose,
Mount Baldy, Mount Wilson, Newhall, North Hills, North Hollywood, Northridge, Norwalk, Oak Park, Pacific Palisades, Pacoima,
Palmdale, Palos Verdes Estates, Panorama City, Paramount, Pasadena, Pearblossom, Pico Rivera, Playa del Rey, Pomona, Porter
Ranch, Quartz Hill, Rancho Dominguez, Rancho Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach, Reseda, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rosemead,
Rowland Heights, San Dimas, San Fernando, San Gabriel, San Marino, San Pedro, Santa Clarita, Santa Fe Springs, Santa Monica,
Saugus, Sepulveda, Shadow Hills, Sherman Oaks, Sierra Madre, Signal Hill, South El Monte, South Gate, South Pasadena, Studio
City, Sun Valley, Sunland, Sylmar, Tarzana, Temple City, Terminal Island, Toluca Lake, Topanga, Torrance, Tujunga, Universal
City, Val Verde, Valencia, Valley Village, Valyermo, Van Nuys, Venice, Verdugo City, Vernon, Walnut, West Covina, West Hills,
West Hollywood, Westchester, Westwood, Whittier, Wilmington, Winnetka, Woodland Hills,
Torrance copper repiping
Temple City
Faucet repair, how to change faucet r
|
