How To Replace Your Faucet

Replacing a faucet can be an easy task for anyone. It does not really require professional help. All you have to do is to prepare the tools and materials needed, and to know the basics of faucet replacement. Here are some tips to help you get started. Choosing Your Faucet Before you get down to the actual business, the first thing that you need to do is to choose a faucet. You can drop by a hardware store and pick out the faucet that you want. Hardware stores carry many faucet designs suitable for every part of your house. If you need to replace your bathtub or sink faucet, you can get a single or double handled faucet. Faucets have a standard size for their hook-ups. Kitchen and bathtub faucet units have an 8-inch hookup while bathroom faucets come in 4 inches. Determining Faucet Measurements To know which type of faucet to get from the hardware store, you have to determine some faucet measurements. Use a tape measure for this task. If you plan to use a double handled faucet, you can determine its exact size by taking the measurement from the handles’ center to center. For a single-handled faucet, measure starting from the distance in between the water hook-up lines found at the bottom of the faucet. Once you are able to determine the style and size of your faucet, you are ready to remove the old one and install the new unit. Using Basic Tools You do not need a lot of tools when replacing your faucet. All you have to use are wrenches and channel lock pliers or a basin wrench. Use the wrenches to hold the shut-off valve and take out the supply line that leads to your faucet. Use the channel lock pliers or basin wrench to attach the faucet to your sink. In most cases, a basin wrench is the more useful tool, because it is specially designed for tight spaces. Installing Your New Faucet Unit Here’s a step-by-step guide to installing your new faucet unit: 1. Turn off all water supply connected to your faucet. 2. Remove the supply lines coming from both sides of your faucet. Then, remove the large retainer nuts that hold your faucet to the sink. 3. Remove the old faucet from the sink and clean the area where the old unit was installed. 4. Place the new faucet unit in the holes. Keep it centered while installing the retainer nuts. 5. Once the faucet is in place and the retaining nuts have been tightly screwed, turn on the water supply. Test for leaks and other defects. When leak occurs, reinstall the faucet and be sure to tighten every part. You can also use plumbers putty or thread tape to prevent leaks or dripping on the joints.