The kitchen faucet started dripping a few months ago, and steadily got worse. I was usually able to move the handle around and make it stop. But recently my efforts would only slow the drip. I had visions of a plumber charging me for a few hours of labor to install a new faucet while I wondered if I could have done it myself. I decided to try replacing the faucet myself. Not only was I successful, but it was super easy.
To replace a kitchen faucet yourself, saving the cost of having a plumber do it, read the following tips to make the process as smooth as possible:
Buy A Compatible Faucet
Get under your sink and look at how many holes are in your sink. When selecting a new faucet, make sure it’s compatible with the holes in your sink. For example, my sink has 3 holes plus a separate one for a hand sprayer. I selected a faucet that was compatible with one hole or three hole sinks.
Read the Directions
Read the directions carefully, matching the steps with the parts provided. You may also search YouTube for videos of someone installing the same faucet.
Prepare the Area
Remove everything from below the sink and faucet and clean the area if necessary. Inspect the old faucet and determine what tools you will need. It maybe useful to hand a work light or have a flashlight shining up into the work area to ensure you can see what you’re doing.
Turn Off the Water
There will be at least two valves to shut off, one for hot and one for cold water. There may be a third that splits off the hot water line to your dishwasher. Locate the main water shutoff to your entire house. If for some reason one of the valves fail when you disconnect the sink you will want to be able to shut off water to the home quickly to prevent water damage.
Remove the Old Faucet
Analyze how to remove the old faucet. Once you have a plan of attack, remove the old faucet using the tools you had previously gathered.
Clean the Area
There may be residual plumber’s putty or calcium buildup where the old faucet sat. Cleaning the area give you a bit of a mental break as well as makes the area clean and shiny since the new faucet may not fit exactly where the old one did.
Install the New Faucet
Following the directions, install the new faucet. Once installed, turn the water back on and test the new faucet.
Replacing your kitchen faucet may seems like an intimidating task. But if you’re patient, do some research and prep work, you can do it yourself saving the labor cost of having a plumber do it for you.
How about you, EOD, have you ever attempted to replace your kitchen faucet?
