by Kaye Fretz

Faucet installation is not as hard as you think. In fact, many home improvement sites and resources simply recommend that you do it yourself. Do remember though that every DIY project requires some basic knowledge. You also need to have the ability to follow instruction to the letter. Here are some things you should know about installing faucets.

Bottom or Top

These days, faucet choices are more confusing than installation itself. There are just so many faucet designs and several types that you could easily get confused. Like many consumers, you could just be tempted to make a decision based on design alone. A design of your choice however may not specifically fit your needs or your sink. Check if the holes in your faucet correspond to your sink. Determine too if you prefer a top or a bottom mounted faucet.

Bottom Mounted Faucet

With this type, you have to hold the faucet securely from the bottom. Once the faucet is in its right position, all you have to do would be to install the washers and manually thread the mounting nuts. You can then secure the escutcheons with some putty. The last step is to install the handles.

Top Mounted Faucet

Many home owners prefer top mounted faucet installation. To make it even more less of a chore, you can get a top mounted faucet with a gasket of its own. A gasket will be all the security you will need to ensure that a faucet is tightly in place. An alternative to a gasket would be to use plumber’s putty. After smearing the putty, you just have to put the faucet in after which you can go on with washer and mounting nut installation.

Connecting Water Lines

Your faucet is now in place. All that is left to do is to connect the faucet to the water supply lines. Connect the appropriate hot and cold lines to the right shut off valves. You can use pipe tape to make sure that you have a tight connection. Check all the connections again before you give a go signal to turn on the water supply.

In case you hadn’t noticed yet, all you really need is to follow instructions. You also need to understand them correctly. You would be lucky if you were able to buy a faucet with free installation instructions. There are however, also several instruction sites online that could help you.

Faucet Tips

Installing a faucet can easily be done. What you need to make sure of is that you make the right faucet choice in the first place. The first thing you have to settle is the location of your faucet. Faucets for bathrooms and kitchens are not the same.

Another faucet related consideration would be the space. A small kitchen sink and a small bathroom would look better with small faucets. You could also opt for wall mounted faucets to maximize the use of your small space.

Handles are another factor to consider. Two handle faucets are popular because they make mixing water easier and more accurate. Single handle faucets however are quick and easy to use.

Anyone can handle faucet installation. You just have to make sure that you have taken care of all your faucet pre installation concerns.

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Know how to change or fix a leaky faucet by yourself. Find your faucet installation instruction online.

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by Kaye Fretz

If you want to make a useful home improvement that is affordable and easy for you to do, you can choose to do a faucet replacement and replace an old faucet with a new one. This will immediately improve the aesthetics of an old room and get rid of the irritating noise that a dripping and leaky faucet produces.

One of the first things you have to consider in faucet replacement is choosing the right faucet. Nowadays, there are many faucets available in the market that comes in a variety of types, styles, and combinations. But no matter, the first thing you should be worried about is whether the new faucet will fit 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.

Before anything else, shut off the main water supply. You can do this by shutting off the control valve found under the sink. It is also recommended that you prepare all the necessary materials beforehand, and don’t forget to prepare some penetrating oil in case the mounting nuts are hard to remove, and are stuck. It is also best if you have someone around to help you in handing out the tools as you work. Also, don’t forget to plug the drain with rags so that small parts like screws and bolts cannot go down the drain.

- Remove the old fixture

Remove the nuts that secure the hose to the faucet body if your faucet has a sprayer. Also remove nuts that secure spray head to sink. Detach supply lines and keep them out of the way. Use your wrench to remove the mounting nuts that hold the faucet body to the sink. You can use penetrating oil if it’s stuck.

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

Put plumber’s putty or gasket to the sink or the faucet. Install the new faucet and ascertain that it is in line with the backsplash. Crawl under the sink and have someone hold faucet for you while you work under. Then, proceed to screwing on a washer and mounting nut to each inlet, and tighten it with the use of a 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 with that, you have the steps to faucet replacement. Never would you have to call on a plumber again to do the work for you. Just follow the steps religiously, and you’ll be Mr. HandyMan in no time.

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Know how to fix a leaky faucet yourself. Read the step-by-step guide to faucet replacement now!

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by Kaye Fretz

It is very crucial for you to learn how to fix a leaky faucet nowadays, especially with the high costs of getting a plumber, and with the nuisance that a leaking faucet brings. Now there’s no need for you to call a plumber and go through shock after shock upon receiving the high billing. Just go through these easy to follow and simple steps and you’ll be fixing that annoying leaky faucet in no time.

Learning how to fix a leaky faucet is actually very easy, as long as you are equipped with the right tools and materials. Basically, all you need is a new washer (preferably one that is suited to the faucet you have at home), some rags, a wrench, and a screwdriver (flathead and Philipps).

Before you start tinkering with your leaky faucet, turn off the main water source. Most faucets have a shutoff or control valve somewhere along its pipes located under the sink. Turn it counter-clockwise to shut it off.

Aside from that, make sure you plug up the drain with some rags. This is to avoid small parts like screws and washers from going down the drain.

Once that is accomplished, you can now start repairing the leaky faucet. But first, be informed that these steps should be followed only when you have a conventional faucet. Other unconventional faucets might be more complicated, and you might use specific repair kits for it.

1. Under the handle, there is a nut where the faucet stem is joined to the water pipe. Use your wrench and twist the nut loose to remove it (counter-clockwise direction). With it, also turn the handle counterclockwise to take it off.

2. Once you have detached the handle, you will see a rubber-like washer that is held down by a screw. This washer is probably very old and falling down to pieces, which could be the reason why your faucet is leaking in the first place. Remove the old washer by unscrewing it, and then install the new washer. Remember that the new washer’s size should just be similar to that of the old washer. Tighten the screws on the new washer to secure it in place.

3. Reassemble everything. Replace the faucet handle (turn it clockwise), and tighten back the stem nut to its original location.

4. Do the checking. Turn the water back on and see if the faucet still leaks. If it still is, either you need to screw things more tightly or, you need to buy a new faucet rather than a new washer. And if all else fails, seek professional help and call a plumber.

And there they are – easy to follow and simple steps that will guide you about how to fix a leaky faucet. Now you can do it by yourself! There’s no need for you to call a plumber, or even your handy neighbor to help you around a leaky faucet. By doing it yourself, you free yourself from irritating dripping sounds, nasty sink stains brought upon by long-standing drips, and water wastage due to constant dripping. Put these steps close to your heart and you will never be in distress again.

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Read more about how to fix a leaky faucet. All you need is fix a leaky faucet guide!

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