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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