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Can I Really Replace My Own Kitchen Faucet?

Can I Really Replace My Own Kitchen Faucet? If you have moderate mechanical ability and the right tools, you can certainly replace your old kitchen faucet with a new one. The one special tool that you should have is a basin wrench. This allows you to get to the mounting nuts and supply nuts. Without a basin wrench, the job is miserable. Hardware stores usually sell cheap basin wrenches that will work for less than $20. The other tools that come in handy are adjustable wrenches and water-pump pliers. A tubing cutter or a hacksaw may be needed in some cases. Some type of light, such as a flashlight, will come in handy. You should also obtain some stainless plumber’s putty and some pipe-thread sealant when you are at the store. It never hurts to pick up a couple of supply tubes in the event that your existing supplies don’t fit the new faucet. Ask for ferrules to use on the supply tubes for compression connections.

Now that you have an idea of what you will need for a typical replacement, let’s run through the procedure. I strongly suggest that you wear a pair of goggles or safety glasses when removing your old faucet. It is common for rust to fall from above and fill your face with nasty brown particles. You don’t want these in your eyes.

Your sink should have two cut-off valves under it. If not, don’t cut any piping. Turn off the cut-offs. Turn on the old faucet to confirm that the water is off. Lie under the sink and use the basin wrench to loosen the nuts that hold the supply tubes to the faucet. Then loosen the mounting nuts. Left is loose—right is tight. If the old faucet has a spray attachment, cut the hose. Remove the old faucet. You are left with the holes in your sink and the supply tubes waiting for the new faucet.

Read the installation instructions for your new faucet. Always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. In the meantime, I will give you a quick rundown of what you will be doing. Most faucets are shipped with a rubber gasket that fits between the faucet and the top of the sink. If this is not the case, use stainless putty to seal the edges of the faucet. This is done by rolling the putty in your hand until you have enough to lay it along the outline of the faucet.

Place the faucet through the mounting holes and install the washers and mounting nuts. Check the faucet to make sure that it is in proper alignment before final tightening. Ideally, the existing supply tubes will fit right into the faucet receptors. When this is the case, you set the supply tubes, tighten the supply nuts, and turn on the water at the cut-off valves to see if you have any leaks.

If everything stays dry under the sink, remove the screw-on aerator from the faucet. This is the piece on the spout that water comes out of. You remove this to avoid getting debris in it when you first turn the faucet on. Turn the faucet on and see if all is working well. Once the water is running properly, turn it off and reinstall the aerator.

If the supply tubes are too long or too short, replace them with the spare supply tubes that you bought. They are cheap and make for good insurance. You will have to use the new ferrules to make your compression connection on the supply cut-offs. Loosen the nuts that hold the supply tubes into the cut-off valves and lift them out. Cut the supply tube to recover the nuts. Slide the nuts on the new supply tubes and then slide the ferrules over the supply tubes. Cut the tubes to a proper length and place them in the cut-off valve. Slide the ferrule down to the cut-off and secure the connection with the supply nut.

            Replacing a faucet is not a big job when everything goes right. The key factor is to make sure that you have the water cut off before you disturb any plumbing. Stay dry, and enjoy your new faucet.

• “MINTCRAFT” STEEL JAW BASIN WRENCH
• 12″ size.
• Spring loaded
• Reversible jaw.
• Drop-forged-steel jaws

Product Description
“MINTCRAFT” STEEL JAW BASIN WRENCH

12″ size.
Drop-forged-steel jaws
Spring loaded
Hardened jaw
Reversible jaw.
Polybagged… More >>

12IN STEEL JAW BASIN WRENCH

• High-Carbon Steel Construction
• Heat Treated and Chrome Plated
• Jaw Swivels to Reach Difficult Areas
• Coarse Jaws for Sure Grip
• Sliding T-Handle For Added Leverage

Product Description
MIT 12″ BASIN WRENCH features: * High-Carbon Steel Construction * Heat Treated and Chrome Plated * Jaw Swivels to Reach Difficult Areas * Coarse Jaws for Sure Grip * Sliding T-Handle For Added Leverage… More >>

Michigan Industrial Tools MIT Tool 12″ Basin Wrench

• Rothenberger
• 70226
• Miscellaneous Hand Tools

Product Description
Rothenberger 70226 Basin Wrench, TelescopicChrome-plated, with pivoted reversible jaw- Telescopic Basin Wrench, 1-1/4″ – 2-1/2″Rothenberger 70226 Basin Wrench, Telescopic Features:… More >>

Rothenberger 70226 Basin Wrench, Telescopic

• Extra Large Jaw Fits Up To 2″ Locknuts

Pasco 4573-L Telescoping Basin Wrench – Extra Large

• Basin wrench
• Spring- loaded
• For tightening and removing faucet and fill valve lock nuts
• Securely grips any faucet nut
• 10″ arm

Product Description
Spring loaded. For tightening and removing faucet and fill valve lock nuts. Securely grips any faucet nut. 10″ arm. Wolverine pro quality plumbing hand tool. Bagged…. More >>

Cobra Prod. PST151 Adjustable Basin Wrench

• Basin wrench
• Spring-loaded
• Full 11″
• Hardened steel jaw
• Jaw reverses to full 180

Product Description
Spring loaded. Full 11″. Hardened steel jaw. Jaw reverses to full 180. Precision cut teeth have tremendous gripping power. 1 per card…. More >>

Do it Best Import/TW 408295 Do it Adjustable Basin Wrench

• Ridgid branded tools are known the world over as best-in-class tools that allow the end-user to complete jobs more quickly and reliably. However, there’s added peace of mind with the Ridgid full lifetime warranty
• Description: plastic nut basin
• Weight: 1-Pound
• Type = pipe wrench
• Handle material = steel

Product Description
Ridgid 66807 Plastic Nut Basin Wrench, No. 2001Ridgid Pipe and Tubing Tools include the legendary Ridgid pipe wrench, the most complete and premier line of threading and roll grooving equipment, best-in-class pipe and tubing cutters, bending and forming tools, and a variety of other pipe-working tools and accessories. Ridgid Pipe and Tubing Tools perform the same every time, job after job, under the toughest conditions.Ridgid 66807 Plastic Nut Basin Wrench, No. 2001… More >>

Ridgid 66807 Faucet and Sink Installer Model 2006

• Larsen Supply #13-2029 Large Jaw Basin Wrench
• LARSEN SUPPLY CO., INC.

Product Description
Large, Jaw Basin Wrench, For Large Nut Applications, Carded…. More >>

Larsen Supply #13-2029 Large Jaw Basin Wrench

In plumbing, a basin wrench is commonly used for removing faucets from sinks. Use a basin wrench with tips from a certified HVAC tech and plumber in this free video on plumbing repairs. Expert: James Drew Contact: www.JNCHomeRepair.com Bio: James Drew is the Owner and President of JNC Home Repair in Austin, Tx. and an HVAC Certified tech with over two decades experience in plumbing, masonry, and carpentry. Filmmaker: MAKE | MEDIA