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The kitchen faucet is one of the fixtures that you use every day. It is where you wash your hands, it helps you clean your fresh fruits and vegetables, and it’s where you wash your dishes every single meal.
Has the faucet in your property been leaking lately? Have you noticed that there’s no water coming out of it? Or maybe your kitchen faucet is outdated already, and you want to replace it with a stylish one?
Whatever the reason may be, installing a kitchen faucet is not a simple task. Replacing it might go seamless as you think, but because your kitchen faucet is connected under the sink, you might want to consider faucet configurations.
If you don’t check the sink conditions in your condominium, you will not know what to expect and things could go wrong while you are in the process of installing the kitchen faucet.
You can avoid mishaps by calling a plumber, or you can follow the simple steps we have outlined to help you get started in replacing your kitchen faucet.
Here are the seven simple steps on how to install a kitchen faucet:
Step 1. Always turn off the water before replacing a kitchen faucet
Before you can start removing some parts under the sink, you’ll have to turn off the water to the existing faucet. You can do this by simply twisting the on/off valve located on the water supply lines found under the faucet. If your kitchen faucet is an older model, valves may look rusty which makes it hard to loosen. Get a hairdryer and apply heat to the valve to loosen it for closing. Be careful of the amount of pressure you apply to the valve because it can break the supply line.
Step 2. Remove the old faucet
Using an adjustable wrench, you can start disconnecting the nuts to lift out the old faucet. Don’t forget to take a photo of the plumbing configuration before unscrewing the under-the-sink conditions for you to have a reference later on. After removing the faucet, clean the sink surface thoroughly by using a scouring pad.
Step 3. Place the new sprayer hose
When connecting the new faucet to the water supply lines, follow the manufacturer’s instructions that may direct you on the right way to assemble the faucet, then go under the sink to make the new connections. Feed the connected lines down through the hole in the sink.
Step 4. Attach the flexible connectors for a particular installation
The hot and cold water supply tubes may have a difference in length depending on the brand. Get a flexible connector to connect the faucet. Use two wrenches to tighten both connections – one is to hold the faucet in a stationary position and one is to tighten the fitting on the flexible connector.
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Step 5. Check for leaks
Once you have connected the flexible connectors and the water supply tubes, turn on the faucet to check for leaks. This will help you know if you have tightened the connections and adjust the connections if necessary.
Step 6. Place the new faucet
Once you have put the old faucet out and cleaned the surface of the sink, it’s time to measure the distance of the outside holes of your sink for you to know if the new faucet will fit perfectly. Seat the faucet by inserting and feeding the connectors and water supply lines into the center hole and make sure that the gasket lines are correctly lined up. Check under the sink if the washer and nut are installed properly. Tighten the nut by hand then use a basin wrench to secure the connections.
Step 7. Test the newly installed faucet
Once you have attached the water supply lines to the faucet and the valves, turn on the water to test if the new faucet is working. If you find any leaks, tighten the connections on the water supply line by using an adjustable wrench to avoid leaks
Find the faucet that fits
In choosing the replacement faucet, you have to get to know your current sink hardware. Before you purchase a new faucet, the best way to be familiar with the make of your kitchen sink is to remove the old faucet and take note of the number of holes in the sink. Measure the distance between the center of the left-most hole to the center of the hole. You can never go wrong in replacing your faucet by yourself when you find the right one that fits the sink configuration.
