A kitchen faucet is one of the most-used fixtures in your home, so it’s bound to go through some wear and tear over the years.
If your faucet is starting to show its age or stop working correctly, it might be time for a replacement.
Replacing a kitchen faucet is a relatively easy job that most homeowners can handle without too much trouble.
In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the steps of how to replace your kitchen faucet the best way.
So whether you’re DIYing it or hiring a professional for a kitchen remodeling project, you’ll know what to expect. Let’s get started!
Prepping Your Kitchen
Before you start shopping for new kitchen faucets, take some time to prep your kitchen! First up is gathering all your necessary tools and materials.
Tools and Materials Required
Before you begin, make sure you have the following tools and materials on hand:
- Adjustable wrench
- Phillips head screwdriver
- Basin wrench
- Putty knife
- Pliers
- Rags or old towels
- Teflon tape
- Plumber’s putty (optional)
- A new kitchen faucet
Now that you have everything you need let’s get started.
Clear Out Beneath The Sink
Clearing out the area beneath the sink will allow you to clean up any dirt or debris accumulated over time.
This is also an excellent time to inspect the pipes’ condition and ensure there are no leaks. If the pipes are in good condition, you can simply reuse them when installing new kitchen faucets.
However, if the pipes are corroded or damaged, you may also need to replace them. Once you’ve finished cleaning and inspecting the area, you’re ready to move on to the next step.
Shut Off the Water Supply and Disconnect Water Line
Locate the shutoff valves beneath the sink and turn them clockwise to close them.
If you don’t have shutoff valves underneath your sink, you’ll need to locate your home’s main water shutoff valve and turn it clockwise to close it. Then, open your kitchen sink faucet to relieve any residual pressure in the system.
Remove The Old Faucet
Loosen Faucet Connections
Once the water is shut off, use an adjustable wrench to loosen the nuts that secure the hot and cold water lines to the faucet. Then unscrew the screws that secure the faucet to the countertop.
This can be tricky, as many kitchen sink faucets are tightly installed. If you’re having trouble loosening any connections, try applying a penetrating oil and using pliers to help pry them loose. You may also need to use a pair of pliers to remove the old washers from the valves.
Remove Old Faucet
Once the connections are loose, you can remove the old faucet by pulling it off the top of the sink. Don’t be surprised if you find some disgusting gunk under the old faucet fixture. Just carefully clean the gunk off using a putty knife and old rags.
Remove A Deck Plate (Not Required For All Faucet/Sink Types)
This step is only required if your sink has a deck plate. Some sinks have multiple holes to accompany different faucet types and accessories. For example, some faucets use separate knobs for hot and cold water. Deck plates are used to cover up the additional holes in the sink that are not needed for certain faucet types (such as ball faucets and disc faucets).
If your kitchen sink has an existing deck plate, you’ll need to remove it before installing the new faucet. Most deck plates are attached with screws, so start by unscrewing them with a Phillips head screwdriver. Once the screws are removed, lift off the deck plate and set it aside.
You are now ready to install your new kitchen faucet!
Kitchen Faucet Installation
Congratulations! You have successfully removed the old faucet–now it’s time to start working on installing your new kitchen faucet.
Install Faucet Tubes
Once the old faucet is removed, you’ll be able to see the tubes that need to be replaced. These are usually small and made of copper or plastic. Using a pair of pliers, carefully remove the old tubes from the fittings.
Then, insert the new tubes into the fittings and screw them in place. Drop the new tubes through the center hole in the sink.
Install A Deck Plate (Not Required For All Faucet/Sink Types)
This step is only required if your sink needs a deck plate. As noted above, some kitchen sinks have multiple holes to accompany different faucet types and accessories.
For example, you will need a deck plate if you are replacing a faucet that has separate knobs for hot and cold water with a faucet type that uses only one handle for both hot and cold. Ball faucets and disc faucets are two types of faucets that only require one sink hole. (Ball faucets in particular, are common in modern kitchens.)
For those cases, the deck plate is used to cover up the extra holes in the sink that are not needed for a ball faucet. Without a deck plate, the additional openings in your kitchen sink will be left open and exposed–and that’s not something you want.
Installing a deck plate is actually quite simple. First, make sure that you have the right size plate for your sink–you don’t want one that’s too big or too small. If your deck plate came with your sink, it should already have holes that line up with the existing sink mounting holes.
If your deck plate doesn’t have pre-drilled holes, then you will need to use a drill to make them. Drill the appropriate number of holes in the plate, line up the holes with the threaded mounting holes in the sink, and secure the plate in place with screws. That’s it!
Secure The Faucet To The Sink
Place a sealant ring over the hole in the kitchen sink. If your kitchen sink didn’t have a sealant ring, now would be an excellent time to apply some plumber’s putty around the hole.
Screw on the mounting nuts that come with your new kitchen faucet. Be sure to hand-tighten them as much as possible before using a wrench to get them extra snug; this will help prevent leaks later on.
Connect Hot and Cold Valves
Kitchen faucets typically have two valves: one for hot water and one for cold. Simply attach the hot and cold water valves to the appropriate inlets on the kitchen sink.
We recommend wrapping each valve’s threads with a Teflon tape strip. This will ensure the valves do not leak.
Connect Water Supply Lines
Once the valves are in place, you can then attach the water supply lines to the valves.
Remove Aerator to Flush Faucet Lines
When you replace your kitchen faucet, it’s a good idea to flush the lines to remove any built-up sediment. The aerator is one of the places where sediment can collect, so it’s essential to remove it before flushing the lines.
To do this, simply unscrew the aerator from the end of the faucet and rinse it out with water. Once you have removed the aerator, you can turn on the shutoff valves, turn on the water, and flush out the lines.
Test the Faucet
Test out your new faucet by turning it on and off a few times—if everything works, congratulations!
If there are any leaks, tighten the connections until they are snug. Fill up a pot or pitcher with water and check that the flow rate is satisfactory.
Finally, turn off the water at the supply lines and check for any drips. If everything looks good, you can be confident that your new kitchen faucet is installed correctly and is ready for use.
Now that you know the process for replacing your kitchen faucet, let’s take a look at the most common types of kitchen faucets available.
Types Of Kitchen Faucets
Ball Faucets
Ball faucets are the type of faucet most commonly found in modern kitchens This type of faucet features one handle for both hot and cold water. They operate via a lever ball assembly (hence the name) that moves up and down for water flow, and side to side for hot and cold adjustment.
Cartridge Faucets
Cartridge faucets get their name from a hollow interior cartridge that regulates the water flow. This type of faucet can feature either one or two handles for hot and cold water.
Disc (Disk) Faucets
Disc (also spelled disk) faucets use ceramic discs to regulate water flow. Like ball faucets, disc faucets feature only one handle to access both the hot and cold water.
Compression Faucets
Compression faucets are the oldest style of kitchen faucets. This type of faucet requires two different handles for hot and cold. It uses turnable handles and typically features interior rubber washers to regulate water flow via compression.
Home Pride Construction Can Help With Your Kitchen Remodel
Replacing your kitchen faucet can be a daunting task. But it can be a breeze with the right tools and some careful preparation. We’ve outlined all the steps you need to take to get the job done, from shutting off the water supply to testing your new faucet.
However, if you have some kitchen remodel ideas you’d like to bring to life, fill out our contact form today, and one of our experts will be in touch. Thanks for reading!