You use it everyday and whether it’s dripping, outdated, or your family’s needs have changed, we’ll show you how to replace your kitchen faucet with one that’s not only more functional but more stylish, too.
In the world of DIY plumbing projects, replacing a kitchen faucet is one of the easiest jobs to tackle, and here’s a bonus. If you’re also installing a new sink, you can mount the faucet before the sink could set into the countertop which gives you more room to work making the job even easier. You can learn how to install a new sink at lowes.com/videos.
We’re installing a single-handle pulldown faucet. Now, lots of plumbing fixtures have a similar platform under the sink, so these instructions apply to most types of kitchen faucets, from pulldowns to two-handle.
Now, this is very important. Once selecting a faucet, pay particular attention to the number of holes in your current sink. Look underneath to see if you have one, two, three or four. Now, some faucets are designed for specific applications, so be sure to check the manufacturer’s product spec sheet to see if the faucet you’re considering will work for you.
Now, most faucets come with a deck plate to cover extra holes if needed. If your sink does have more holes than the new faucet requires, you can purchase extra items such as a soap dispenser, a sprayer, a special tap for instant hot water, or a matching blank plug if the hole won’t be used.
This particular faucet works with a two or four-hole application and comes with a matching soap dispenser. So it will perfectly on our four-hole sink. Be sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions then gather up all the tools and materials you’ll need. You can print out the instructions and tool list by going to lowes.com/videos. Our instructions also explain how to install the soap dispenser. Ready to start? Here’s what you’ll need for the project.
A new faucet, a Basin Wrench depending on the space you’re working in, standard adjustable wrenches or pliers may work, new supply lines if needed, plumber's putty or silicone caulk, putty knife, plumber's tape, a work light, shop towels and a small bucket to catch water. And don’t forget gloves and safety glasses.
Now that we have everything together, it’s time to remove the old faucet. Turn off both the hot and cold water. Usually, you’ll find shutoff valves under the sink or in the basement. Have you bucket handy to catch the small amount of water that’s still in the line.
Next, turn on the old faucet to release pressure in the lines. If you don’t, water can leak out later and make a mess.
Next, use adjustable wrenches to disconnect the water supply lines and side spray lines if you have one. At this time, take a look at your old lines. Are they cracked or just old? If so, now is the time to replace them with new ones.
With the supply lines disconnected, you can take out the old faucet. Now, if you’re replacing the sink, you can just lift it and the old faucet out in one piece. If you’re not removing the sink, use the basin wrench or a standard wrench if space permits to unscrew the bolts holding the faucet in place. In some cases, these nuts are actually located above the sink. If so, you’ll need to remove the handles and decorative deck plate to get to them. With the nuts removed, lift the old faucet off the sink. Now, this is a good time to clean away any grime or old plumber’s putty. You can use a putty knife to make the job easier.
Now, we’re ready to install our new faucet. If you’re installing a new sink, attach the faucet before you set the sink into the counter. We’re installing ours with a sink in place. On our faucet, we placed the putty plate under the deck plate. Then we pressed a bead of plumber’s putty into the groove on the bottom of the putty plate. The plate goes over the three holes in the sink. The putty keeps water from dripping down into the cabinet, which could eventually cause damage.
Now, guide the pipes through the holes. From under the sink, install the washers and mounting hardware. Tighten the nuts by hand first, then tighten further with a wrench. Remove any excess putty from the top of the sink. Now, hook up the water supply lines. Connect the supply lines to the water connection on the faucet. Tighten the connections with wrenches but be careful not to overtighten. Some connections may require plumber’s tape. Go ahead and turn the water back on and check for leaks with the faucet off then with the faucet on. If you have any leaks, make sure that all the connections are tight. And if you don’t have any leaks right away, it’s a good idea to check under the sink periodically just to be sure.
Now with that, you’re done. It looks great and ready to tackle any stack of dishes. And don’t forget, Lowe’s is here to help you tackle any other home improvement projects you have on your to-do list. Just check out our lineup of videos at lowes.com/videos.
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