Loosening an Old Kitchen Faucet
A kitchen faucet stays secured to the underside of the kitchen counter or sink with the aid of nuts that screw onto the threaded fittings on the underside of the faucet. When the faucet sits undisturbed for years, rust or other corrosion can build up around the nuts and on the fittings’ threads, making removing the nuts a difficult task. Some nuts require you to use a little lubricant before they loosen, while others do not come loose until you try several methods. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Adjustable wrench
- Basin wrench
- Penetrating lubricant
- Hair dryer
- Center punch
- Hammer
Instructions
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1
Turn off the water to the faucet by turning the handles under the sink clockwise as far as possible. Turn on the faucet all the way to ensure no water flows out of the spout. If water still flows through the faucet, close the house’s main water valve.
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2
Clamp an adjustable wrench to the nuts that secure the water lines to the water valves under the sink. Turn the nuts counterclockwise to loosen them.
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3
Turn the nuts on the underside of the faucet, which secure the faucet to the counter or the sink, counterclockwise using a basin wrench. The basin wrench allows you to reach the nuts easier and gives you more room to twist the wrench counterclockwise.
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4
If any of the nuts do not turn easily, spray penetrating lubricant on the nut and the fitting the nut is stuck to. Let the lubricant sit on the metal surfaces for five minutes or more before turning them counterclockwise.
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Turn the nut clockwise one-eighth of a turn if you still cannot loosen it, potentially breaking any corrosion that was keeping the nut from loosening. Heat the nut with a hair dryer if it still does not turn counterclockwise freely. Put the tip of a center punch on the side of the nut, and hit the center punch with a hammer to knock any corrosion loose.
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References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Creatas/Getty Images
