How to Fix a Kitchen Faucet With Putty

Use putty to fix minor problems with your kitchen faucet.

If your kitchen faucet is loose, a simple fix using putty may be all that you need. Putty is used to seal the base of the faucet to the sink, so if the original layer of putty has worn down, the faucet may jiggle, which can cause other problems to occur -- such as leaks as connections are loosened.

Things You'll Need

• Plumber's putty or epoxy-style putty
• Pliers or basin wrench
• Vinegar
• Sponge

Instructions

1. Turn off the water to stop the flow of water to the faucet area. Typically, there is a knob to do this under the sink.

2. Detach the water hoses from the faucet. These attach with bolts that you unscrew with a wrench.

3. Remove the faucet. Your faucet attaches with screws and nuts and bolts, either from the top or the bottom. If you have a top-mounted faucet, the nuts will be easily visible from underneath and you simply take them off. If you have a bottom-mounted faucet, you will have to remove the faucet handles first. The screws to remove the faucet handles are generally hidden -- look for a small screw on the back or side or hidden inside a casing. Remove the handles, then unscrew the bolts that mount the faucet to the sink.

4. Clean the area thoroughly. Vinegar and a sponge will cut through the grime. You need to clean the area on the base of the sink where the faucet once was, along with the bottom of the base of the faucet. You may need to scrape off residual putty from the initial installation.

5. Lay a 1/4 inch tall line of plumber's putty along the area where the faucet mounts.

6. Replace the faucet. It should sit into the new layer of putty. Reattach the nuts and bolts as they originally were.

References

• Lowes: Replace a Faucet
• Popular Mechanics: Mighty Putty Lab Test -- Do As-Seen-On-TV Products Work?

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish