How to Repair Old Kitchen Faucets That Leak
Drip. Drip. Drip. That old leaky kitchen faucet is making you lose both your mind and money. So, there is no better time than now to buy a brand new kitchen faucet replacement kit, complete with all the parts and mounting hardware you will need to stop that drip once and for all. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Kitchen faucet replacement kit
- Adjustable wrench
- Flat-head or Phillip’s-head screwdriver
- Caulk or plumbing putty
- Old cloths or rags
Instructions
-
-
1
Turn off the water supply to the kitchen sink. If the sink has its own shut-off valves, you can simply turn the water off there at the sink. If it does not, it will be necessary to shut off the water to the entire house.
-
2
Open the faucets all the way and allow the excess water to drain from the pipes. This will give you a dry work area.
-
-
3
Determine where the screw(s) attaching the old faucet set to the sink are located. At the same time, determine if the screw(s) are flat head or Phillip’s head.
-
4
Carefully remove the screw(s), taking care not to damage the sink or counter area around the sink. This is where old cloths or rags come in handy. You can lay them on and around the faucet area to act as cushions in case the screwdriver slips.
-
5
Remove the old faucet set. Take this time to give the area where the old faucet set was located a good cleaning. Also, check the pipes to see if the fittings need to be cleaned or if any repairs need to be made to the water lines or fittings.
-
6
Remove the new faucet set from its packaging. Perform any pre-installation assembly, if necessary.
-
7
Apply a 1/4 inch bead of caulk or plumbing putty around the base of the new faucet.
-
8
Insert the faucet base into the old holes, and give it a firm push. This will allow the caulk or plumbing putty to form a good seal.
-
9
Working from the underside of the sink, install the washers and screw covers or bolts (depending on if the faucet is attached with screws or nuts and bolts) onto the ends of the screws or nuts.
-
10
Make sure the washers and screw covers or bolts are all the way against the base, and then securely tighten them.
-
11
Re-attach the fittings for the hot and cold water lines to the faucet base.
-
12
Turn the water back on, and then slowly open the faucet handle(s) as far as they will go. Doing it this way will allow any air that may have gotten into the lines to be pushed out by a stream of water with minimal splashing rather than explode out of the faucet, making a huge mess.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Unfortunately, the screws or nuts and bolts are probably going to be somewhere under the faucet base, and the only way to get to them is to crawl under the sink. So, resign yourself to a little close-quarters work.
Be careful when maneuvering in and out of the under-sink area. Sudden moves can cause you to bump your head, shoulders or back, resulting in injury (and possibly teaching your children a few “new” words).
Don’t over-tighten screws or nuts and bolts, as they may break or damage could occur to the area around the fasteners. Tighten them enough to ensure that the faucet set is securely attached to the sink, and does not move, but don’t go force fasteners once they become very hard or impossible to turn any further.
