How to Fix a Kitchen Sink Faucet

Leaking or loose kitchen sink faucets are annoying, but they do not require a call to the plumber for fixing. What's more is that they are not difficult or expensive to repair or replace. With a few tools, some patience and determination you can have your kitchen faucet fixed in less than an hour. Learning how to do these types of minor and often-needed home maintenance tasks will save you money, and decrease your stress level.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Adjustable wrench
• Faucet
• Plumber's putty
• Silicon caulk
• Supply lines
• Water pump or groove-joint pliers

1. Turn off the water supply to the sink. You will either need to turn off the main water valve, which is probably located in your basement, or the two valves that supply and control the faucet you are fixing or replacing. Make sure to turn the faucet on after shutting off the water, in order to drain any water remaining in the water line, and to release any air pressure.

2. Disengage the water supply lines. These are the hoses that bring water from the pipe to the faucet. If you are not planning to use new lines, you only need to disconnect them from the faucet. You will need to disconnect the lines from the shutoff valve and from the faucet if the lines need to be replaced.

3. Detach the faucet. You will need to remove the handles and the escutcheons (the decorative plate or base) in order to get to the nuts that secure the faucet in place for a bottom mounted faucet. Top mounted faucets are held in place by nuts that are secured under the sink. The nuts can be un-screwed using pliers or a wrench.

4. Install the op-mounted faucet. Place a dab of putty or caulk around the edge of the faucet base. Most of the newer faucets have rubber or plastic gaskets for the base and do not require this step.

5. Set the faucet firmly into position, press it strongly onto the putty to make certain of a good seal. Fix the washers and mounting nuts loosely onto the tailpieces, position the faucet, and then tighten the mounting nuts with the same wrench or pliers that you used to remove the old ones, or the tool suggested by the instruction manual that came with the faucet.

6. Install the bottom-mounted faucet. Hold the faucet in place from under the sink, then loosely secure the washers and mounting nuts. Position the faucet and then firmly tighten the mounting nuts with the required tool.

7. Lay a thin line of plumber's putty or caulk around the bottom edge of the escutcheons and screw it in place. Then attach your faucet handles and clean up any extra putty or caulk.

8. Reconnect the supply lines. The new faucet probably came with new supply lines, and you attach them the same way you removed the old ones. If you are not going to switch your supply lines, you only need to reattach them and then turn the water supply to the sink back on.

Tips & Warnings

• Always follow the installation instructions that come with any piece of plumbing hardware.

[mtravis]

on 5/20/2009 my faucet leaks every time I turn on the water,How can I fix the problem?