How to Fix a Kitchen Sink Drip
A drippy faucet can be very annoying to you and everyone in the household. It can make you lose sleep and add money to your water bill and or electricty bill if it is not fixed properly. Your kitchen sink drips, and you want to learn how to fix it yourself to save water and money over calling a plumber. It is very easy to learn how to fix a kitchen sink drip, and all you need are a few tools, a faucet and hand strength. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Faucet kit
- Adjustable wrench
- Phillip's head screwdriver
- Silicon chalk
- Plumber's putty
- Bucket
- Flashlight
Instructions
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1
Gather items together. Take out everything from under the sink, and put the items aside.
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2
Find the cause of the sink drip. Some causes might include a worn out washer, wrong size, loose connection or poorly installed faucet.
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3
Turn off the water to the kitchen sink. Let your family members know when you will fix the leak. Turn it off either under the sink or by the main value, which will shut off the entire water supply in the house.
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4
Loosen faucets completely. Put the bucket under the supply lines. Let the excess water drain from the pipe. Loosen the faucets all the way.
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5
Separate the faucet. Remove the screws located around the bottom of the sink using the Phillips head screwdriver. If it is stuck, apply pressure lightly forward and backward until it gives away, and you can remove it.
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6
Take away the old faucet. Place the old faucet aside away from the sink. Clean the area around the three holes. If there is a rubber gasket, remove and clean it. Clean the water supply connectors.
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7
Remove the new faucet from the packaging. Put a small dab of putty or chalk about ¼ inch around the base of the new faucet. Newer faucets may not need it.
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8
Place the new faucet firmly into the old holes. Pushing it in firmly will allow the putty to seal tightly. Clean up excess putty or chalk.
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9
Hold the faucet in place from under the sink. Insert the washers and screws onto the pipes using a wrench. Secure tightly.
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10
Reconnect supply lines. Only do this if you need new lines. Attach old lines.
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11
Turn on the water.
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Tips & Warnings
Read and follow instructions thoroughly before starting any plumbing jobs inside your house. Use gloves while working with plumbing. Place a towel or something similar in the drain plug, which is at the sink bottom. You do not want to lose any screws, nuts or bolts down the drain while working.
Do not over tighten screws, nuts or bolts because you could break them. Be careful when working under the sink.
