How to Remove the Plastic Wingnuts on a Kitchen Faucet

The holes in the top of a kitchen sink, along the backside, are used to install the faucet, spray hose and soap dispenser. Plastic wing nuts fasten the bases of these items in the holes. Sometimes the holes have round covers over them with wing nuts holding the covers in place. The way that you remove these plastic wing nuts from the kitchen faucet, depends on how much space you have beneath the sink.

Things You'll Need

• Small bucket
• 2 adjustable wrenches
• Basin wrench

Instructions

1. Turn off the water supply to the kitchen sink. This is usually located beneath the sink. It will be a round or handle valve that can be turned off. Once the water is off, turn on the sink to relieve the pressure in the lines. Set a small bucket beneath the supply lines of the sink. This will catch any water when you undo the lines.

2. Undo the supply lines to the faucet using two adjustable wrenches. Place a wrench on each of the coupling nuts that hold the hoses together. Twist them opposite of each other until they come apart.

3. Reach up and try to undo the plastic wing nuts with your fingers. If there isn't enough room for your hand, use a special basin wrench to remove the nuts. Twist the nuts counterclockwise to unthread them from the bolt they're fastened to. Pull the nut down off the supply line hose to remove it.

Tips & Warnings

• Clean out all items beneath the sink before trying to remove the wing nuts.

• Avoid marring the threads of the bolt while undoing the wing nut. If the threads get marred, nut removal may become extremely difficult.

References

• Black&Decker: Kitchen Faucets
• Lowes Creative Ideas: How to Replace a Kitchen Faucet