Changing faucets has become easier thanks to modern plumbing and faucet design. If you skip the plumber and do it yourself, you can save a lot of money, and make a significant difference to the look of your bathroom.
Listed below are the steps you can take to accomplish this. You may experience differences based on your experience with the faucet you install (we’ve had it for a while).
How to change a bathroom faucet?
Listed below are the steps you can take to accomplish this. You may experience differences based on your experience with the faucet you install (we’ve had it for a while).
With the old, out with the new
The first thing you need to do is turn off your water. A shut-off valve for each of the hot and cold water lines is probably located under your sink. These valves can be turned clockwise to shut off the water. Using a wrench shouldn’t be necessary.
The supply lines will need to be routed away from the faucet if there are no valves underneath the sink. There is a possibility that you will have to shut down the water at the water heater (and bypass valve for cold) or at the main valve. To drain all water from the system, leave all faucets on the lowest floor on.
You should check if water has actually been shut off by turning on the faucet after you’ve shut it off. If it continues to flow, it indicates that the valve isn’t functioning properly. Using an adjustable wrench, remove the supply lines with a bucket and towel handy to catch any residual water. The valve assembly and water line will remain stable if you stabilize it with slotted pliers as you loosen the water line connection.
The old faucet assembly must be removed after disengaging the valves. Under the sink, it is held in place by either a retaining nut or retaining nuts. A basin wrench may be needed if you have trouble accessing them. Depending on the faucet, you may have received a socket wrench along with it. The old faucet should be easy to remove once you have removed the retaining nuts.
New year, new you
Faucets come in a variety of configurations. You can customize everything from the number of handles to the types of spray nozzles, to even the spacing of the holes required. You should take into consideration your current arrangement before buying a new faucet, especially the location and number of holes in your counter or sink. You will need to do some research before purchasing your new faucet, as sinks and countertops can be modified accordingly.
You will need to put the bracket that fits between the counter/sink and the faucet into place first. An underlay of foam is often used to reduce water seepage underneath the faucet assembly. I installed a faucet that required minimal assembly prior to installation, but other faucets may have different assembly requirements.
You need to thread the threaded rods of the faucet through the holes in the countertop or sink to connect the supply lines to the faucet assembly. Make sure the retaining nut is tightened with a wrench while working under it (good luck).
Ensure that the water supply lines of the faucet are not damaged if a socket wrench was not provided with the faucet. The water lines might need to be wrapped with nylon tape or some other protective material if they are in the way of the retaining nut on your faucet. If they are, it may be helpful to wrap them with nylon tape. It is possible to cause a leak by damaging water lines, and that would cause all manner of havoc. There’s no need for that.
Strong connections are the key to securing a deal
The water supply lines for the faucet should now be connected to the shut-off valve beneath the sink. It didn’t happen with my faucet, but it doesn’t happen with every faucet. You should change your hoses even if your current ones are compatible if you need to supply water lines. Your hoses could leak if they wear out and leak.
Use Teflon thread tape to lubricate the threaded male connections in the same direction you tighten the nut, which allows for a better seal. After finger-tightening the threaded nut valve connections, use an adjustable wrench to finish tightening the connection while holding the valve assembly with slotted pliers.
While checking for leaks, slowly turn on your water supply again. Water should flow normally down below if everything below stays dry.
Finish by flushing
If you have loosened up any debris in your water lines, flush them out to clear it. Let the water run for about a minute after removing the aerator from the faucet tip. With some faucets, an aerator removal tool is included. Let the water run for a few minutes if you cannot remove the aerator.
That’s it — you can move on to something else now that you’ve installed that fancy brand-new faucet. Depending on the kids’ behavior, I’d suggest a warm glass of water and a nap.