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One of the easiest and less costly ways for you to make a useful improvement in your home is to do faucet replacement, which is to replace an old faucet with a new one. Doing so will eliminate the occurrence of irritating leaks and drips, and it could make an amazing difference in improving the aesthetics of an older room.
One of the easiest and less costly ways for you to make a useful improvement in your home is to do faucet replacement, which is to replace an old faucet with a new one. Doing so will eliminate the occurrence of irritating leaks and drips, and it could make an amazing difference in improving the aesthetics of an older room.
The first step that you would have to take in faucet replacement is to consider what the right faucet is. Of course, nowadays, faucets come in all types, styles, sizes, and combinations. But other than that, what you should really be worrying about is whether the new faucet will fit the old sink.
Be informed that there are two possible ways for different supply connections. That is why you should determine what supply connection your faucet has - flexible copper supply inlet found in the center of unit, or one that is located under the hot and cold handles.
There is a list of to-do’s that is recommended before you start removing the old faucet. Make sure that you switch off the main water supply. It would also be better if you prepare all the necessary materials and tools beforehand, so that you wouldn’t waste time looking for it later on. Make sure you also keep penetrating oil handy, just in case the mounting nuts are stuck. It is also suggested that someone guide you when you work, especially in handing you tools. And last but not the least, plug the drain using rags to prevent small and important parts like screws from going down the drain.
- Remove the old fixture
Remove the nuts that secure the hose to the faucet body if your faucet has a sprayer. Also remove nuts that secure spray head to sink. Detach supply lines and keep them out of the way. Use your wrench to remove the mounting nuts that hold the faucet body to the sink. You can use penetrating oil if it’s stuck.
Once faucet is removed, clean the sink from putty and mineral deposits by scraping it off (you can use a steel wool).
- Attach new faucet to the sink
Put plumber’s putty or gasket to the sink or the faucet. Install the new faucet and ascertain that it is in line with the backsplash. Crawl under the sink and have someone hold faucet for you while you work under. Then, proceed to screwing on a washer and mounting nut to each inlet, and tighten it with the use of a basin wrench.
- Connect supply lines
Apply pipe joint compound onto inlet threads or you can choose to wrap them with Teflon tape. Twist the supply line nut onto the inlet, tighten it using a hand at first, and then with a wrench. Join the other end of the supply line to the control or shutoff valve in the same method.
If your faucet uses flexible copper inlets for its water supply, make sure that the copper tubes are not twisted in any way. If they are, the faucet could become ruined.
- Connect and adjust the pop-up drain assembly
Insert a ball rod into the opening located in the drain body. Use the nut provided to secure it. Then, slip the rod through clevis strap and use spring clips to secure it. Lower the rod and let it pass through hole near the rear of the faucet sprout and up to the upper end of clevis strap. Tighten thumbscrew lightly at first, adjust rods, and once adjusted, tighten thumbscrews more to set everything in place.
And those are the steps to faucet replacement. It may look hard, but once you’re at it, everything will become much easier. So, give it a try!