Faucet Installation

Replacing an old and worn faucet in the kitchen or bathroom can improve the decor of the entire room. A plumber may charge you well over $100 dollars, according to 2011 prices, to install a faucet. And that doesn't include the cost of the faucet. You can install a new faucet on your kitchen or bathroom sink using the correct tools and with a moderate investment of time and effort.

Tools Of The Trade
Adjustable wrench
Basin wrench
Putty knife
Dish soap
Scrubbing pad
Dish towel
Plumber's putty
Teflon tape
Water supply hoses

Step 1:
Locate the shutoff valves under the sink and turn them completely clockwise to shut off the water supply. If there are no individual shutoffs under the sink, find the main water shutoff for the home and shut it off.

Step 2:
Disconnect both ends of the water supply hoses that connect the shutoff valves or water water lines to the bottom of the facuet stems. Use an adjustable wrench to turn the fittings counterclockwise to remove them. It's always a good idea to replace these hoses when you install a new fixture, unless they have been recently replaced.

Step 3:
Remove the faucet nuts under the sink basin using a basin wrench. A basin wrench is a specially designed tool to make it easier to remove the nuts from the tight space under the basin. Loosen the nuts with the wrench enough to remove them completely by hand. Pull off the old fixture from the sink top.

Step 4:
Scrape off the sink top where you removed the old fixture. Use a putty knife to remove chunks of debris and old putty. Clean the top with dish soap and a scrubbing pad. Rinse the top and dry it with a dish towel.

Step 5:
Place a bead of plumber's putty around the underneath of the new fixture and set the fixture into position on the sink top. Ensure that the fixture is on the sink top straight. Hand-tighten the faucet nuts onto the faucet stems and check to ensure that the fixture didn't move. Tighten the nuts completely using the basin wrench.

Step 6:
Connect the large fittings from the new water supply hoses to the bottom of the faucet stems after wrapping the stems with Teflon tape, which will help seal them. Tighten the fittings using an adjustable wrench. Connect the other end of the hoses to the shutoff valves after wrapping the threads of the shutoffs with Teflon tape. Ensure that you connect the hose for the hot water to the shutoff on the hot water line and the cold to the cold. Ensure that all the fittings are snug. Restore the water supply and check for drips. If any drips appear at any of the connections, turn the fitting where the leak is and eighth of turn at a time until the drip stops.