Refresh Your Kitchen Sink with New Faucet Supply Line Install
Is your kitchen faucet suffering from low water pressure or leaky connections? Replacing old supply lines with new tubing and fittings can restore proper water flow and prevent messy damage under the sink.
With some basic tools and materials, you can upgrade your sink's plumbing in an afternoon.
Knowing When It's Time for New Supply Lines
There are a few telltale signs that indicate it's time to replace your supply lines:
- Corroded or leaky copper pipes
- Cracked or brittle plastic tubing
- Loose compression fittings or angle stops
- Noticeable drops in water pressure
- Plumbing upgrades during a kitchen remodel
Old copper piping can eventually corrode and spring leaks at joints or weak points. Plastic lines also degrade over time, causing cracks and leaks. Replacing outdated or damaged supply lines now can avoid bigger headaches down the road.
Preventing Water Damage from Leaks
Left unaddressed, leaky supply lines can lead to significant water damage under your sink and cabinets. Dripping water promotes mold growth and ruins cabinetry over time.
Corroded copper and brass fittings also deposit harmful metals into your water supply. By swapping old piping for new supply lines, you can improve flow while eliminating leak risks.
Supply Line Material Options
Modern supply lines come in a few popular material choices, each with their own pros and cons:
Flexible Braided Stainless Steel
Corrugated stainless steel tubing resists corrosion from minerals in water. The flexible piping easily navigates corners under the sink. Braided exterior sheathing gives added durability yet remains easy to install.
Braided steel supply lines are more resilient than basic plastic tubing. Their bendable nature also allows simple repairs down the road.
PEX Tubing
Crosslinked polyethylene (PEX) plastic tubing offers flexibility similar to braided lines. The tubing material won't kink and smoothly contours to fitting connections.
PEX effectively resists scale buildup and corrosion for years of reliable service. Its unrestricted flow design provides consistent water volume to your faucet.
Rigid Copper Pipes
Copper remains a popular choice for supply lines, though mainly for permanent installations. The rigid metal piping holds up well over decades of use.
On the downside, copper is prone to corrode from exposure to water minerals. The inflexible pipes also prove tricky to thread under a sink. Easier fitting options exist for most DIYers.
Choosing the Right Connection Fittings
Several fitting types create watertight seals for supply line connections. The options include:
Handy Push-Fit Compression Fittings
Push-fit fittings use an internal o-ring gasket to seal tubing when inserted. No tools or clamps are required to form a leak-free compression seal.
Push-fit connectors accommodate copper, PEX, and PE-RT supply lines. Their simplicity makes installations easy for DIYers of all skill levels.
Traditional Compression Fittings
Compression fittings involve using a nut and sleeve to compress a rubber gasket against inserted tubing. The compression forms a tight seal.
A wrench helps ensure firm tightening of compression connections. The fittings work with either copper or flexible supply lines.
Versatile SharkBite Push-to-Connect Fittings
SharkBite fittings utilize teeth to grip pipes for a push-to-connect seal. No clamps, glue, or soldering needed. They accommodate copper, PEX, PE-RT, and CPVC piping.
The fittings allow quick repairs by letting you cut and insert piping directly into connectors. No pre-assembly or unions needed.
Soldering Copper Pipes
Soldering remains an option for permanently joining copper supply lines. The process involves heating joints with a torch to melt filler metal for bonding.
Soldering forms an unbreakable seal, but requires skill with a torch and experience assembling copper joints.
Step-by-Step Guide to Installing New Lines
With the right parts on hand, swapping old supply lines for fresh tubing and fittings takes just a few steps:
- Shut off the main or individual water valve for the sink.
- Disconnect old supply lines at the faucet and angle stops.
- Cut new tubing to proper length allowing for bends.
- Attach supply tubes to angle stops and faucet.
- Turn water back on and check for leaks.
- Reinstall sink plumbing and test faucet.
Ensure fittings are oriented to avoid kinks and tighten connections well. Also inspect existing valves and swap any worn pieces before reconnecting.
Watch a Detailed Video Walkthrough
For visual learners, a narrated video can provide an invaluable DIY aid. Our in-depth tutorial walks through a supply line replacement from start to finish.
See how to remove old lines, take proper measurements, assemble new tubing and fittings, and restore water service after the install.
FAQs on Faucet Supply Line Replacement
Here are answers to some common questions on replacing worn kitchen sink supply lines:
What tools do I need?
You'll need wrenches, possibly PEX cutter, torch for soldering, and basics like adjustable wrench, bucket, rags, headlamp.
How can I avoid leaks?
Ensure tight fittings using pipe wrenches, avoid kinks, use quality tubing, and thoroughly test for leaks.
Yes, with proper precautions, materials, and by following instructions, most homeowners can replace supply lines.
Upgrading old and leaky kitchen sink supply lines improves water flow and protects your plumbing. With quality parts and the steps above, both beginners and experienced DIYers can complete this project.