Refresh Your Kitchen With a Brand New Faucet

Is your kitchen faucet looking a little worse for wear? Do you cringe every time you turn on the tap and hear it squeak and drip? Updating an old, worn out faucet with a shiny new one can make a huge difference in your kitchen's appearance and function. With some basic DIY skills, replacing a faucet is an approachable project that will leave you with a much more enjoyable space.

With the right preparation and tools, you can switch out your kitchen faucet in just a few hours. Let's get started!

Get Ready for Faucet Installation

Before taking out your old faucet, make sure you have all the necessary supplies for a smooth installation. Having the right tools on hand will allow you to safely disconnect and remove the current faucet, and properly install the new one.

Gather the Necessary Tools

Some essential tools for faucet installation include:

• Basin wrench
• Adjustable wrench
• Channel lock pliers
• Flashlight
• Bucket
• Screwdrivers
• Teflon tape
• Rag

Having these supplies close at hand under the sink will allow you to complete all steps of the installation process.

Turn Off the Water Supply

Before disconnecting any part of your current faucet, you'll want to shut off the water supply. This prevents leaks from occurring when you remove the old faucet. Locate the hot and cold shutoff valves underneath the sink and turn them clockwise to shut off the water.

Remove the Existing Faucet

With the water turned off, you can begin removing the old faucet. Use a basin wrench to loosen the mounting nuts underneath the sink. Unscrew the hot and cold supply lines by hand or with pliers and disconnect them from the faucet. Once detached, lift the faucet body out of the sink holes.

Check the sink area where the faucet was mounted for any remaining putty residue and remove this completely with a putty knife. Examine the sink holes for any issues like cracks or corrosion.

Install the Shiny New Faucet

Now for the fun part - installing your beautiful new faucet! With the sink prepped, you're ready to mount the new fixture.

Prepare and Position the New Faucet

Read the manufacturer instructions to see if your new faucet requires any washers or gaskets to be inserted into the base. Once these are in place, lower the faucet lines and tailpieces through the sink holes. Make sure the faucet body is aligned properly before securing.

Secure the Faucet

Underneath the sink, slide any mounting brackets or plates over the tailpieces and into position. Tighten the mounting nuts with your wrench or pliers. Don't over tighten, just make sure the faucet feels stable.

Connect the Water Supply Lines

Attach the hot and cold supply lines to the new faucet tailpieces using slip joint pliers to tighten the connections. You may also want to wrap the threads in Teflon tape to prevent leaks. Make sure these lines are tightened adequately but be careful not to overtighten.

Once connected, turn the hot and cold shutoff valves back on very slowly. Let the water run and check carefully for any drips or leaks at the connections. Tighten further if needed.

Finish Up the Installation

You're in the home stretch! Just a few more steps to wrap up the process.

Confirm No Leaks

With the water supply on, do a thorough check under the sink for any drips or leaks. Tighten any connections if needed. Leaks may become apparent only when the water pressure returns.

Clean Up the Sink

Use a damp rag to wipe down the sink area, removing any debris from the installation process. Coil up any excess supply line under the sink. The cleaner the better!

Enjoy Your Updated Kitchen

Turn on the faucet and test out the water flow! Your hard work has paid off. Enjoy your refreshed kitchen with a brand new, fully functional faucet.

As you can see, with the right preparation and tools, installing a new kitchen faucet is totally doable as a DIY weekend project. Following the proper steps for removing the old faucet and installing the new one will have you sipping from a modern fixture in just a few short hours.

Next time your faucet starts sputtering, don't despair - now you're equipped to replace it yourself! Your kitchen will look and function better than ever.