By Mark J. Donovan
Installing a new faucet is a small enough project that most Do it Yourself homeowners can tackle with a little plumbing knowledge and some basic tools.
You can install a new faucet in one to two hours using a pair of large channel lock pliers and a crescent wrench.
Turn the Water Off
To begin with, turn the water supply off to the faucet. Usually this can be done by turning the valves off under the sink. Confirm the water to the faucet is off by turning the faucet on and confirming no water flows from it.
Remove the Old Faucet
Next disconnect the flexible supply lines from the valves attached to the hot and cold supply pipes.
After disconnecting the flexible supply lines, remove the old faucet mounting nuts that secure the faucet to the sink.
Next, remove the mounting nut that holds the Stopper Pull Rod and Stopper Drain bracket assembly to the drain tail pipe.
Then remove the J-Trap drain assembly from the sink tail pipe.
The faucet should now be able to be lifted from the sink.
With the old faucet removed, clean around the sink area using a rag and putty knife.
Select a New Faucet
Next visit your local home improvement store and find a replacement faucet with the same spacing between the hot and cold threaded tail pieces of your old faucet. Also pick up two flexible replacement supply lines.
Install the New Faucet
Connect the new flexible supply lines to the threaded tail pieces of your new faucet.
Next install the new faucet into the mounting holes on your sink.
Then secure the faucet to the sink using the mounting plates and/or nuts that came with the new faucet.
Attach the other end of the flexible supply lines to the valves on the hot and cold supply pipes.
Next, attach the new tail pipe to the sink drain.
Then install the new Drain/Stopper assembly that came with the new faucet into the sink basin. Part of the Drain/Stopper assembly will include connecting a mechanical linkage system to the back of the drain tail pipe. This linkage system will connect the Drain Pull Rod to the Stopper assembly in the sink drain.
Reconnect the J-Trap Drain Assembly to the Drain Tail Pipe.
Turn the supply line valves back to the ON position.
Turn the new faucet on and check for leaks around all the compression fittings. If any leaks are found, turn off the supply line valves and tighten the leaky fitting nuts. Then turn the supply lines back on and confirm the leaks have been stopped.
For more information on how to install a new faucet, See HomeAdditionPlus.com's "Installing a New Faucet Ebook". It provides in-depth, easy to understand, step-by-step instructions and pictures, on how to install a new Faucet.
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