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How to Replace a Kitchen Faucet

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Kitchen faucets are probably one of the most used fixtures in homes. Many times a day the water is turned on and off, leading to quite a bit of wear and tear on this hardworking fixture. If your faucet has seen better days, or is out of style, you can replace it with a shiny new version using just a few tools. Exchanging your old kitchen faucet with a new one can transform the look and functionality of your kitchen in just a couple of hours.

Tools you'll Need

Have all the necessary tools for this DIY project lined up before you start to save yourself time and frustration.

New Faucet
Channel locking pliers
Basin wrench
Plumber's Putty
Adjustable Wrench
Flexible supply lines
Tape Measure

Before Starting

Turn off the hot and cold water shut-off valves. they're usually located in the cabinet that's under the sink. Then open up the faucet to relieve pressure.

Removing the Old Faucet

Step One: Using an adjustable wrench and a pair of channel locking pliers, disconnect both the water lines from the faucet. If the supply lines are old, or the gaskets are worn out, you may want to replace them with flexible supply lines.
Step Two: Using a socket wrench or basin wrench remove the nut that is holding the faucet tailpiece assembly in place. Sometimes it's difficult to loosen old faucet nuts, in that case try soaking the threads with penetrating oil and try again.
Step Three: If your sink has a line that connects the hose to the faucet you can disconnect this.
Step Four: Pull the old faucet out and clean the sink's surface making sure to remove any rust or caked on debris.

Installing the New Faucet

Step One: Using the measuring tape, measure the distance, from center to center, of the outside holes of your sink. This is to make sure the new faucet will fit. Since all faucets are slightly different, read any installation instructions that come with your new faucet. Follow all manufacturer's pre-assembly instructions and place the optional flange over the faucet opening.
Step Two: Seal the new faucet. If you're using a gasket, place the gasket on the lip of the plate and thread the hoses through. If using plumber's putty, apply it around the base of the faucet and set the faucet in place.
Step Three: Under the sink you can now thread on the flange and nut using a socket or basin wrench.
Step Four: If you're using pull-out faucets, a weight needs to be added that will retract the pull-out spray.
Step Five: Now it's time to attach the supply lines to the faucet and then to the shut-off valves. Cold water connects on the right and hot water on the left.
Step Six: Turn on the water and check for leaking. If you find any leaks you'll need to tighten the connections on the water supply line.