An old, outdated bathroom faucet can make a dramatic statement about its surroundings. Replacing one isn’t difficult either – with the appropriate tools you could be done in under an hour!
Start by locating your old faucet, making sure that the new one fits snugly into its sink hole, closing all water valves below, and keeping a container ready to collect any extra liquid that remains.
1. Turn Off the Water
Before beginning the replacement of a bathroom faucet, it is imperative that the water supply is cut off. This is usually accomplished by closing off any shut-off valves under the sink; otherwise close the main water shutoff in your house.
You may wish to disconnect the P-Trap and drain line from under your sink as well, which can be done by turning both knobs to their off position.
Before removing a faucet handle(s), carefully inspect its attachment methods. Some handles feature decorative caps covering screws which connect them to the rest of the faucet – these should be removed using a flathead screwdriver before loosening its setscrew using an Allen wrench.
2. Remove the Faucet
Bathroom faucets typically feature mounting nuts that secure their spout and handles in place, so look for these beneath the sink and unscrew them with a wrench. If they won’t budge, try applying some penetrating oil and leaving it for some time to see if that works better.
Once the nuts have been untightened, gently lift up on the old faucet to uninstall it from your sink, taking care not to damage either its surface or your countertops in any way. A tool like the Ridgid Faucet and Sink Installer tool or basin wrench will make this task much simpler; save both time and bloody knuckles by having something like these at your fingertips; perhaps placing plastic sheeting or towels underneath for additional protection during this process.
3. Remove the Faucet Parts
If your bathroom faucet handle is damaged, replacing it can instantly transform the room. Plus, this provides an opportunity to upgrade its look by choosing an elegant style of faucet to match other components of your house.
Start by switching off the water supply tubes (those flexible or rigid chromed copper tubes that run from beneath your sink to where they connect to water valves).
Next, remove the handles. This may require prying off decorative caps, buttons, or plugs at the top of each handle that is used to conceal a screw. Once these have been taken off, there should be a small plate or “escutcheon” attached by screws; use channel-type pliers to unscrew this nut and lift off each handle from its seat.
4. Install the New Faucet
If you need to update an unattractive builder-grade faucet or simply want something different installed in its place, replacing or upgrading one is usually an effortless DIY project. By shutting off all water valves and taking care to remove old parts from previous installations, a new faucet can usually be in place in under an hour.
Before beginning, ensure your sink area is free from debris or old caulk that could obstruct proper installation of your new faucet. Next, if the drain hole is open, put in place the tailpiece of the new drain flange by using the nut you removed earlier (Image 1). If your new faucet features a lift rod pivot rod through its opening on the backside of drain body and secure it to its strap with spring clips (Image 3).
5. Test the Faucet
Before declaring the job done, test out your new faucet to ensure its working properly. Run both hot and cold water for approximately one minute each to check all connections are secure, creating a good seal between hot and cold lines. It may be useful to label each line so you know which is hot or cold.
If the new faucet you purchased still leaks, there may be an internal O-ring problem or worn valve cartridge causing it. Replacing these parts may solve the issue; alternatively, it could be elsewhere — for example where its tailpiece connects to flexible supply tubes — in which case repair will likely require consulting the manufacturer’s instructions for your specific faucet model.