Step 1
Use a basin wrench to loosen and uninstall your current faucet’s hardware. If needed, use a putty knife to open any old sealants beneath your sink.
Turn the water supply valves under your sink clockwise to shut them off and drain your sink to ensure no excess water remains.
Faucet Installation
As soon as you’re ready to replace your bathroom faucet, start by closing both hot and cold water supply valves under your sink. Next, be sure that the area around your basin’s faucet area is free from debris that might impede a proper, tight fit for your new fixture.
Remove the old pop-up drain by unscrewing its base nut using locking pliers or an adjustable wrench, though small spaces often necessitate using a special basin wrench for better gripping power.
Disconnect the old faucet by unscrewing its retaining nuts that secure it under the sink, depending on its style and model. Depending on what kind of sealant your old faucet required (silicone or plumber’s putty), follow your manufacturer’s specific instructions regarding how much and where you should apply plumber’s putty in this step.
Drain Line Installation
Your new faucet should come with step-by-step installation instructions from its manufacturer to assist in its proper setup and assembly. Carefully follow these directions; installation may involve pre-assembly as indicated by these guidelines as well as plumber’s putty or silicone for additional support.
Under/behind your sink should be a vertical rod which serves as the lift rod for your pop-up drain. It should be secured into place using a bracket with clevis screws (C or U-shaped pieces with holes). Pinch the clip and unscrew to release the lift rod.
Now, use a wrench to unfasten two short braided water supply lines from the faucet shanks (threaded pipes that run straight from hot and cold valves) that connect your faucet and p-trap, and ensure they’re undamaged and unkinked. Reconnect new supply lines with shutoff valves and tighten using an adjustable wrench – these lines connect directly with your faucet and p-trap!
Aerator Installation
If you’re replacing a faucet while keeping the same drain line, replacing your old p-trap may also be essential. A flexible pipe that connects directly to valves with large nuts at their bases must also be unscrewed using elbow grease or WD-40; carefully bending is needed in order to dislodge them and release tubing.
If your new faucet comes equipped with water supply lines, disconnect them from their shutoff points under the sink using a basin wrench or adjustable wrench before screwing on the new supply lines – be sure to tighten evenly!
If you need assistance in connecting the water supply, seek help from either a friend or professional plumber. According to TOH plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, novices can kink or crimp water lines which could decrease efficiency or cause leaks; such issues should be easy to spot by crawling under your sink and wiping joints with damp cloth or paper towel.
Spout Installation
If the faucet you are replacing features a pop-up drain, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for its installation. In most cases this involves inserting a pivot rod into a hole at the back of the drain piece before tightening a nut on its base that connects to in-wall plumbing piping.
Once the spout is set into position, attach its handle caps (if included). Attach short braided lines from these to both hot and cold valves on either side of the spout tee; tighten any nuts with a wrench as necessary, making sure no kinks develop in these lines.
Caulk should be used to fill any gaps between the spout and wall, before reconnecting water supply lines and turning on water to flush out any remaining debris or deposits. Before turning on full blast with your new faucet, be sure to replace its aerator so it doesn’t become clogged during its inaugural use.