Tools
pair of medium size slip-joint pliers–like Channel-Lock brand.
medium flat and Phillips head screwdriver.
basin wrench — must have or you will be screaming and throwing things later.
small crescent or adjustable wrench
A flashlight — never use a plug-in drop light
Faucet
Go to your local Home Center and buy a good brass bodied faucet. By that I mean, look at the underneath side of it and make sure the threaded stems that it is mounted with is brass, not plastic.There may be some small amount of plastic on the faucet but it should be mostly all brass and chrome or metal. Tip: If you pay 30-40 dollars for it, it’s probably mostly plastic.
When it comes to plumbing fixtures, you usually get what you pay for. A kitchen faucet is the most used faucet in your home. Good faucets should last at least 10 years or more before you have to replace it. You might have to fix a drip down the road, but not have to replace it.
The Correct Type Faucet
Unless you have a custom counter-top the faucet is mounted on instead of the sink itself, most any will work. Most faucets are made today to fit a single or three hole installation. Your main decision is do you want it with a sprayer or not. Did the old one have a sprayer? Is there an extra hole in your sink for one?
While you’re there, pick up new supply lines for it. You know, the little lines that connect from your faucet to your water supply. If you are not sure what you need, take the old faucet off first. Bring it and the supply lines with you. The sales guy or girl can help you get the right hook-ups. (No pun intended.) I like the braided metal supply lines myself. They are not much more than the regular ones. They are simple to install too. Usually 30″ ones are what you need.
Let’s Do This
Open the doors under the kitchen cabinet and take everything out. I know, it’s probably a mess,
full of everything you need and don’t need in there. Most modern homes have little chrome shut-off valves that connect to your sink. Turn those off. Then open the faucet to make sure they are indeed off. If they still run a little water, you will have to cut the main off at the street. It is in a concrete or plastic box where they read the meter at. Usually at one corner of the property close to the street. Most homeowners have a meter key or a neighbor does.
Use the small adjustable wrench to take the lines loose at the shut-off valves. Lay on your back under the sink, take the basin wrench and take the other ends loose. Then take the basin wrench and remove the mounting nuts off the faucet, located behind the supply lines you just removed. Without the basin wrench, here is where the screaming and throwing things come in.
The end of the basin wrench is made to flip over to either tighten or loosen the nuts. Don’t forget, righty tighty, lefty loosey. You should then be able to pull the faucet off the sink from the top. If a sprayer hose is attached you can take it loose from the faucet after you pull it up some.
Clean around the sink holes with a good cleaner and stiff bristle brush to remove all the crude found there. Get your new faucet, place the thin plastic base on the bottom of the faucet and place in the holes. Install the new brass or plastic nuts back on the faucet. screw up finger tight and then check to make sure faucet is straight and seated properly on sink.
Take your basin wrench and tighten about 1/2 turn until they feel tight. Hook up the big ends of your new supply lines to the faucet, again till they feel snug + 1/2 turn. Take your small adjustable wrench and tighten the other ends back to your shut-offs. Hook your sprayer back up to the center of the faucet underneath. Most just snap in place today.If you use the braided flex supplies I mentioned earlier, you don’t need any Teflon tape on the connections.
Remove the little chrome piece, or aerator from the end of the spout. Open the faucet, hot and cold and turn water back on. Run for a minute to get any trash out. Turn off faucet and put aerator back on. Check underneath for any drips or leaks. Hey, if no leaks, you’re finished. You just saved yourself about $150 or so. Take the wife out for dinner to celebrate!
