Problem: You'd like to update the look of your kitchen, but you don't have the budget for a complete makeover.
Solution: You can dramatically change the look of your kitchen, without breaking your budget, simply by installing a new kitchen faucet with a removable sprayer head.
Equipment list:
Basin cock wrench (or pipe wrench)
Large and small slip-joint pliers
Phillips head screwdriver
Flat head screwdriver
Adjustable wrench
Plumber's putty
Flexible faucet supply lines
Faucet assembly, escutcheon plates and soap dispenser
Latex gloves
Safety glasses
Old clothes or coveralls
* A basin cock wrench is especially handy for jobs like this one. It has a swivel head and allows you to loosen or tighten any nut under the sink. Because the head swivels, the wrench doesn't take up much room and can be used in tight spaces. Basin cock wrenches typically cost around $20.
Remove the existing faucet
- Turn the water off at the fixtures.
- Disconnect the faucet supply lines, as well as the sprayer line.
- Loosen and remove the locking nuts for the faucet assembly, spray escutcheon and soap dispenser.
- Remove all faucet parts from the sink.
- Use a damp rag to clean any dirt or residue from under the original faucet.
Install the faucet
- Place plumber's putty around the base of the faucet escutcheon plate. If your faucet has a rubber gasket under the escutcheon plate, you won't need to use plumber's putty.
- Place the escutcheon plate over the holes for the faucet. Repeat the process for the soap dispenser.
- Place the faucet in the hole in the escutcheon plate.
- Go underneath the sink and secure the large nut around the faucet shank.
- Attach the supply tubes to the faucet, and tighten the compression nuts to fix them into place.
- Tighten the nut under the soap dispenser.
- Turn on the water supply.
