Anyone Can Replace a Bathroom Faucet…Yes, Even You!
Good news for those who don’t have a plumber in the family.
What if you want to replace your bathroom faucet all together? Should you go back to school and become a master plumber before tackling the job? No. You can replace a bathroom faucet in about an hour. All it takes is a can-do attitude and the right tools.
Tools you’ll need:
- Basin wrench for reaching those out-of-the-way nuts underneath the sink
- Crescent wrench
- Flashlight for finding the compression nuts behind the basin
- Small bucket or bowl to catch dripping water
- Rag or paper towel for cleaning up spills
First things first: shut off the water.
Look under the sink for the shut-off valves – two small handles or knobs that control the flow of hot and cold water. Turn them clockwise to close them. Open both faucet handles to drain existing water from the pipes.
Out with the old...
Place the small bucket underneath to catch any excess water. Then, with a Crescent wrench, loosen and detach the supply lines that connect to the hot and cold shut-off valves. Disconnect the P-trap linkage. Then use the basin wrench to loosen and remove the compression nuts holding the faucet and handles in place, and remove it from above.
...In with the new.
New faucets usually come with everything except the supply lines to connect to the shut-off valves. Attach the new lines to the new faucet and feed them through the appropriate holes in the sink. Have someone hold the faucet in place above while you use the basin wrench underneath to tighten the compression nuts. Be careful not to over-tighten them. They just need to be snug enough to keep the faucet from moving. Then use the Crescent wrench to attach the water lines to the shut-off valves. Reattach the P-trap, turn on the valves and check for any leaks; tightening the fittings where necessary.
The last step? Grab your favorite beverage and toast yourself for a job well done!