If you want to upgrade your current faucet or want to install a new one. You have come to the right place. Installing a faucet is pretty straightforward. You just have to follow this guide thoroughly.
First thing first, before you begin to start working on the faucet, you will need some tools. An adjustable wrench and basin wrench will be sufficient. Don’t forget to unpack the new faucet and keep its screws safe around the workplace.
Step 1:
This is a precautionary step. Before you work with live electricity or water, don’t forget to turn off the main valve. Yes, I know you can just turn off the faucet valve. But trust me turning off the main valve is far better.
After turning off the valve, leave the faucet running for a minute. The reason behind this is, it will drain the remaining water from the pipes. So, when you move on to the next step you won’t drench yourself.
Step 2:
Go underneath the sink. Open the connection between the water pipes and faucet pipe. As this is a single hole touch kitchen faucet, that means both hot and cold water pipes will connect to one single pipe with a dual joint connector. Or if you don’t have a separate pipe for hot water then it will only have one connection and one pipe. Previously if you have drained the faucet there won’t be any water inside the pipes. Otherwise, get ready to get drenched.
Step 3:
Remove the nuts connecting the faucet and the sink together. After removing the nuts and the washer the faucet and the escutcheon will simply come off. When you pull away the faucet try to push the pipes through the hole upwards. This way the faucet will come off faster.
Step 4:
Clean the sink. This is an optional step but the escutcheon will leave quite a bit of residue on the sink. If you wish, you can clean it now.
Step 5:
Take out the new escutcheon plate and see if it matches your sink. Which it should if you got the correct size. Normally sink has 3 holes. 1 for the faucet and the other two lever to control the water temperature.
But on a single hole faucet, you do that with one lever. That’s why the escutcheon plate covers the rest of the holes.
Step 6:
Insert the new faucet pipes through the middle hole and push the faucet downwards. It shouldn’t take much force. Some faucet escutcheon plate comes with rings if yours did then try to rotate it clockwise and it should hold the faucet in a place tightly.
Step 7:
Go underneath the sink again. Use the new washer and nut from the new faucet. use them to tighten the faucet and the escutcheon plate. Don’t over tighten it. You may break the nut if you use too much force.
Step 8:
Connect the pipes. Most of the time you only have one pipe to connect. Use Teflon tape on the male joint before connecting. This plumbing tape will increase the bond between the joint. It also closes the air gape inside it.
This way you won’t have to fear any kind of leaks.
That’s it. Turn on the water valve and turn on the faucet. Remove the gasket covering the faucet sprayer. This way if there is any residue or debris left inside the faucet pipe it will come off.
If you did everything right, then you don’t need to worry about any kind of leaks. If the faucet is shaking a lot, then you probably didn’t tighten it enough.