INSTALLING A KITCHEN FAUCET
& DRAIN
While the prospect of
installing a new kitchen sink faucet and/or replacing the
drainage pipes of a kitchen sink may seem daunting, they are actually some of
the simplest home improvement projects to undertake. With the right tools,
parts and the proper assistance, the job becomes fairly simple. This guide
should provide assistance with the installation of a new kitchen faucet and
drains. It is recommended to have a number of tools available for these jobs,
including but not limited to a basin wrench, adjustable wrench, channel lock
pliers, Phillips & flat head screwdrivers, a nut driver, plumber’s putty and
a putty knife.
INSTALLING A NEW
KITCHEN FAUCET
The
first step is to shut off the water supply to the sink and then drain the water
in the faucet and pipes by turning the faucet on. Once
the pressure is relieved and any remaining water has passed through, disconnect
the faucet from the water supply lines. This can be done with an adjustable
wrench or a basin wrench if the space underneath the sink is too small to use a
standard wrench. Once the water supply lines have been disconnected, loosen and
remove the retaining nuts that fasten the faucet to the sink body. The faucet
should be easily removable at this point. Lift the faucet out of the sink and take
note of the available holes in the sink body. This is to ensure that the faucet
bought for replacement matches up with the available slots in the sink body. Check
the water supply lines for wear and corrosion, it may warrant a replacement if
they are damaged.
Once a
suitable replacement has been found, take the replacement faucet to the sink and ensure that it matches
up correctly with the sink body. If the faucet fits, use the putty knife to
scrape off any old plumber’s putty or other buildup before the faucet is placed.
Once the surface is cleaned, place a new ring of plumber’s putty around the
edges of the area where the new faucet will be placed. If the new faucet came
with a gasket, set that down first. Place the new faucet in the sink and press
down firmly. Go underneath the sink and screw on the retaining nuts on the
bottom of the faucet water pipes. If replacement supply lines were bought,
connect them to the water supply and their respective faucet lines. If the
faucet came with individual handles not connected to the main faucet body,
attach and install them at this point. When everything has been properly
tightened and connected, turn the water lines back on and turn the faucet on to
check for leaks.
INSTALLING A NEW SINK
DRAIN
If the
sink drain pipes have aged and are starting to deteriorate, they
will need to be replaced so that they do not continually leak. It is a good
idea to purchase the replacement parts prior to disassembling the drain system.
In many cases, the replacement parts that will be needed are the sink basket
strainers, sink drain tailpiece, trap adapter and the PVC p-trap.
The
first step is to remove the old drain parts. This can be done easiest by removing the
p-trap first. It is a good idea to place either a towel or bucket underneath
the p-trap when it is being disconnected so as to catch any water that may
spill out when the trap is removed. If a dishwasher is installed next to the
sink, remove the hose that is attached to the drain by loosening the clamp that
secures the hose to the drain pipe. Once the p-trap has been removed, remove the
drain tailpipe. Unscrew the retaining nut on the basket strainer and push
upwards to dislodge it. Remove the old strainer and clear out any old plumber’s
putty at the bottom of the sink.
At this
point, the new installation process can begin. Form a ring with plumber’s putty
that will fit the underside of the strainer rim and press firmly. Once that is
done, put the strainer in the drain hole of the sink and again press down
firmly. At the underside of the sink, place a rubber gasket on the basket
strainer followed by a washer and then finally thread on the lock nut. Using a
pair of pliers to hold the strainer in place, tighten the lock nut with a wrench
so that the strainer is secure. Do not over-tighten it or there is a risk of
damage to the sink. Remove any excess plumber’s putty that may have been forced
out at the top or bottom of the strainer. After the strainer has been secured
in place, the tailpiece can be inserted. First, insert the washer at the top of
the pipe, and then tighten the slip-nut so that it securely fastened to the
strainer. Now that the drainer and tailpiece are in place, the p-trap can be
installed. First, test fit the replacement p-trap and mark to cut the inlet
portion if it is too long. The inlet should fit smoothly into the end of the
drainage pipe. After ensuring that the pipes are adjusted correctly, insert the
p-trap. Afterward, fasten the slip-nuts and tighten them with a wrench.
