Install your faucet like a pro, general tips about doing a kitchen faucet install or bathroom sink faucet install, bathtub or shower faucet install. Faucet installation is an easy task for even the most unhandy of homeowners. It requires minimal tools, usually only a wrench and a screwdriver, and very little time. You will need a little patience and attention to detail to make the install as close to professional as possible, but overall it’s a job you can do on your own with very little trouble.
How to Install a Faucet
Whether you’re doing a kitchen faucet install or you’re changing the faucets at your bathroom sink, the process should generally go like this:
- Close the valves on your main water supply under the sink.
- Take off the old faucet. You may find you have to work a bit hard to loosen the faucet, and you may also find a bit of a mess around the installation. You’ll want to clean the area before installing your new faucet.
- Check for a gasket in your new faucet package. If there isn’t one, you’ll need to use plumber’s putty to create a seal at the installation point.
- Place the faucet in the existing mounting holes and screw loosely into place using the materials provided with your faucet. Once you’ve verified the faucet is in the correct position, fasten more tightly.
- Install faucet tubes onto your main water pipes and tighten with a wrench.
- Turn water back on and test the faucet for leaks.
Wall mount faucets or faucets with a spray hose or pop-up drain will require additional installation steps. Be sure to read the instructions that came with the faucet closely to ensure the faucet’s installation goes smoothly.
Bathroom Faucet Installation
Although the installation process is generally the same if you’re tackling a bathtub or shower faucet install, the project may be a little more difficult because the valves and pipes are located in the wall. Fortunately, many bathrooms are designed with access doors so you can find the pipes and valves with relative ease. If yours doesn’t have a door, you’re going to have to create your own access, at which time it only makes sense to install an access door for the future.