DIY Bathroom Faucet Replacement
A leaking or dripping faucet is inconvenient and wastes water. However, hiring a plumber can be costly, so why not try replacing your faucet yourself?
It’s not as difficult as you believe! Our step-by-step guide on replacing a bathroom faucet will have you up and running in no time.
So roll up your sleeves and say goodbye to that pesky leak!
Bathroom Faucet Replacement Tools
Begin by gathering the tools you’ll need for the project. They are as follows:
Adjustable wrenches for the basin
Large bucket or basin
Tape measure made from rags
Sponge
Putty blade
Putty for plumbers
Tape for a plumber
Soap or toilet cleaner
New faucet – do not purchase this until you have removed your old faucet and thoroughly examined your sink!
How to Change a Bathroom Faucet
First, turn off the water.
Begin by removing the currently installed faucet. To avoid a flood, switch off the water supply to the bathroom sink first.
You must first locate the shut-off valve. In some circumstances, there will be only one valve, but in others, there will be one for hot water and one for cold water. It’s commonly found beneath the sink. To turn off the water supply, turn it clockwise.
If you can’t find the bathroom sink valve, you’ll have to turn off the main valve instead. This is frequently found behind your kitchen sink.
If there is still water in the system, drain it by turning on the faucet. Keep it open until the water stops flowing.
Now is the time to clean out the cupboard under your sink. Place a cloth under the pipes beneath your sink after it’s empty. This will protect the cupboard from any harm caused by removing the faucet.
Place your bowl or bucket beneath the pipes now. Things are about to get out of hand!
Step 2: Unplug the P-Trap and supply tubes.
Remove the p-trap and supply tubes.
You will now remove the p-trap. The curving pipe in the shape of the letter “j” is shown here. It is joined to the other pipes by two nuts at each end. Turn your adjustable wrench counter-clockwise to loosen them.
Don’t be surprised if some water spills. This is entirely natural, and it’s why you have a bucket.
Then, disconnect the tubes that connect the faucet to the water supply. Look for the nuts that hold the hoses to the power supply. To loosen the nuts, use your adjustable wrench to crank them counter-clockwise.
Now, unscrew the bolts that hold the hoses to the faucet. Rep the first set of nuts, but this time use the basin wrench.
Pro tip: Using a wrench in a limited location might be tricky. Make your life easier by turning the nuts a couple of times with it. After that, you’ll be able to unscrew them the rest of the way with your fingers.
Step 3: Disconnect The Old Faucet
Take out the old faucet.
Most faucets are held in place by locknuts found beneath the sink. You may need to use a flashlight to find them.
Once you’ve located them, loosen them by rotating them counter-clockwise with your fingers or the adjustable wrench. Slide them and the washers off the old faucet’s tailpieces.
Your old faucet can now be removed. Grab it and pull it straight up through the mounting holes. Remove any gaskets that are present.
Cleaning the Mounting Holes
Clear out the mounting holes.
Depending on the style of your sink, it will have one or three mounting holes. Use soap and water or a bathroom cleanser to clear these out.
Then, rinse and towel dry the area. Allow it to totally dry while you go shopping.
Use mineral spirits to remove any remaining sealant around the mounting holes.
Step 5: Purchase Your New Faucet
Now that you’ve removed your old faucet, you can figure out what kind of replacement you’ll need.
Examine the mounting holes in your sink. Is it one or three?
If there is only one hole, you will require a single-piece faucet. It will have a single handle that will manage both hot and cold water.
If there are three holes, measure and record the distance between them. A three-hole basin may require either a center-set or split-set faucet.
A center-set model, like a one-hole faucet, is made of a single piece. However, in this scenario, the hot and cold water are controlled by different handles.
The spout and two handles on a split-set faucet are entirely distinct from one another. These faucets are also referred to as widespread faucets.
This YouTube video walks you through the various types of faucets and how to choose the best one.
Step 6: Ensure that everything is watertight.
A gasket must be installed to ensure that your new faucet is watertight. This is a piece of plastic or rubber that seals the sink and the faucet.
Place the gasket under the faucet so that the valves and tailpipe pass through the bottom holes.
If your gasket is plastic, check sure it snaps tightly into the faucet to ensure a solid seal.
Don’t be concerned if your faucet box did not include a gasket. Simply apply a thin coating of plumber’s putty to the sink and then instal the faucet.
To grease the joint and establish a tighter seal, wrap plumber’s tape around the threads on the faucet tailpipe. Make sure the tape does not extend past the tailpipe.
Step 7: Install the new faucet.
Install the new faucet.
Line up the faucet with the mounting holes in your sink and hold it with both hands. Before installing it, make sure the valves and tailpipes are aligned with the correct holes.
Slide a washer over each tailpipe and hand-twist the locknuts. When they’re as tight as they’ll go, give them another quarter-turn with your wrench.
Don’t be tempted to overtighten them! The faucet or sink is easily damaged.
Depending on the type of faucet, you may have to instal the handles individually. If this is the case, follow the instructions included with your purchase.
Step 8: Reattach the hoses and the P-trap.
Reattach the hoses and p-trap.
You’re almost there! It’s time to reconnect those hoses so the water can flow again.
First, locate the hoses that will connect to the faucet. Tighten the nuts with your fingers as you slide each one onto the tailpipe. Give them an extra quarter-turn with your wrench when they’re as tight as they’ll go.
Hold on to the copper pipe with threaded fittings as you turn the nuts. It can get deformed or snap entirely if it twists as the nuts tighten.
You still have that j-shaped p-trap to replace. Reposition it and tighten the two nuts at either end. To avoid leaks, overlap the p-trap with the vertical pipe by about an inch.
Consider purchasing a p-trap extender if you want even more leak protection. For extra security, this will result in a larger overlap with the vertical pipe.
Step 9: Verify that everything is operational.
Check that everything is working properly.
It’s now time to make sure your new faucet is working properly.
Reconnect the shut-off valve or valves and reopen the faucet. Allow it to run for a few minutes to clear any debris from the mechanism.
If you have a cupboard beneath your sink, keep the door open and keep an eye out for any leaks or drips. Tighten the bolts if necessary until the water stops leaking.
Extra Suggestions
Don’t despair if you have a three-hole sink but have fallen in love with a one-hole faucet! Some one-hole variants include escutcheon plates to conceal the other two mounting holes. Measure the area covered by the holes in your sink to ensure that the plate is the correct size for your sink.
Before you buy, make sure you know what’s included in the package with your faucet. If it doesn’t come with a gasket, have plumber’s putty on hand to establish a watertight seal.
If you’re installing a faucet with a gleaming finish, use extra caution. Scratches are easily caused by an accidental knock.
It’s Time for a New Bathroom Faucet!
We hope our guide to replacing a bathroom faucet has given you the courage to take on this task. You can give your bathroom a fresh look with a few simple tools and a little effort. And you’ll never have to call a plumber again to repair a leaking faucet!