How To Replace Garden Faucet

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A new faucet is a great way to update your bathroom and give it a whole new look. Whether you are renovating the bathroom or need to replace an old or leaky faucet, this is a relatively simple DIY project that you can accomplish in a few hours. The important thing is to get a faucet that fits your sink, so you should remove the original faucet before purchasing a replacement.

1
Gather your tools and supplies. Replacing a bathroom faucet is a straightforward job, but it does require a few tools that you'll need to remove the old faucet and install the new one. The tools you'll need include:^[1]
- Adjustable wrench
- Basin wrench
- Bucket
- Towel
- Flashlight
- Measuring tape
- Plumber's tape
- Sponge or scrubber
- Bathroom cleaner or soap
- Rag or cloth
- New faucet (purchased after you remove the original)
2
Prepare your work area. Remove everything from underneath the sink. Place a towel below the pipes to protect the vanity from water damage. Place a bucket over the towel and under the faucet to catch any water that drips down.
- You can also lay a garbage bag down under the towel for even more protection, or in place of the bucket.
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3
Turn off the water. Locate the water shutoff valve for the bathroom sink. It should be under the sink, inside the vanity. Turn the valve to the right (clockwise) to close the valve and shut off the water to the faucet.^[2]
- Depending on your plumbing, you may have a single water valve for the entire faucet, or you may have two separate valves for the hot and cold water.
- If you have trouble locating the shutoff valve, you can turn off the water supply to the entire line running to the bathroom sink.
4
Drain the water. To remove excess water from the faucet and to relieve pressure before you start working, drain the pipes after you shut off the water. Turn on all the faucets at the sink and keep them running until all the water has drained out.^[3]
- This will protect your sink, vanity, and floors from leaks and water damage, and prevent water from spraying everywhere when you remove the faucet.
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1
Disconnect the supply tubes. These are the tubes that connect the faucet to the water supply. Use the adjustable wrench to loosen the nuts where the hoses attach to the water supply. Use the basin wrench to loosen the nut attaching the hoses to the faucet. Turn the nuts to the left (counterclockwise) to loosen them.^[4]
- Once you've loosened the nuts with the wrenches, you can remove them the rest of the way by hand.
- Wipe up any water that drips onto the bottom of the vanity immediately to prevent damage or warping.
2
Loosen the lock nuts to take out the old faucet. Most faucets are attached to the sink by locknuts attached to the tailpieces under the sink.^[5] Use your hands or an adjustable wrench to loosen the nuts and unthread them from the tailpieces. Turn them to the left (counterclockwise) to loosen them. Remove the nuts and the washers from the tailpieces.
- Once you've removed the supply lines, nuts, and washers, the faucet will be loose. Hold the faucet in both hands and pull it straight out from the mounting holes. Remove the gasket if there is one and set it aside with the faucet.
- Use the flashlight to locate the nuts under the sink if you're having trouble locating them.
3
Scrub the faucet holes. With a sponge or gentle abrasive pad, scrub the mounting holes around the sink where the faucet sits. Use soap and water or your favorite cleaner or detergent. Once the area is clean, rinse it well, pat it dry, and let it air dry completely.
- To remove old sealant or silicone, dampen a sponge or rag with mineral spirits and wipe the area clean. Then rinse the area with clean water and pat it dry.^[6]
4
Determine what kind of faucet you have. Once you've removed the old faucet from the mounting holes, you can figure out what hole configuration you're working with and the type of faucet you need. There are three major types of faucets:^[7]
- Single hole, where the sink will only have one hole for the faucet, and the faucet will all be one simple piece with a single handle.
- Center-set, where there will be three holes in the sink and the one-piece faucet will have separate handles controlling the hot and cold water.
- Widespread or split-set, which work with three-hole basins, but the spout and two handles come in three separate pieces.
5
Purchase a new faucet. Before you go to the home or hardware store for a new faucet, determine the type of faucet you have, look at your basin hole configuration, and measure the distance between the holes so that you get the right replacement faucet. Write down the number of holes your basin has, the type of faucet that was on there, and the distance between the holes.^[8]
- If you want to replace your old faucet with a new kind, you'll have to replace the basin as well.
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1
Install the gasket. The gasket is a rubber or plastic piece that sits between the faucet and the sink to ensure a proper seal and prevent leaks. Fit the gasket over the bottom of the faucet, matching the holes in the gasket with the tailpipes and valves on the faucet.
- Plastic gaskets generally snap onto the faucet, so be sure to seat them properly so the faucet is tightly sealed.
- If your faucet didn't come with a gasket, you'll need to apply sealant or plumber's putty before installing the faucet. Follow the manufacturer's directions and lay down a thin layer of sealant or putty right before you put in the faucet.^[9]
2
Wrap all the threads with plumber's tape. Plumber's tape is designed to lubricate fittings and create a better seal between components. Wrap the end of the faucet tailpipes with a layer of plumber's tape, making sure the tape doesn't extend beyond the end of the pipe.^[10]
- The tailpipes are where the water supply hose will attach to the faucet, and the tape will prevent leaks.
3
Insert the new faucet. Hold the faucet in both hands and carefully set it into the mounting holes. Match the tailpipes and valves with the proper holes, and place the faucet into position.
- Once the faucet is in the mounting holes, insert a washer over each tailpipe, and then twist on the nuts by hand. To tighten the nuts, turn them to the right (clockwise).
- When you've tightened the nuts by hand, finish tightening them by turning them another quarter turn with the adjustable wrench if necessary.^[11]
- Avoid tightening the nuts any further, or you could damage the sink.
4
Attach the water supply hoses. Start by attaching the hoses to the faucet first. Attach each hose to the tailpipe of the faucet, and then tighten the nut by hand. To finish tightening the nuts, use the basin wrench to turn each nut a quarter turn to the right (clockwise).
- Once the hoses are attached to the new faucet, reattach them to the water supply. Turn the nuts by hand to the right (clockwise), then tighten them the rest of the way with the adjustable wrench.^[12]
- If you are attaching the supply lines to copper pipes with threaded fittings, hold the copper pipe securely while connecting the supply lines to ensure the pipes don't twist or break.
5
Turn on the water and test the faucet. When everything is connected and tightened, turn the water back on by turning the shutoff valve to the left (counterclockwise). Then turn on the taps to flush out the new faucet. When the water is running, check for leaks and drips.
- To flush the faucet, simply let the hot and cold water run for 1 to 2 minutes.^[13]
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Question

The water supply nut is corroded and hard to turn. What do you suggest?

Layla Moulding

Community Answer

Spray with WD40 or drop some oil around the nut, use a flat head screwdriver and/or a spanner or adjustable wrench.

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If the faucet bolts are stripped or rusted, you can score through the silicone that holds the vanity top in place. Remove the vanity top to allow easier access to remove the faucet. After disconnecting the supply lines and installing the new faucet, apply clear silicone caulking around the edges and set the vanity top back in place. Then, reinstall the supply lines.

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Article SummaryX

Before replacing a bathroom faucet, turn off the water supply using the valve behind the sink, and drain the pipes beneath the basin. Next, disconnect the supply tubes beneath the basin, and use a wrench to remove the bolts holding the old faucet in place. Then, remove the old faucet, insert the new gasket and faucet over the existing hole, and wrap the ends of the new supply lines with plumber's tape. Finally, reconnect the supply hoses and tighten each bolt with the wrench before turning the water supply back on. For advice on how to replace a center-set faucet with a single hole faucet, read on!

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