There is a lot of different types of faucets in different styles, colours and in a broad price range. You can purchase a new faucet from less than $20 (made primarily of plastic) all the way to more than $300. The more expensive faucets as a rule are made mainly of metal (brass) and are very durable. Choosing an expensive one, make sure your new faucet is worth money paid for it.
To replace a faucet, you'll need:
› New faucet;
› Locking pliers, adjustable wrench;
› Slip joint or water pump pliers;
› Basin wrench (possibly);
› Utility knife;
› Plumber's putty or silicon caulk;
› Flashlight (so you can see under the sink);
› Water supply lines and Teflon tape.
Removing the Old Faucet
1. First your task is to remove your existing faucet. Firstly, turn off the water supply (shut off the main water supply to your house, or close the shutoff valves on the water supply lines to your faucet). Then, open the tap to allow the water to drain out of the lines and remove any water pressure.
2. With a help of adjustable wrench disconnect the hot and cold water supply lines running to the faucet. You need to disconnect the lines at the shutoff valve, if you want to replace the lines. If you want to reuse the existing lines, do your disconnects at the base of the faucet itself.
3. Next step is a removing the old faucet. Faucets can be attached in two ways: bottom mounted and top mounted. Bottom mounted faucets are removed from the top of the sink. You need to take off the faucet handles and escutcheon to get to the nuts holding the faucet. Once the nuts are exposed, use your wrench to take them off.
Top mounted faucets are fixed by nuts located on the underside of the sink. To remove the top mounted faucet, you have to reach under the sink even through the room is very little. In a better case, you'll manage to use your slip joint or locking pliers to loosen the nuts. However, if pipes are in the way, you'll need to use a basin wrench (a wrench specially designed to work in tight spaces where you don't have room to use an ordinary wrench or pliers).
4. Once you've removed the nuts holding the faucet, you can bravely get out and lift the faucet up off the sink. If there is some caulking holding the base to the sink, slide the blade of a utility knife carefully around the faucet base to cut it loose. Any old caulking or "grunge" must be removed. A silicon remover or a mixture of vinegar and water or an orange cleaner can be used to remove the grunge.
Installing the New Faucet
If you're installing a bottom mounted faucet, put the faucet in place and put on the washers and mounting nuts, then hand tighten. Line up the faucet with the back of the sink and tighten them with a wrench. Run a bead of silicon caulking (or plumber's putty) around the base of the faucet, then install the escutcheon and the faucet handles.
Installing a top mounted faucet follows a similar process, with a couple of small differences. Lay down your bead of plumber's putty or silicon caulk before you place the faucet into the sink openings. Since you'll be working underneath the sink, it's easier if you have someone working up top to align the faucet and hold it, while you use a wrench to tighten the mounting nuts.
Once the faucet is firmly attached to the sink, reinstall your water feed lines, and turn the water back on and check for leaks. Clean up any plumber's putty or silicon caulk around the faucet itself before it has a chance to set up.
One final job before you're finished. Take off the aerator from your new faucet, turn on the tap and let water run for a couple of minutes. This will flush out anything that might be inside the faucet left over from the manufacturing process and ensure your new faucet runs clean. You've installed your brand new faucet.
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