Why We Should Do It Ourselves
Few things in this world generate as much notoriety as the kitchen faucet. It is the kitchen’s central eye catcher, and it is often the center of family feuds. It is a type of cabinet that is used at least a hundred times a day, and everyone has an opinion on how it should be installed. In fact, it is very common for everyone in the family to have a different idea on the location. And that’s just for the location of the faucet. Don’t forget the type of faucet, the finish, or the style.
Before you go out to purchase the kitchen faucet, you have to decide if it is the right time for a change. You have to determine if you can handle the installation yourself. If not, then it is time to find a plumber.
You should only hire a plumber if you have no idea how to install a kitchen faucet. You rely on the plumber to solve your faucet problems and get them fixed. If you know how to go about it, then it is the right time for the job.
Things to Consider Before the Installation.
Kitchen Sink Location
Your faucet will identify and influence your kitchen’s overall themes. Before you make any purchases, it is important to pick a location for your sink.
Kitchen Faucet Installation Costs
While it may be tempting to head to the hardware store to get a brand new faucet, it’s usually a better idea to look online for the best kitchen faucet install.
You can find amazing faucets for much cheaper than you think, and you might actually get a better one than you would find in a store.
Of course, no one wants to just head online and buy something without any information. This is where we step in. Below, we have a great guide that will teach you the process of installing a kitchen faucet.
We assume that you already have a handle on the basics of removing an old faucet, because, if you don’t, there are probably bigger problems in your life than installing a new faucet for your kitchen. 🙂
Here is what this guide is going to teach you:
- The pieces and parts of faucets
- How to determine the right faucet for your kitchen
- What you need to have in your emergency kit
- How to install faucets step-by-step
- How to fix leaky kitchen faucets
- Why it’s important to regularly maintain your faucet
Things To Consider Prior To Installation
You can opt for one of the ultra-tall options available and still turn around the clock and show off their wall art.
Before you start out to install your new kitchen faucet, you need to consider the following factors.
Wall and Countertop Height
It is no surprise that tall faucets are lovely, but they can also be hazardous. If you opt for a tall kitchen faucet, you would need to make sure that the splash protection feature is in place if there are kids in the house.
The right height of a faucet is usually about 36 inches. This means that the bottom of the spout should be about 36 inches off the countertop at a height of 48 inches.
What Supplies You Have Available
Instead, look for a faucet with a high arch and a very short neck.
Most of the kitchen faucets that you will find in the stores will come with all the hardware that you need. The only thing you will probably need is a pair of pliers for tightening the nuts inside the faucet body.
Above all, the two most common types of faucets are the single-handle type and the type with multiple handles.
Make Sure You Have Your Tools:
Originally, I was going to put a step-by-step guide for this on the list, but I just watched a DIYer video on YouTube, and it was basically the same steps, just a bit more in depth. The only thing I recommend adding to this list, besides the regular tools you would have when doing any sort of plumbing job, is a rubber mallet. Like with the garbage disposal, it makes hitting the thing till it’s in place a lot easier.
Steps on How to Install a Kitchen Faucet
Nowadays, even the simplest of plumbing jobs can be tricky. Technology is always coming out with new advances, and many of our existing products are designed to be hard to repair. Since this job is basically a re-attach of your existing faucet, you only need to swap out the O-ring and handle.
Before you begin, you should place a plastic or wooden board below the sink. This protects the sink basin from possibly having scratches or chips.
You also need to turn off the water supply and drain down. Since your faucet will be attached to the supply and drain hoses, you need to separate them from your faucet.
To do this, you will need to finish the job with a wrench, but not before you separate the hoses, let the water drain, and then loosen the nuts that connect the hoses to the faucet.
The part that connects the water supply to the faucet can be tricky, so make sure to hold onto the nut with a wrench.
Once you are finished, you will need to reconnect your hoses, and turn the water supply back on.
To finish, you will need to tighten the water valve by hand and then put the whole mechanism back together.
Others Things to Consider for Faucet Installation
You’ve got your new faucet home and want to install it. This job mostly requires a wrench and a screwdriver to tighten the screws. Make sure you get the faucet in the right place before you tighten it down. You should adjust the faucet so that the handle is parallel with the front edge of the sink.
The only thing you might need is a pair of pliers to remove the old faucet.
This is for a basic model if you are upgrading to a new faucet, you want to make sure you have all the best tools for the job. When shopping for tools, you want to make sure that they are all rated for at least 200 psi of pressure. This is mostly for the pipe wrench which you will use to tighten the faucet to the sink.
Conclusion
You've gotten this far. Now you've installed everything. It’s time to clean up.
Believe it or not, getting organized as soon as a project is complete can save you a lot of work in the end.
This is especially true for things like designating a trash bin in a bedroom for “project trash” or even sweeping up all those scraps and keeping them in a container until you’ve saved up enough to be disposed of.
Organized cleaning is a habit best learned young. Think about it like this – you will be cleaning up your mess as you go. If you wait until the last minute, you’re going to have to clean that pile of mess before you do anything else.
If you're feeling really ambitious, this is a great time to start implementing some of those organizational systems you picked up earlier. Get a bin for fasteners and hardware or put them all back into their packages.
Anything you can do to get ready for the next project will really make the whole process a lot smoother for you.
THANK YOU!!!
Thanks so much for purchasing my book. I really appreciate it. You can go ahead and start reading the next chapter now: “The Dos and Don’ts of Organizing Teachers”.