Whether your old faucet is broken or you just want to spruce up your La Canada Flintridge home’s bathroom a bit, installing a new faucet is a relatively cheap and easy solution. It is one plumbing project that can be done via the DIY route, it takes only a few hours to do and it does not cost much.
Before you get started, make sure you have chosen the right type of faucet as a replacement. There are a few different kinds and you will want to replace the old sink with a similar kind in order to prevent problems and headaches during and after installation. If you’re unsure what kind you need, either consult the manual, take a picture to bring with you to the store or have a professional take a look at it.
Once you have the right faucet picked out, it’s time to get to work:
- As always, turn off the water supply. There should be shutoff valves for the hot and cold water supplies right underneath the sink to make it easy on you.
- Unscrew the drain collar from the drain rim. Making sure everything is clean, place the house in the center of the middle hole. Screw it in place with the mounting nut. Tighten it up with a basin wrench, but take care not to over tighten. This can crack the porcelain.
- To install the hot and cold valves, begin by loosening the mounting nut on one and removing it. Replace it with the corresponding new valve. Repeat on the other side.
- Screw the braided lines to the valves you just installed, as well as to the spout. Tighten with a wrench, but again take care not to over tighten.
- Secure the faucet handles onto the valves that you installed in step #3. Make sure to put each handle on the correct valve.
- Fit the supply lines. You may have to do some cutting if you are using rigid supply lines rather than braided ones.
- Assemble and connect the pop-up drain assembly. You may have to test and adjust it a few times in order to get the right fit when open and closed. Secure the rods in place.
- Turn the water back on and check for leaks. Turn on the faucet for a bit to flush out the system before using.
Your sparkling new faucet is all set! And if you run into any problems, give your local plumber a call.
