Replacing a kitchen faucet

[jimmyjazz]

Any tips on replacing a kitchen faucet? My mechanical skills are pretty much limited to knowing the difference between a screwdriver and a wrench. Am I in danger?

 

[Seattle Husker]

As someone who has taught myself how-to skills out of necessity and replaced multiple faucets I'd say yes, you are in trouble. First, those damn shutoff valves never work. I think I've replaced a dozen of them in 3 different houses due to leaking. To replace those you have to shutoff the water main to the house.

I've taught myself a lot of "fix-it" skills and by far the biggest pain in the *** is plumbing.

 

[cmvUT75]

Hardest thing to do in replacing a kitchen faucet will be breaking loose that large ring nut that holds the faucet apparatus to the sink (note that the original plumber tightened it with a nuclear powered torque wrench) ... of course, all work will have to be done from below the sink, where the room to do anything barely exists.

Also, Homer's Law sez that the more inexperienced you are at fixing something, the more trips you'll make to Home depot to correct whatever you screwed up.

 

[jimmyjazz]

I think I'll call my plumber. Thanks.

 

[random horn]

where's the fun in that?

 

[jimmyjazz]

The weird thing is, I'm a mechanical engineer, and I freakin' hate things like household maintenance. Problem is, I'm getting very cheap as I get older, and I thought I might be able to save $80 by doing it myself. Sounds like it's not worth the hassle.

 

[UT Fanatic]

I've done it before and NEVER AGAIN!

My checkbook is my best tool sometimes.

 

[Aces_Full]

Just had it done (by a buddy) recently. It basically took us a week, as we had to end up replacing the shut-off valves under the sink (they were old) and had to have the water dept. come out and cut off the water. Did that, but had a leak on one of the new valves. Replaced that (another round with water dept). Finally worked. Plumbing does suck, but calling out a plumber can get expensive fast.

 

[Holden]

I'm of a differing opinion - changed my first about a month and a half ago and found it very straightforward and easy. Changed another last weekend. You will need a crescent wrench, some plumbers putty, and thread tape. Agree with the cramped quarters, but otherwise one of those just-get-after-it-and-do-it jobs.

 

[Summerof79]

It's a pain because of the limited access. You can check the cutoff valves before hand simply by turning them off and opening the faucet. If it's leaking after an hour or sooner you wil have water trickling out of the open faucet. If the cutoff valves don't work and need replacing you may want to call a plumber.

Here's the main thing you need, a basin wrench

Without this tool it might indeed take a week. I also think you are nuts if you don't have a valve wrench to cut off your water main, but that's just me. The real secret is simply making sure to attach the new connction lines to the new sink before dropping it in!!!!

I would rather lay on my back with a $15 dollar tool than pay some tool $60 an hour to replace a kitchen faucet. I would buy a better faucet on Ebay with the money I was going to save

 

[rhg84]

I'm 23 and pretty handy and i replaced my moms a couple of months ago. Its not too bad, I had some issues but that was because the laminate countertop was warped. I also had to redo the plumbing because sink size were different. Go with the checkbook if your not handy because you never know what might pop up.