Are you looking for replacing or installing a new bathroom sink faucet? But do not get tips on how to install your bathroom faucet? Then this article may be a mine for you to discover the installation basics of the bathroom faucet.
How To Install Your Bathroom Faucet?
You may be in need of a new makeover of your bathroom. Or your faucet and drain may be damaged somehow. Replacing a damaged or outdated faucet or drain is an easy task. Modern faucets come in different shapes and kinds. And they can be ensembled with the pieces of equipment we need for installation.
Before you run for your old plumber to replace a single-handle bathroom faucet and install a 3-hole bathroom faucet, or for any kind of faucet removal problems, please go through the whole article. You will get what you need to know about its types and how to remove or install your new bathroom faucet.
Identifying Bathroom Faucet Types
If you are going to install a new faucet and remove the old one, you should know how many holes are there in your sink already. Because drilling a new hole may cause damage to your sink.
Usually, there are 3 types of bathroom faucets- single-hole faucets, 4 inches 3-hole (triple) faucets, and 8 inches 3-hole (triple) faucets. And the difficulty level of installing or removing your bathroom faucet depends on what type and model you choose. Here are some types or examples of bathroom faucets-
Single Handle: It consists of a spout and a lever and needs only one hole to install.
Bridge: This type of faucet has a connecting pipe between the handles and spout. It offers a classic look to the bathroom, and requires two-hole for installation.
Deck Mount: It is installed directly on the counter. If there are no previous holes, then it is challenging to set up.
Widespread: It consists of two handles.
Wall Mount: This type of faucet sits on the wall behind the bathroom sink. It can consist of a single handle or double handle.
The Tools You Need
You should arrange the following essentials before replacing the bathroom faucet–
- Adjustable wrench
- Basin wrench, Allen wrench
- Pipe cutter
- Towels, one or two Buckets
- Silicon caulk
- Plumber’s putty
- New faucet
8 Steps To Install Bathroom Faucet
Some of the manufacturers give the assist with the package. You can look for that kind of brand. Otherwise, you have already given an assessment tool list to arrange. And, you should read the instruction on how to install this bathroom faucet of the corresponding brand along with the following basic steps. Let’s start!
Turn off Main Water Supply
You should start the installation process by turning off the main water supply line of the bathroom sink. Then open the faucet to drain all the remaining water from the pipeline.
Watch out under the bathroom sink. If there exist any obstacles, remove them and clear the space. Now get a bucket ready.
Disconnect The Old Lines and Pipes
If the new faucet is coming with a matching drain, then you must remove the old lines. Moreover, it is best to replace the old line when installing the new faucet.
Then find out the p-trap of the old faucet. It is a pipe under the sink connecting the faucet to the drain. Before disconnecting anything, place the bucket under the p-trap.
Now turn off the p-trap and disconnect the old supply line to the old faucet. You can use the adjustable or basin wrench for loosening the nuts and your hands to unscrew the rest.
Removing The Old Faucet and Drain
Unscrew the old faucet nut with an adjustable wrench and disconnect it. Okay, many of you want to know how to replace the bathroom faucet and drain? Well, underneath the sink you will get the nuts to loosen up. If it seems very difficult to you to loosen the nuts, then you may cut off the nuts instead.
Removing the drain is one of the complicated parts when we try to install a new one by replacing the old one. In this part, you should remove the clip and uproot the strap from the long bar behind the pipes and the sink. This will help you to turn the drain easily.
Then unscrew the nuts with a wrench and remove the drainpipe. You can also cut off the stubborn parts like pop-up-drain set up on the sink to install the new one.
Remove All Hardware and Clean
After removing the old faucet and all of its supply line, you should clean the holes with rubbing alcohol.
Install The New Faucet
Apply plumber putty or silicone caulk to the outline of the faucet and bottom of the gasket to ensure a good seal. Then take the gasket and glide it onto the proper place to be fixed. And put the supply line through the specific hole.
If it is needed to assemble the handles of your new faucet by yourself, check the instruction manual.
Install The Drain
If your drain is assembled with the faucet, separate it. And apply a small amount of silicone caulk or plumber putty under the sink flange. Then position it in the proper place and tighten the drain nuts using a basin wrench.
Fit the Faucet Handle and Drain Pipe, Rod: You should check the faucet handles. Are they sitting in the proper place or not? If it is needed an adjustment according to your new model faucet, then fit the handles onto the valves. You can hold the set screws with an Allen wrench.
After that, position the drain rod in its place. There is a small hole where you have to screw the drain pipe. For assembling the drain stopper and the rod you should use two washers.
After fitting everything here, test the stopper is open enough to drain the water out or not. If not, then do some required adjustments and make it fit. Then replace the spring clip and clevis strap. Now pull the drain rod through the holes and secure it using a screw.
Reinstall Supply Line
When you are done with installing the handle and drain the rod successfully, then reconnect the old supply line. Just do the reverse things as per the removal steps (connecting p-traps). You should upgrade your supply line if the old set up is too old in design.
Flush The Faucet and Check The Whole Set-Up
At last, double-check every setting and its fitting. And, then turn on the water supply line.
Remove the aerator from the nozzle and flush your new faucet. Moreover, check for leaks, if there are any.
If no leak is seen and all things are running good and fit, then congratulations! You have successfully installed your bathroom faucet.
FAQ:
Is It Difficult to Install a Bathroom Faucet?
- Installing your bathroom faucet is not a hard task as you might imagine. You have to read the manufacturer manual carefully and follow the basic steps I have discussed above. Do you know what is the best thing? You just need some common tools like an adjustable wrench, basin wrench, or pipe cutter. And it takes the utmost an hour to set up a bathroom faucet properly.
Do I Need to Caulk Around the Bathroom Sink Faucet?
- When you install a new faucet, it needs to seal tightly. And a good bead of silicone caulking provides a waterproof tight seal between the faucet and the sinkhole that prevent the water or any liquid from going behind the faucet.
Do You Need Plumbers Putty to Install a Faucet?
- Generally, a faucet comes with its own plastic or rubber gasket. If the faucet does not have its own gasket, then you should use plumbers putty for the sink drain.
How Much Does a Plumber Charge to Install a Bathroom Faucet?
- The charge of a Plumber varies depending on the type and brand of the bathroom faucet you have to set up. Including the removal of an old faucet and installing a new one with a supply line, a plumber may charge you $45 to 150$ per hour on average.
Final Thoughts
In this article, I have discussed the basic steps of how to replace your bathroom sink drain and facet, and how to install a new bathroom faucet. Before buying any kind of faucet you should check your current configuration first and the holes in your sink. If the configuration is an old one, then you should replace every possible part.
You have a wide range of choice options among various models and brands. And the important thing is never to forget to read the manufacturer’s assembled and installation instructions. Hope the above guideline will erase your difficulty when you will go to install your old or new bathroom faucet. Good Luck!