Before Replacing a Kitchen Faucet Avoid These Costly Errors

Replacing a kitchen faucet isn’t complicated. But rarely is it as trouble-free as what you read or watch in most “how-to” blogs and videos.

Many videos, for example, are usually done in an open space, like on a workbench. Naturally, that’s so the camera can get a good look at the process. The setup is spacious. The lighting is ideal. The “old” faucet used in the demo is usually mounted on wood or some material on top of the table. That faucet might look a bit tarnished to project an aged look, but it isn’t really old. 

Reality When Replacing a Kitchen Faucet Much Different from Videos

Of course this demo setup is ideal for the person demonstrating how to swap out the tarnished ‘old’ faucet for the shiny new faucet too.  He can stand upright the entire time!

The reality of what it’s really like to actually replace an old faucet with a new faucet is radically different.

First, an old kitchen faucet (or bathroom faucet) has had soap and water splashed on it for fifteen or twenty years so isn’t simply tarnished. In reality, an old faucet that needs to be replaced is usually practically welded onto the sink with mineral deposits that have been caked on with over fifteen to twenty years of real-world use. (Find out how to virtually eliminate mineral deposits and lengthen the life of faucets and other water appliances with water treatment systems.)

The space you have to work in — it’s nothing like a spacious workbench with great lighting. And you don’t get much stand-up time either. You’re usually laying on your back looking up inside a dark cubby hole beneath the sink.  

I’m not complaining. Just trying to explain the challenges of the real-world environment when changing out an old faucet with a new faucet. 

Having replaced a few hundred kitchen faucets over the past 30 plus years, I’ve learned a few things. I’m going to share the ones I believe most other blogs and videos gloss over or completely leave out.

Avoid Key Costly Errors When Replacing a Kitchen Faucet

When I say “costly” I’m not just describing immediate financial costs. Costs include wasted time when you don’t adequately prepare and costs in terms of frustrations that leads to stress. Actually, time, as the saying goes is money too. And stress can cut years from your life. I rank that as a high cost.

So since saving you money and reducing your stress are my key goals (read more here under “Affordable Plumber” heading) those are the primary areas I’ll cover here.

My primary objective is to point out the stumbling blocks most DIYers run into that cause frustrations and problems and how to you can avoid them. I know because many DIYers call me when they run into those blocks and need help. And that’s what I’m here for, to help you! So please keep my number handy if you get hung up at some point.

When I come to help, you get a bonus hands-on lesson in how to replace a faucet like a plumber. Then if you want to replace another faucet, a bathroom faucet for example, you’ll be able to do it like a pro. (Or to know you don’t want to tackle it yourself.)

Critical Steps Before Replacing a Kitchen Faucet

• 1. Know where your main water shut off valve is located and how to shut it off in an emergency. Make sure everyone in your home knows too. (read more on how to find and turn off your home’s main water valve). If your faucet’s stop valves were to break off or not function, you will need to quickly shut off the water at this main water shut off valve.
• 2. Inspect your faucet’s dedicated stop valves (also known as shut-off valves). They’re usually either straight or angled knobs made of metal that protrude a few inches inside the cabinet. 
• 3. These stop valves are critical because they’re used to shut off the water to only that faucet (or other water fixture) without needing to turn off the main water to the entire building. So if the stop valves are old, you’ll need to replace them before removing the old faucet. If they need to be replaced, add them to your shopping list.

Stop Valves are Vital – Inspect Them Before Replacing your Kitchen Faucet

There will be separate “stop valves” similar to the ones pictured above (also called “shut off valves”). They are located underneath the kitchen sink inside the cabinet. These valves are vital. If they’re old, it’s important to replace them before removing the old faucet.

How to Choose a Replacement Stop Valve

If you’re concerned about your old stop valves, replace them BEORE removing your old faucet.

• 4. When you go to the hardware store, be sure to purchase only REAL braided stainless steel supply lines – NOT the poly material that’s been woven to look like stainless steel.  

• 5. I recommend choosing an old-style multi-turn type of stop valve. The quarter turn stop valves were the latest and greatest some years back, but over time we learned that after about five years, they often break. After that time when you try to turn them off, the shaft breaks off and water pours out. 

Of course that can be a great video opportunity for family gatherings well into the future if someone thinks to bring out their cell phone and record the action. Everyone loves a video of grandpa screaming to shut off the water while he’s soaking wet, trying to crawl out from under a sink cabinet. So again, pay attention to Tip #1 and turn off the main water supply if it looks like you’ve got one of those old quarter-turn stop valves. And keep it off before replacing it with a new stop valve.

Choosing Your Replacement Faucet

• 6. Take photos of your current kitchen faucet and measurements of where the holes in the sink are located. Use those photos and measurement to guide you when go to buy a replacement faucet. You’ll be more likely to choose one that fits the first time. Select the faucet that has openings that align with those already in your sink or counter top. It should have the same number of spaces that fits your space and your needs. If your old sink or countertop has an extra space your new faucet doesn’t need, however, you can usually purchase a hole cover of the same material as the faucet.
• 7. If you decide you want your new faucet to have a pull-out spray that comes out of the faucet’s spout, choose one with a gooseneck that points downward rather than straight out. The ones that point straight out are famous for leaking. Those leaks at the head will run back into the cabinet without you being the wiser. By the time you find out it’s leaking, it’s usually too late. Then, you’ll need to call the mold remediation company.
• 8. Buy the highest-quality faucet within your budget. Higher quality will last longer and be less likely to leak. In my opinion, the gooseneck-type faucets that point down into the sink are usually a much better quality. Most high-quality faucets come with a lifetime warranty (for the original buyer).

Assemble the Tools Needed to Replace the Old Faucet With the New Faucet

• 9. You may want to delay shopping until you have all the necessary tools to replace your kitchen faucet. I’ve listed them here.

Inspect Everything Connected to the Kitchen Sink

When you are doing repairs in tight areas it’s helpful to give attention to all the issues in one swoop. So check out everything connected to the sink so you know exactly what your project will entail. This is a good time to remove everything that might need to replace in the near future so that you’ll have more working area inside the kitchen cabinet

Anything Else Need to Be Replaced Under the Kitchen Sink?

Inspect everything underneath your kitchen sink. Your work space is tight. Notice how the garbage disposal is inches from the stop valves? Does it or anything else need replacement in the near future? If so, add them to your shopping list. Removing an old garbage disposal, air vents or soap dispensers will free up more working space. Do it before replacing your kitchen faucet.

Replacing a kitchen faucet requires working in a tight space inside the sink cabinet. If items such as garbage disposal, soap dispenser, or air gap need replacement, now is a good time to pull them out to allow for more space to maneuver when installing a kitchen faucet.

• 10. Turn on the water and run the garbage disposal. Check if it’s leaking and look to see if it appears to be rusting. If so, add it to your shopping list. Then pull it out before replacing the kitchen faucet. That extra space will make your faucet replacement easier. You might as well get it out of the way so you can do the job with much less frustration.
• 11. If you are going to replace other items such as a new air gap or soap dispenser, add them to your shopping list. Then remove the old ones before installing the kitchen faucet.

There are two sets of stop valves under this kitchen sink. The lower set runs to the dishwasher. The top set is connected to the kitchen faucet. Inspect all of them to see if they need to be replaced.

If Stop Valves are Old and Need Replacement, Here’s How to Do It

After your shopping trip to the hardware store, find your new stop valves – if you decided you need to replace them. (Of course, if your old ones work great, keep them and skip this step.)

• 12. Before attempting to remove the old stop valves, turn off the main shut-off valve to your house . When it comes to water, you don’t want to take any chances.

Most of the calls I get to help a distressed homeowner are because of these old angle stops. Most folks just get stuck and can’t get the old angle stops removed. And believe me, they can be a real challenge to remove.

A trick to removing old stop valves

• 13. Here’s a tip I learned years ago by accident. Most stop valves are attached with a compression fitting which consists of a nut and a feral. The feral resembles a wedding band that slides over the pipe between the nut and the stop valve. The nut on a compression fitting is not really a heavy duty part of the stop valve. When you take a wrench and put pressure on it, the harder you push, the more it squeezes that nut against the valve. It makes it seem like it’s so tight that it will never come off. But here’s the trick. Don’t use the crescent wrench. Instead, use a pair of channel locks and put the teeth of the channel locks on the points of the nut. That way you can turn the nut without squeezing it. Most of the time you’ll be amazed at how easy it is to remove that way. If that doesn’t work, a little bit of heat from a torch should do the trick. Sometimes, though, it will need to be cut off. If so, after cutting it off solder a small piece of copper onto it to extend it out. Be sure to always use pipe dope on the threads. Even though compression fittings don’t require it, the dope makes the nut slide and turn more easily if it’s lubricated. It will also help you to seal the new stuff onto the old feral ring.

Ready to Remove the Old Kitchen Faucet

• 14. ALWAYS wear eye protection before starting to remove the old faucet. Your eyes will be directly below your work in a direct path. Rust from old nuts and screws will fall directly onto your face and eyes.

The challenge now is to remove the old faucet without damaging the sink and its surroundings. Sometimes even plumbers need to get creative. And this is a challenge most how-to articles and videos gloss over.

Old faucets are usually difficult to remove. Nuts and bolts are often rusted on, and the faucet fixture itself may be virtually welded on with years of mineral deposits.

If your kitchen countertop is natural stone, be cautious with WD40 or any other oil based lubricant. eep in mind that as you try to loosen up rusty and gummed up nuts and screws, be cautious with WD40 These products will permanently stain these natural surfaces. 

• 15. Do not use oil-based lubricants to loosen nuts and bolts or mineral deposits if your kitchen counter top or other surroundings is natural stone or concrete. Oil-based lubricants will permanently stain natural surfaces and be difficult to remove from concrete countertops. Instead, use plain water. Water works as a lubricant.

Remove nuts, bolts and hoses from the old faucet

Your head will be underneath the sink and behind the garbage disposal if you haven’t removed it to replace it later. Your face and eyes will be directly below rusty parts that may fall off onto your face. Be sure to wear eye protection!

• 16. Turn the nuts counter clockwise with your fingers until they come completely off.
• 17. After removing the nuts, pry off the retaining bracket that holds the faucet in place.
• 18. Remove all the old faucet’s parts from the base (including sprayer if one is separate)

Partial view of nuts and hoses connected to base that holds faucet and its components.

• 19. Turn the water supply line nuts counter clockwise until they come out. Wrap them in a towel and rest them inside a bowl to collect any remaining water.
• 20. After removing the old components and faucet, clean off any residue on the surface with soapy water and a blade.
• 21. A tip that’s rarely included in instructions for installing your new faucet: When installing any faucets or accessories by yourself, it’s helpful to have some tape to hold things down from the top while you work below. 
• 22. And anything with threads should be greased up a bit so everything spins freely and easily. It also makes it less prone to freezing up for the next repair job.  

Now You’re Ready to Follow the New Faucet Manufacturer’s Instructions

But BEFORE you commit to a DIY project like this one, please ask yourself a few questions:

Why do you want to do it yourself? Is it to save money?

Most of us want to save money. So that may be the first reason that comes to mind. If so, you might want to think it through a bit more. First, how much, if any, will you really save? For example:

• Do you have the right tools and supplies on hand or will you need to buy them?
• Do you have “a bad back” or other ailments that might require chiropractic or physical therapy from laying on your back and maneuvering in awkward positions? Or even cause you to miss your real work?

I guarantee you the best price. Yes, we really are the most affordable high-quality plumber in the area. And I guarantee my workmanship for ten years. Read here for other reasons to choose us.

Do you have the temperament to take on a DIY project that’s likely to be frustrating?

Do you have the time to do it yourself?

Time is the one resource we can never recoup. Whatever time it takes you to complete this project is time away from other activities or memories you can be making.

Is whatever money you might save by doing it yourself worth time away from family, friends, fun? For myself, time with family is dear to me and one of my core values. That’s why I’ve chosen to not have a 24 hour service business.

Do you want to do it yourself because you enjoy tackling a challenge?

So if you enjoy the challenge, are not easily frustrated, have a good back and the time to do it without sacrificing other more important activities — go for it!

But if you do get stuck, remember, you can always call me! Well, not always. You can always call me during normal business hours.

If you plan to do it yourself, do it during normal business hours.

That way, you’ll have a plumber there to help without an added after-hours fee.

I hope you’ve come to the conclusion that I’m the best plumber for you to call. If you need more reasons, read this section.

When you call me, you’ll have the added benefit of watching and learning as I go through the process of replacing your old kitchen faucet with your new faucet.

If You Are Replacing a Kitchen Faucet in Fallbrook, Temecula, Oceanside or Vista and need help … We’re here for you!

Call us for any plumbing service. Here’s where you’ll find a list of our most common plumbing services.

Why choose us? Read more about the benefits to you here.