An easy and affordable way to give your kitchen a fresh look is by updating your kitchen faucet. Learn how to replace your faucet and spruce up your kitchen with our step-by-step guide. Please be advised that this article is for general informational purposes only. We recommend you follow the installation manual provided with your Gerber® faucet and/or seek professional support for assistance.
Tools and Materials Needed
Before you get started, make sure you have the following tools and materials prior to removing your faucet:
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- An adjustable wrench
- A long Phillips head screwdriver
- Silicone sealant or caulk
- Pipe tape or plumber’s tape
- A heavy-duty cleaner
- A putty knife or scraper
- Safety glasses or goggles
Optional materials include a bucket, towel, flashlight, and gloves.
How to Remove a Kitchen Faucet
Now that you have all of your tools and materials, it’s time to remove your kitchen faucet.
Turn Off Water
Your first step is to turn off the water. Locate the hot and cold water valves under the sink and turn them clockwise to close. Typically, the left valve is hot, and the right valve is cold.
Disconnect Water Supply
Next, you’re going to disconnect the water supply. First, ensure your water valves are completely closed. Your lines are connected to their corresponding valves with a threaded nut. Turn each nut counterclockwise with an adjustable wrench to remove them and disconnect the lines. Remember—righty tighty, lefty loosey.
Detach Old Kitchen Faucet
Now it’s time to remove your old kitchen faucet. Look for the nut holding your faucet’s mounting hardware in place against the underside of your sink. Use your adjustable wrench to loosen the nut. If the nut doesn’t budge, use a lubricant or penetrating oil to give the nut some slack. When the hardware is completely detached, remove the faucet from the mounting hole. The faucet should easily lift out of the mounting hole once detached.
Clean Around Seal
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Once you’ve removed the old faucet, you’ll probably notice a bunch of gunk built up where the faucet was fastened. Don’t be alarmed—this muck is normal due to seal disintegration and repeated use. Remove this residue with a putty knife and follow with a heavy-duty cleaner, such as a Magic Eraser, to ensure the surface is completely clean.
Not all cleaners are safe for countertops, sinks, and your skin. Make sure you are choosing a non-toxic cleaner free from unsafe chemicals like chlorine, ammonia, or potassium hydroxide.
Installing Your New Kitchen Faucet
Don’t wipe that elbow grease away just yet—now’s the fun part. The following steps detail how to install a Gerber single-handle, pull-down kitchen faucet.
Step 1 (Optional): Install the Cover Plate
Depending on your current configuration, up to four holes in your countertop were used for your previous faucet. If you’re replacing a two-handle faucet with a single-handle faucet, you will want to install the cover plate with your faucet. Also called a deck plate, your cover plate is an escutcheon that can be used to cover any extra holes in your countertop. Apply silicone sealant to the gasket of the cover plate before aligning and placing it in the center of your faucet line’s holes. After completing this step, you can feed your faucet lines through the secured cover plate.
Step 2: Feed the Faucet Lines
Feed the faucet lines into the mounting hole (for single handle) or holes (for two handle sinks).
Step 3: Install Hardware Under the Sink
Now it’s time to venture under the sink.
Install your faucet’s washers and nuts. All faucets are different, so refer to your product’s installation manual for specific mounting instructions.
Step 4: Secure the Faucet to the Sink
Secure your new faucet to the underside of your sink by tightening the screws using a long Phillips head screwdriver. You might need a second person to help align the faucet from above while you tighten the faucet below the sink. It may also be helpful to have a flashlight for extra light under the sink.
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Attach the Spray Hose to the outlet tube using the Quick Connect fitting – push together until you hear it click.
Once in place, secure the Grip Lock™ weight to your spray head hose.
Step 5: Connect the Faucet’s Water Supply Lines
Connecting your faucet’s water supply lines is easier than you think.
Start by identifying your hot and cold supply lines, which are color-coded with red and blue threads. Wrap the water supply inlets with plumber’s tape twice around the threads.
Screw on the nut of each supply line with your hands and tighten the nuts completely with an adjustable wrench.
Step 6: Test for Leaks
You don’t want any surprise leaks, so observe your lines as you turn the water supply back on. If there is a slight leak, turn off the water and use your adjustable wrench to tighten the connections until the leak subsides.
Step 7: Clear the Lines
Once you’ve finished installing your brand-new faucet, you’ll want to clear your lines of any debris. To do this, unscrew your faucet aerator or spray head and turn your water on full blast for 30 to 60 seconds. This will help dislodge and clean out any dirt or debris caught in your lines.
Step 8: Replace the Aerator or Sprayhead
After you’ve let your water run for about a minute, you can replace your aerator or spray head and enjoy your shiny, new faucet!
Upgrade Your Kitchen With a New Gerber Faucet
Replacing your kitchen faucet is a breeze. All you need is a little know-how and some help from the Gerber team. Give your kitchen the makeover it deserves, and find the right faucet for you.
Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Kitchens
