Overhaul Your Kitchen Sink Area with an Easy Faucet Upgrade
If your kitchen faucet is outdated, leaking, or just plain ugly, overhauling it with an easy faucet upgrade can make a world of difference.
Replacing old, worn-out kitchen fixtures with new, modern ones instantly overhauls the space, making it feel clean, fresh, and renewed. Best of all, it's a straightforward DIY project even for total novices.
Step 1: Choose the Right Faucet
Choosing the correct replacement faucet is key to a smooth overhaul. Consider the existing number of mounting holes in your sink, the faucet style that best suits your needs, finish, flow rate, and special features.
Key Considerations
Start by inspecting the number of pre-drilled holes in your sink to determine compatible replacement options. Standard sinks have 1-3 holes, but some older or custom styles have 4 holes or more. If you have a non-standard sink, you may need to drill new holes or use a deck plate to cover unused ones.
Next, decide which faucet type best matches your workflow. The most common varieties are high arc, pull-down, and pull-out. High arc faucets have the tallest spouts for filling pots or washing large items. Pull-down and pull-out faucets feature spray wands that extend your reach.
Finish is another big factor, as you'll want an appearance that aligns with your kitchen's overall aesthetic. Most faucets come in chrome, stainless steel, black, white, bronze, or matte.
Top Brand Recommendations
Stick to reputable faucet brands like Delta, Moen, Kohler, American Standard, and Pfister when choosing replacement models for reliability and availability of parts down the road.
Moen and Delta lead with exceptional products known for durability, features, and innovation. Kohler offers a wide spectrum from affordable to luxury-level options. American Standard is known for traditional styling, while Pfister tends to be budget-friendly.
Budget and Value Picks
If working with a tighter kitchen upgrade budget, Pfister, Premier, and Kingston Brass make quality faucets under $100. Or if you want to splurge on a high-end designer faucet, names like Sonoma Forge, Waterstone, and California Faucets have gorgeous artisanal options starting around $500.
Step 2: Prepare for Installation
With your new faucet selected, shift your focus to getting your workspace set up by turning off the water supply and covering the cabinet floor for protection.
Turn Off Water Supply
Locate the angle stop valves under your sink that control the hot and cold water supply lines. Turn the handles clockwise until tight to prevent water from spraying out when you remove the old faucet (lefty loosey, righty tighty). Test by opening the faucet briefly to make sure your water is fully shut off.
Organize Workspace
Clear out the area under your sink and lay down a protective plywood covering to catch any drips and protect your cabinet floor. Have an empty bucket handy to control unexpected water, along with all your necessary plumbing tools for the project.
Step 3: Remove Old Faucet
With your workspace protected and water supply halted, it's time to get into the nuts and bolts of safely removing your outdated kitchen faucet.
Detach Faucet Hardware
Start by detaching the sprayer hose, followed by the hot and cold water supply lines at the angle stops, catching any water leakage in your bucket. Then from below, unscrew the mounting nuts and bolts to fully detach and lift out the old faucet and rings.
Clean Sink Surface
Use a non-abrasive cleaning pad and putty knife to thoroughly scrape and clean the sink surface area around the faucet holes. Remove any old putty or grime so the new faucet can form a solid watertight seal.
Now you have a blank slate to work with for your kitchen upgrade!
Step 4: Install New Faucet
Installation is where your hard work pays off as you finally get to mount your functional and beautiful faucet upgrade (with maybe some new accessories too).
Secure Mounting Hardware
Double check that the base of your new faucet properly aligns with your sink's hole configuration. Hand tighten the nuts and bolts from under the sink deck to secure in place, then finish tightening with a wrench for stability.
Connect Water Supply Lines
Attach the flexible supply tubes from your new faucet to the angle stop valves under your sink, using pipe tape to prevent leaks and ensure a watertight seal. Make sure the tubes don't kink or twist.
Leak Check
Turn your water supply back on and visually inspect all connections for leaks. Fix any drips immediately with an extra wrap of pipe tape. Once satisfied, open the faucet handle to flush out any debris and test functionality.
Attach Additional Parts
If your faucet includes any additional parts like a side sprayer or soap dispenser, now is the time to mount them according to manufacturer instructions, completing your upgraded fixture.
Step 5: Ongoing Faucet Care
Put the final touches on your kitchen's easy faucet facelift by familiarizing yourself with proper maintenance to keep it looking fabulous.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Get in the habit of periodically wiping down your faucet using only gentle dish soap, warm water, and soft microfiber cloths to clean the surface. Also remember to descale the aerator and clear out any mineral buildup internally.
Catching drips early and fixing them before they worsen prevents water damage and leakage issues down the road. So stay vigilant.
Know When to Call a Pro
While DIY faucet replacement and minor repairs are totally doable, certain circumstances do require a professional plumber's skills. This includes installing a touchless or commercial-grade faucet, dealing with hard water buildup, or if you have leaks in the supply lines or valve connections.
When in doubt, call for backup to prevent flooding disasters!
As you can see, overhauling your outdated kitchen faucet truly takes minimal time and effort while instantly providing a refreshed appearance. By following our step-by-step guidance and recommendations, even novices can achieve a successful faucet upgrade.
We hope these instructions give you the confidence boost needed to just go for it! Soon you'll be enjoying an updated, functional kitchen faucet that makes meal prep and cleanup more pleasant.