How to Fix Leaky Kitchen Faucet

Your home is quiet at night, not a sound on the streets; just dogs barking somewhere in the distance. No, this is not some scary movie. I'm just narrating the scenario about the time when I found out that my kitchen faucet was leaking. It is a hassle to get special time out so that you can fix leaky faucet. Fixing a leaky kitchen faucet is necessary not only to get some peace of mind, but also for saving some money on getting a new faucet. For that, you need to get yourself a new kitchen faucet replacement kit that contains all the necessary parts. The kit will also include a mounting hardware to stop the leak forever. Let's not waste any more time, and see how to fix the faucet.

When a Leaky Faucets Requires a Fix

Before we begin, let's take a look at the necessary tools you'll be needing for fixing a kitchen faucet. Materials needed for the job are kitchen faucet replacement kit, adjustable wrench, flat-head screwdriver, plumbing putty, and old cloths.

Step #1: First of all, turn the water supply to the kitchen off. Some sinks will have their own turn-off valve. Find the valve and turn it off. Or perhaps you will have to turn the entire house's water connection off.

Step #2: With a wrench, completely open the faucets and let the extra water come out of the pipes. Wipe the excess water and you will have a dry area to work in. Find the screw(s) that have kept the faucet in place and see if you will require a flat-head screwdriver or some other screwdriver to open it.

Step #3: Loosen the screw(s) and try not to damage the sink or the counter top area. Place the old cloths on and around the faucet as they will work as cushions, so that the screwdriver won't harm it in any way.

Step #4: Take the old faucet set out and clean the area properly. Inspect the area to see if any pipes need to be fitted or cleaned and the water lines demand any repair.

Step #5: Bring the new faucet out of its package. Read the instructions that came with the kit and see if you need to perform some pre-installation assembly before fixing a leaky faucet.

Step #6: With the plumbing putty, smear ¼ inch of it close to the base of the new faucet. Push the new faucet into the old holes and the plumbing putty will work its magic of sealing it.

Step #7: If your new faucet requires you to install the screw covers or bolts (over the end of screws), then slide under the sink and install it along with the washers. Tighten the washers and screw covers or bolts till the base so it can hold your new faucet properly.

Step #8: Follow the installation instructions that came with the new faucet on fitting the hot and cold water lines correctly (if you have two different temperature connections). Turn the water on and slowly turn the handle(s) till the end. This will let you know if the pressure and flow is correct rather than high splashing water going everywhere. If everything seems right, that's the end of it.

It's not really difficult to actually get the job done, especially when you have the right tools and attitude to finish the job. All it needs is a little bit of patience and basic handyman (or woman) skills. Try not to over-tighten the screws or bolts because they might break or harm the area near the fasteners. Stop tightening them till you are sure that the new faucet is secured and attached to the sink comfortably. As a last step, wiggle it a little to check if it doesn't move and is in its correct place.