How to Remove Kitchen Faucet

It is normal for your kitchen sink faucet to leak after a considerable period of time. The main causes of this are high usage and constant contact with water. It gets very irritating and annoying to have a leakage in your faucet, as you constantly need to keep cleaning the water dropping out from your sink. It also runs up your water usage bill. But if you know how to remove and replace the kitchen faucet, you can easily get yourself out of this kitchen cleaning chore.

Removing the Kitchen Faucet

Step 1
Before proceeding, remove everything out from the cabinet under the kitchen sink. You will find two water supply pipes connected to the sink from the lower floor. Identify the hot water line, and do a marking on it to facilitate the process of removing the faucet and also in the installation of a new one.

Step 2
Below both the water supply lines, you will find a crank which controls water supply to your sink. Rotate it clockwise to turn off water supply to the sink. Also ensure there is no water left in the pipes, by turning the faucet on and let the water in the pipes to drain out.

Step 3
You will then have to remove, both the water supply lines, by unscrewing the nuts which connect the faucet tubes and water supply lines. Adjustable wrenches and pliers should help you do this. If you are finding it difficult to remove the nuts, use a lubricant to loosen them up a little bit.

Step 4
Next, you need to remove the sprayer. Under the sprayer handle or faucet, you will find a sprayer hose. Use your hands to loosen the hose and then use pliers to unscrew the connecting nuts from both ends of the hose.

Step 5
There are mounting nuts present on both sides of the faucet base and under the sink on the back side. If you find one-piece plastic nuts at these places, use your hands to rotate and remove them. In case there are metal nuts, you will have to remove them using an adjustable wrench or pliers.

Step 6
Now, just hold the faucet and pull it away from the sink. Under the faucet base, you might come across a rubber gasket. Take it out and thoroughly clean the place around all three holes. Also, with the help of steel wool, remove dirt from the threads of water supply connectors.

How to Remove the Faucet Handle

To begin with, turn off any water supply to the kitchen faucet. Your handle will have only one retaining screw at its base, so remove it with the help of a screwdriver. If the screw is covered with a cap, pry it off and then remove the screw. Lift the handle upside towards you, to separate it from the faucet assembly. You can then attach the replacement handle by reversing the process, or take the handle for repairs.

Removing the Faucet Cartridge

After you have shut out water supply to your faucet, follow the procedure discussed above, to remove the kitchen handle. After the handle has been removed, take a large wrench and loosen the nut at the bonnet. This will make it easy for you to just pull the cartridge out from the kitchen faucet assembly. In case it is not coming off easily, try twisting it. Once you have the faucet cartridge with you, take it to a nearby hardware store and purchase the exact replacement pieces from there.

After learning how to remove kitchen faucet, handle and cartridge, you should try it yourself. It will hardly take you some minutes. You will be amazed to find out how simple the process is and how easily you managed to save a few bucks, which otherwise would have gone to the plumber.