For a big impact with a small investment for your bathroom or kitchen, consider changing the faucet! It’s a super easy, relatively low-cost improvement, that in some cases, can totally change the look and feel of your space!
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It is Time to Replace Your Faucet
Is it time to replace a faucet in your kitchen or bathroom? While some people may think that it is a challenge replacing a leaky or outdated faucet isn’t always as difficult as you may think. You can easily tackle the project with a basin wrench and a few other common tools. Usually, it will only take about an hour. The same steps will apply if you are installing a new faucet onto a new sink.
Removing the old faucet:
Step 1: Turn off the water supply. The valves are typically under the sink. If not, turn the water off at the main valve. Then turn on the faucet to relieve any water pressure left in the lines.
Step 2: Disconnect the supply lines from the faucet. Use a basin wrench if you can’t reach the connections with your hands.
Step 3: Disconnect the lift rod, and then remove the nuts from under the faucet.
Remove the drain:
Step 4: Unscrew the slip nut on the P-trap. Put a bucket underneath to catch water in the trap.
Step 5: Disconnect the drain flange from the tailpiece. It should unscrew.
Step 6: Clean the old drain and faucet holes. Mineral spirits can help to remove old silicone sealant.
Install the New Faucet:
Step 7: Follow the manufacturer’s directions for specific installation instructions. Most installations begin with installing the gasket on the bottom of the faucet. Some require sealant of plumber’s putty. Then put the faucet through the mounting holes in the sink and tighten the mounting nuts.
Step 8: Not all faucets come preassembled, so you may have to attach the handles. It is relatively easy. Slip the guide ring onto the bottom of the handle, position it on the faucet base, and secure with the setscrew. A setscrew is a tiny screw on the underside of the handle. Your faucet probably came with a hex wrench to tighten it.
Step 9: Next move onto the drain. Screw the nut all the way down on the drain body and push the gasket over it. Some gaskets are threaded and simply screw into place.
Step 10: Apply just a little bit of silicone under the flange. Position the drain body on the bottom of the sink- making sure the pivot hole is facing the back- and screw the flange on from the top side.
Step 11: Underneath, tighten the nut and gasket. On the top, use mineral spirits to clean up excess silicone.
Step 12: Install the drain rod next. Unscrew the pivot nut on the drain body, insert the horizontal rod through the hole in the stopper, and replace the nut. Push the horizontal rod down and secure the lift rod to the strap with the screw. Test the lift rod.
Step 13: Reconnect the supply lines to the faucet. If your sink is already in place, use a basin wrench to reach the faucet shanks.
Step 14: Flush the faucet by removing the aerator. This gets rid of debris or sediment in the faucet. Some faucets include a handy little tool to unscrew the aerator. When you’re done, keep it inside your vanity or with the rest of your tools. Turn on the hot and cold water for about a minute. Check all of the connections for leaks and retighten if necessary. Screw the aerator back on and you are done.
If you are in the market for a new kitchen or bathroom faucet, contact us at Plumbtile and we can help you pick from many options of quality kitchen and bathroom faucets for your home.
Choosing Your Kitchen Faucet
Kitchen Faucet
In most households, the kitchen is one of the most prominent rooms. It’s not just where food preparation happens. Often it’s where the eating occurs too, and where people tend to congregate.
If you’re having guests over, the kitchen is usually a focal point of the socializing. So it makes sense that people want to make sure everything in that room is perfect. This is especially true for the faucet, which could be said to be the centerpiece of the kitchen.
Before you purchase a new faucet, then, read the guide below for help in picking one you’ll be happy to use and proud to show off.
How to have your home be more Sustainable
Sustainability is a big buzzword these days, but what exactly does it mean? Sustainability means meeting your current needs without having a negative impact on the needs of future generations. It also requires you to make environmentally-conscious choices about the way you live. It’s not really plausible for most of us to have a completely sustainable home — one that uses only nature’s infinite resources with no affect on the environment around us. But fortunately, there are some measures you can take to make your home more sustainable.
Your choices as a consumer greatly affect the sustainability of your home. Using rechargeable batteries limits the waste of items that often can’t be recycled. Buying paper products made with recycled content continues the chain of sustainability. Better yet, lose the paper towels and use a washable cloth. Biodegradable trash bags and cups are made of corn that dissolves over time, adding one less type of plastic to our landfills. And energy/water saver appliances can all help contribute to a more sustainable way of living.
In this particular blog we are going to highlight a particular brand that we at Plumbtile are proud to provide; California Faucets takes water sustainability very seriously! Read more below.
Designer Spotlight : Hansgrohe
Do you often find yourself worrying about the stress of your day while you shower? Do you find yourself listing all of the things that have to be done, and the things that didn’t go as planned as the water falls all around you? Maybe it’s time for a different shower experience. With Hansgrohe, your daily shower can be the most relaxing part of your day.
How to Install a Dishwasher Air-Gap Kit
A clog in your kitchen sink drain could cause dirty water to back-flow into the dishwasher and contaminate the inside of the washer tub. Some municipalities require you install an air gap between your dishwasher and garbage disposal or sink drain to avoid such an occurrence. You can install an air gap in a single afternoon without the help of a plumber. Dishwasher air gap kits are available with everything needed for the air gap, but not the additional hose required to attach the gap to either the sink drain or the disposal.
How to Update Your Kitchen With the Newest Trends
Looking to update your kitchen with improvements that will make your friends and family gasp in astonishment? The latest kitchen trends will put you on the fast track to exactly that reaction. Continue reading →
Installing a Kitchen Faucet and Side Sprayer
Adding new kitchen fixtures, such as a faucet, can be an easy and inexpensive way to update your kitchen. If you are a handy person you can easily install the kitchen faucet yourself. Just follow these steps and in no time you will have a fresh and updated kitchen. Before starting on this project be sure to read the instructions given from the manufacturer and take any requested actions. Continue reading →
GO GREEN, Save the Environment and Freshen Up Your Kitchen
Why Change the Kitchen Faucet
As more and more people decide not to move and instead remodel their existing homes, they don’t realize that they can start small and add value by simply replacing the faucets in their kitchens and bathrooms. Adding something simple such as a faucet gives the look of a newer kitchen, while at the same time, saving cost and the environment through lower water usage. Most people don’t even realize how easy it is to replace their kitchen faucet. After picking one out, such as these examples from Brizo… Continue reading →
Let's Go Organic…in the Kitchen
It’s Green Monday once again!
We will never get tired of spreading awareness about our environment as well as providing our readers with the latest trends in green design.
Do you know what 2013 will bring to the world of kitchen design? Organic. That’s right, warm, earthy gourmet spaces. Mixing wood, slate, stone, and other rustic materials with industrial pieces.
Terry Mulligan of Yahoo gives us the latest trend in kitchen design:
Earthy Colors
Greens, blues, grays, browns, yellows, reds — these colors will be making a grand appearance in kitchens across the country. Whether on painted, weathered cabinets or handmade, upcycled tile, earthen colors will warm up our cooking spaces like never before. All shades are fair game, unless they glow neon. Stick to what you find in nature, and you’ll be right in style.
Organic Wood Cabinets
Instead of traditionally styled, stained, and glazed cabinets with fancy millwork, look for a more understated display of rustic wood on cabinet surfaces. Spalted maple or natural birch drawer fronts will be mixed with clean, industrial-styled cabinet doors and brushed stainless steel. And this year, austere shaker cabinets will be reinvented in many ways. It will be a welcome, yet unusual departure from the kitchens of the last 10 years.
Wood, Stone, or Tile Counters
Granite may not be the material of choice for countertops anymore. Wood and stone like slate should dominate — then add tile tops and backsplashes with a handmade look and feel. It’s all about color and textures that make you feel at home and comfortable this year.
Materials in Their Natural Form
Anywhere you can use materials in their natural form, it’s time to do so. Exposed beams on walls and ceilings will add a rural touch in some kitchens. Wood counters will sport natural, unfinished edges in their shift to a more organic style.
Rustic Floors
Rustic floors will be the rage. Reclaimed wood or polished concrete with amazing stain work will pull the other organic elements of the room together. Slate floors will also be in demand over highly polished marble or tile. Yet even in their natural form, these floors will still be a work of art. Artisans will be lending their expertise to make them part of a unique and extraordinary kitchen design statement.
At Plumbtile, the leader in all things bathroom and kitchen design related products, we have a wide array of green products from counters, faucets, and even tiles that are that are made from renewable resources that have none to minimal impact on our environment.
Let’s GO GREEN in 2013!
PlumbTile features the largest collection of premium brand names including Alno, Jado, Hansgrohe, Herbeau, Phylrich, California Faucets, KWC, Newport Brass, Toto, Ginger, Americh & Zuma Tubs, Hastings, Sugatsune, Classic Brass & more.
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