DIY Projects – Home Improvement – DIYfuse.com

Saving money in this day and age is very important. Many people have learned that doing something themselves is not only cost effective but also far faster than trying to track down a professional.

Over the years it has become easier to fix the simple things that go wrong around the home. This is thanks to the “big box” retailers that are bringing prices down and offering just about anything that the DIY consumer may need. However, tackling these jobs means that you must get the proper information before you start the project.

In this piece we will be discussing the proper method for installing a faucet in either a kitchen or bathroom sink. This is one of the many projects that anyone can do with a bit of simple knowledge and some easy to find tools.

If you want to pay someone to do the job for you that’s fine, but just keep in mind that it will cost you roughly $50-$100 to fix a leaky faucet, and approximately $200+ dollars to install a new faucet including parts and labor. Either of these jobs is usually 15-45 minutes.

Still, you must ensure that you are following all of the steps correctly. Those that choose to skip ahead or take shortcuts will end up losing money on costly repairs that could have been avoided with just a little patience.

To start with you are going to need to get the proper faucet. Selection is key for not only a good fit but also proper function. While most of the faucets on the market are universal, there are some that require special sinks to fit.

Now we come to the area of cost. Many believe that getting the cheapest product is the best, while the other side is getting the most expensive. Neither of these schools of thought is correct. You need to get the faucet that is right for you.

First you need to look at the features. Do you want a single control or dual? What about material? And of course one should check the warranty of the product.

Once you have found the features that you want you should select a faucet based on the warranty. The cheaper the faucet the shorter the warranty period which can mean that you are spending more money in just a couple of years. The higher end models, while more costly, normally have a lifetime warranty, thus saving you money.

Now you will need to make sure that you have the proper tools. A small pipe wrench and a good pair of pliers are essential to this job. If you do not own these tools purchase them with the faucet.

You are now ready to begin the project. First you need to turn off the water. In some homes there are individual shut off valves for each pipe. If so they will be located under the sink on the pipes. Other homes offer only one main shut off.

Once the water is off you need to start by removing the old faucet. This is accomplished by removing the coupling from each individual pipe. For this you will use the pipe wrench. Ensure that you are turning only the coupling. If the pipe also starts to turn use the pliers to hold the pipe in place while you turn the coupling.

Once you have disconnected the pipes you will need to remove the retaining nuts for the faucet. Not all faucets use these. On the bottom of the faucet you will find these, attached to long stems. Remove each and then pull off the old faucet.

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