Quick Tips For Plumbing Your Bathroom Sinks

Plumbing a bathroom sink can be an intimidating prospect for many homeowners. But, if you remember a few basics, it may get you through the job with minimum stress.

Start by gathering all possible supplies. Include at the bare minimum, Teflon tape, towels, a bucket for draining pipes, tools to loosen and tighten fittings, and the parts you intend to replace.

Turn off the water supply at the wall. This can mean turning the shut-off knob a 1/4 turn, or a 1/2 turn, or several full turns to screw in the fitting. DOUBLE CHECK by turning on the faucet, HOT and COLD. If the water continues to run strong, the shut-off is NOT SHUT OFF! If it runs for a few seconds then slows to a stop, it was emptying what was left in the supply tubes and the water will stop flowing.

Once the water has drained to a stop, you can begin to undo the faucet. REMEMBER GRAVITY WORKS! The pipes, supply tubes, will still have some moisture. Start by loosening the supply tube from the bottom of the faucet. Be prepared for some water to still leak out of them when they are undone by turning them over into a bucket. When the supply tubes are disconnected, there should be some kind of wing nut or bolt holding the faucet to the sink. Remove these, and the faucet should lift off the top of the sink.

The next important tip is to remove the putty and debris from the old faucet. Prepare the area to be as clean and dry as possible, so that the new faucet will have a good surface to adhere to when it is installed. Place the new faucet into the pre formed holes, and attach the bolts underneath. Be sure to follow the directions that come with the new faucet - some will call for plumbers putty to be put underneath - others will come with a rubber ring that will form a sufficient seal.

Place Teflon tape on the threads on the hot and cold sides of the faucet, and reattach the supply tubes to them.
Turn the water supply back on slowly, and then turn on the faucet slowly. The water should sputter back on because there will be air in the lines to be pushed out. When the water is flowing smoothly, allow it to flow for a full minute to wash out any sediment in the lines.

Now you are finished! You have successfully changed the faucet in your sink - and hopefully did not flood the bathroom! Clean up your supplies, and go celebrate a job well done by washing your hands with your new faucet!