101s, Makeover, Repair

How To Replace a Bathroom Faucet

Replace Bathroom Faucet

Save $275 and only take about an hour of your time to change your bathroom faucet. Update the look of your bathroom vanity with only a few tools and some patience. This simple tutorial will help guide you through the process from picking out the correct faucet to installation.

Will it save me money?

Yes. As long as you don’t have plumbing to install or change, you can replace a faucet in about an hour. A professional will range from $114-$189 to install a new faucet. To replace the faucet, removing the old one and installing a new one, the cost for a professional can range from $225-$275+. DIY and just have the expense of the new faucet.


What is the difference between centerset and widespread?

The two standard configurations for a bathroom faucet are centerset or widespread. Centerset means the faucet handles and spout are all attached to a base. Widespread means that the handles and spout are separate from each other.


What does center to center mean?

When choosing a faucet it is imperative to pick one that will fit the sink. This means that you want to have a faucet that lines up with the holes already in the countertop. To figure out what size you have now, use a tape measure and measure the distance between the center of one handle to the center of the other handle. My bathroom faucet was 4 inches from the centers of the handles, or 4 inch center to center.


Does it matter if it is a wall mounted faucet?

Yes, yes it does. Having a countertop faucet or wall mounted faucet will be a determining factor in the type of required installation for plumbing. Under the sink plumbing is for countertop faucets and in wall plumbing is for wall mounted faucets.


There are many styles, finishes and features that will go into choosing the type of faucet to best suit your needs and space. Most of it is personal preference so I will leave that up to you. Here is how to install a faucet for a bathroom sink.


 SuppliesInstall Bathroom Sink Faucet

  • Faucet
  • Tape Measure
  • Adjustable Wrench
  • Bucket
  • Rag
  • Hack Saw (possibly, but may not be needed)

Instructions

Step 1:

Before choosing your faucet, determine what size and type is required. Measure from the center of one handle to the center of the second handle to get the spacing. Mine was 4 inches center to center and I needed a faucet that had separate holes cut for the hot water and cold water lines.

Bathroom faucet
Measure from the center of one handle to the center of the other handle to find the size of your faucet.

Step 2:

Shut off the water supply. Turn the knobs to shut off the water and test out the faucet before detaching anything else. The water supply is usually found under the sink. Generally, the hot water is on the left and the cold water is on the right. Turn the oval-ish shaped handles to shut off the water.

replace bathroom sink faucet
Turn off water and disconnect supply tubes from the faucet.

Step 3:

Once water is off, follow the supply tubes (plastic mesh tubes) under the sink up towards the underside of the faucet. Locate the nuts near the faucet base and twist to detach. Some residual water may drip out, but not much. Do this to both sides.

Wipe up water with rag.

Remove bathroom faucet
Twist nuts to remove water supply tubes from faucet. There will probably be water that drips out, wipe it up.

Step 4:

Unscrew the mounting nuts. Mounting nuts are plastic nuts with 2-4 protruding nubs used to twist and tighten to the base of the faucet to hold it in place. The mounting nuts on the old faucet were difficult to loosen, so I got them started twisting by prying them with the wrench. My fingers are really weak, so I make do with other tools when necessary. Once removed, the old faucet should pull out by lifting it up from the counter.

It will probably be gross under the faucet when removed, now is a great time to scrub the soap and calcium deposits clean.

Replace old bathroom faucet
Twist off mounting nuts and pull faucet up from counter to remove. This is the perfect time to clean the soap and water build up under the faucet.

Step 5:

Remove the pop-up stopper in the sink. Twist off the slip nut, gaskets, and any parts holding it on. This proved tricky for me to get a good grip on the drain tailpiece (the pipe that connects the bottom of the sink drain fitting) to remove the pop-up drain. I ended up removing the U-bend from the trap arm of the P-trap (bent pipe under the sink to trap gasses from the sewer line).

Put a bucket underneath before removing the P-trap. This is where a good amount of water will drain out. Since I removed the U-bend, I took the opportunity to clean it out. It was gross and messy.

Remove drain in sink
Undo the slip nut and remove the gasket and drain tailpiece. I had to remove the white pipe parts also to wiggle the drain free. Great time to clean the U-bend.

Step 6:

Remove the bottom gasket and nut from the top gasket and pop-up body. Insert the pipe part of the pop-up drain into the sink drain hole. I cut a few inches off of the end of the drain tail piece (end of back pipe) with a hack saw because it was really long.

Once the drain tail piece is in place, attach the bottom gasket and nut from underneath the sink to set the drain. Replace the P-trap, be sure the gaskets are in the correct place and tighten the coupling nut by hand. Make sure the threads are lining up as you tighten it.

Insert new drain
Insert new drain, assemble and replace the P-trap. Clean up any water.

Step 7:

Ensure the gasket is on the bottom of the new faucet, it’s usually a plastic part that is the same shape as the faucet base. Place the faucet assembly through the mounting holes in the sink.

Add new bathroom faucet
Insert new faucet, tighten mounting nuts underneath and attach water supply tubes. Tighten with wrench.

Step 8:

Secure the faucet to the sink using the mounting nuts provided. Be sure to only hand tighten, you do not want to break these plastic nuts.


Step 9:

Reconnect the water lines. Use the supply line coupling nuts to attach to the bottom of the faucet. Double check that the hot water line is going to the correct side of the faucet. Tighten by hand and then use a wrench to tighten the rest of the way. Do not overtighten!

Turn water back on by turning the water supply knobs all the way in the opposite direction from where they are now.


Step 10:

Test new faucet
Remove the aerator, run water to flush lines and check for leaks.

Once the installation is complete, remove the aerator from the spout of the faucet. It usually twists off, but I always close the drain first. Don’t want any tiny pieces going down the drain! After the aerator is removed, unstop the drain. Turn on the hot and cold water and let run for at least one minute. This will flush the water lines and remove any debris that could clog or damage parts of the new faucet.

Check for leaks.

Turn off water and and replace the aerator.


New bathroom sink faucet

Doesn’t this look so nice? I really needed to replace the faucet in my son’s bathroom ever since we did the teenage boy bathroom update. Good thing I got it done now so he can enjoy it for a few days before he leaves for college. Haha!

Well, at least this bathroom will be ready for any guests that visit. Replacing the faucets has been on the To Do list since we were building the house. We refused to pay the crazy high prices for the builders to upgrade the faucets and I knew I could do it on my own for less. It wasn’t a top priority on the list so it was put off. I am so glad that I finally got to this project! Maybe this will be the inspiration I need to get me moving on changing out the other faucets in the house. One step at a time to making a house a home! 💙


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