You might’ve heard that the hardest part of putting in a new faucet is getting the old one out, but that’s only true because today’s faucets install so easily! Removing an old faucet (and a pop-up drain assembly, too!) only takes a few minutes and a little elbow grease. Here’s how.
What you’ll need:
Paint tray or shallow bucket
Adjustable wrench
Channel lock pliers
Penetrating oil
Putty knife
Damp cloth
Old towels
What to do:
1. Clear out the space under your sink, and insert the paint tray or bucket beneath the pipes to catch the excess water. Keep the old towels close to absorb any spills.
2. Shut off the valves to the hot and cold water supply lines. Turn on the faucet to drain any excess water.
For a single-handle faucet:
1. Under the sink, loosen the nut holding the top of the strap to the lift rod. Slide the strap and the metal clip off the horizontal rod. Unscrew the pivot nut and remove the horizontal rod from the back of the tail piece.
2. Use the adjustable wrench to disconnect the water supply lines running to the faucet. If you have flexible supply lines, you’ll likely be able to use them again.
3. Look underneath the sink to locate the mounting nut, which holds the faucet in place. Use a wrench to unscrew the nut. If the nut won’t budge, apply a little penetrating oil to the connection and let it sit for a few hours or overnight.
4. Once the mounting nut is removed, pull the old faucet out. If the faucet seems to stick to the sink or countertop, gently use a putty knife to help break the seal. Scrape off any old putty and wipe the surface clean with a damp cloth.
For a two-handle faucet:
1. For sinks with separate handles for hot and cold water, use a wrench to disconnect the coupling nuts that connect the handles’ valves to the spout. Then, disconnect the two water supply valves. If you have flexible supply lines, you’ll likely be able to use them again.
2. Look underneath the sink to locate the mounting nuts, which hold the spout and handles in place. Use a wrench to unscrew the nuts. If the nuts won’t budge, apply a little penetrating oil to the connection and let it sit for a few hours or overnight.
3. Once the mounting nuts are removed, pull the old faucet out. If the faucet seems to stick to the sink or countertop, gently use a putty knife to help break the seal. Scrape off any old putty and wipe the surface clean with a damp cloth.
For a pop-up drain assembly:
1. Beneath the sink, use your hand or a pipe wrench to unscrew the connection where the tailpiece enters the drain.
2. Use the channel lock pliers to unscrew the large nut at the bottom of the sink. Pull the washer and gasket down, then push up on the tail piece to loosen the seal inside the sink.
3. You should be able to unscrew the sections above and below the sink and remove them.
Need a new faucet? Here’s how to shop for one.
