Replace Sink and Faucet
Replacing a sink and the faucet is not that difficult however if you do not know what you are doing and do not have the right tools it could make you crazy.
If you decide to replace just your sink and faucet and not the vanity in a bathroom there are limits as to what kind of sink to buy. The existing vanity already has the hole for the sink cut out and you must fit your new sink into that hole for the finished job to look right.
Changing out the sink in the bathroom requires that you turn off the water and disconnect the water lines and drain lines before you proceed. Now look under the sink to determine how the sink was installed, you should see anchoring clips if the sink was put in correctly, loosen these clips and turn them so that the sink will slip out of the existing hole. Next gently push up on the sink to detach it from the vanity top, you do not want to scratch the top. The top will have caulking under the rim of the sink and you must free the sink from this caulk, when the sink is free it should lift out easily and the faucet should come out with it.
The new sink should fit in the hole, but first you must install the new faucet. Get the sink in a comfortable position and follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to install the faucet. Most faucet stems are inserted into holes already drilled into the back of the sink. You will secure the faucet with a series of the washers. Most faucets come with a diagram showing you the correct order to install the washers. It is important to get the washers in the right order so that the faucet fits snugly.
Next, install the water lines to the new faucet before dropping the sink into place. On the underside of the sink tighten the bolts hand tight and then just a little, not too tight. Once the faucet is installed it is time to drop the sink into the hole, silicone caulking around the rim and tighten the sink into place with the new clips.
Now install the sink drain and stopper mechanism, pay attention how all this fits together, it is simple if you follow the directions. After the drain and stopper are in place you are ready to connect the water lines and the drain lines. Make sure you only tighten the connections enough to stop any leaks, do not over tighten.
To install a kitchen sink you follow the same steps except that you must disconnect the garbage disposal and maybe a sink sprayer. Turn off the electricity to the garbage disposal. There are a lot of different kitchen sinks that will fit the opening and selecting you sink is a primarily a matter of style. However, some sinks are deeper than others so you may have to adjust the drain lines.
Replacing sinks and faucets is not as simple as big box stores make it sound so if you have any doubts call a professional.
