My Bathroom Sink

Replacing a Bathroom Sink Faucet

Replacing the bathroom sink faucet can be easily done with some simple tools. This is a DIY project that can be performed by nearly everyone. For saving money or for getting it done in as short time as possible.

Changing the faucet hardware is easy, but you’ll need to follow some simple steps. First, turn the water off. It is incredible how many home remodelers forget about this step and start to work on their faucet just to discover that water pours out, almost inundating the bathroom.   After turning off the water, let the water in the plumbs run out of it. Only then, you can start working on your faucet.

Besides the faucet fixture itself, you won’t need lots of things to install a new faucet.  Before you purchase a new faucet fixture, remember that not all faucets fit in every sink.  The counter of your sink will have two holes, more or less 3 inches apart, for fixing a faucet.  You could drill new holes, but it is not recommended, unless you know what you are doing.  Finding a faucet that matches your existing counter should not be a huge problem, so measure the distance and buy an appropriate faucet.

Buy also some Teflon tape, putty or caulking.  A good wrench is normally your basic tool and you’ll also need a screwdriver.

Removing the old faucet is a simple process.  Remove the caps from the faucet handles and unscrew them.  Then go under the sink and find the nuts that hold the supply lines to the faucet fixture and loosen them.  Sometimes you’ll find additional screws connecting the faucet to the countertop, also unscrew them and remove the faucet.

After removing the faucet, clean everything thoroughly.  Remove any trace of caulk that you might find. Check for mold and also remove it.  Mold can be a terrible health hazard and you should keep your bathroom clean of it.

Installing a new bathroom sink faucet is as simply as removing the old.  It is simply done in the inverse order.  Most faucets come with everything that you’ll need, except the caulk.  Some come with a rubber ring, in this case you won’t need caulk.  If you apply caulk buy some that is anti-mold and was developed specifically for bathrooms.  Tighten every bolt or screw firmly but don’t use too much pressure on it.

After you are ready, turn the water on and test your installation for leaks.  If you are looking for a new faucet for your sink consider the vessel sink faucet.

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Caulk a Bathroom Sink

The caulk around any bathroom sink will get some cracks with time, mildew will grow on it or it will simply look discolored or stained.  Many homeowners will need to re-caulk the bathroom sink every now and then.  It is easy and very inexpensive to do. Not re-caulking the bathroom sink can lead to extensive damage, that will require expensive repairs.   So, there is no reason why you should not re-caulk the sink.   Here is how you can do it yourself.

Tip one:  check the bathroom sink’s caulk regularly.   Equally, also check other potential sources for leaks in your bathroom.   If you see some crack in the caulking, you have to re-caulk.  If you find mildew, it is also absolutely necessary to re-caulk.   Remember to use an anti-mildew caulk, since some mildew is very persistent and a health hazard.  Another sign that your bathroom sink needs repair are moisture under it or any single drop of water below it.  It is not necessarily a sign that the caulking is broken, since the leaks can be from a leak in the fixture or plumbing.

Tip two: re-caulking is an inexpensive option. Do it yourself and don’t leave it for another day.  Any novice is capable of doing.  You probably already have the necessary tools.

Tip three: clean the surface thoroughly.  This is the most important point, especially if you have detected some mildew in the old caulking.  After cleaning the surface, wait until it is completely dry to apply the new caulking.  You can clean the surface with alcohol or any other similar product, like gasoline.  Water won’t dissolve the old caulk. This is clearly the part that is going to take you the most time. If the old caulk was contaminated by mildew, clean the surface using bleach. This is normally deadly for mildew.

Tip four:  buy good, quality caulk. Buy one with mildew killer and one that was especially developed for bathrooms.  Choose one with silicone or a PVA caulk.  Both have an extremely long life and are waterproof. Silicone is very difficult to remove once you apply it, so some people prefer the PVA option.

Tip five: there is no need to apply an excessive amount of caulking. The caulk should simply seal.  Apply it at the right place applying some pressure, so that it fills any grieves and sticks to the surface.  Caulking is easy and can be accomplished in a short period of time.

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