If you’re living in a somewhat older house, at some point you might decide to invest in updating the plumbing accessories. Before you decide to
hire a plumber, you could try change the fixtures yourself. If you consider yourself an experienced DIYer, follow these nine steps to install a modern kitchen tap with a sprayer to bring a sophisticated twist to your kitchen sink.
1. Gather your equipment
You’ll need a fair amount of equipment to get this job done. Check what you have on hand, and find a place to buy or rent anything you’re missing. You’ll need:
• An open-ended spanner
• A back nut box spanner
• Adjustable pliers
• PTFE tape
• A shifting spanner
• Flat screwdriver
• Pipe cutter
• A box spanner or ratchet
• Compression fittings or check valves
• Hacksaw or olive splitter
• Masking tape
• Joining compound.
You may also want to check that you have a cleaning cloth, a washing bowl, a towel, and a pen on hand.
2. Buy your ideal tap
Most hardware stores will stock taps with sprayers, but if you’re looking for something specific, call beforehand. You could also try an online shop that delivers to your area.
3. Turn off the water
Locate the water supply to your kitchen, often it’s under the sink. It should have a valve on the pipe that you use to turn off the water. If you can’t find this, you may have to turn your water off at the mains. Once done, open the tap to check that you have successfully turned the water off.
4. Organise your working area
Line up the tools you need and put a towel underneath the sink. If you have them, keep the tap manuals close by.
5. Disconnect the tap from the mains
There are two types of water pipe connections, standard and flexible. If yours is standard, use an open-ended spanner to loosen the screw that connects the joints to the pipe. If yours is flexible, do this using a pair of adjustable pliers. There may be some excess water here, so watch out.
6. Remove the old tap
Remove the existing tap by loosening the nuts that hold the tap to the counter surface. Once you‘ve removed the tap along with the hoses, clean any residue from the waterpipe and give the general area a good wipe down to prepare for the new installation.
7. Mount the new kitchen tap
Now that the area is clean, you can prepare to mount your new tap. Apply around five layers of PTFE tape to the mains connection under the sink first. Do this in a clockwise motion so that it is secured. Usually, your tap will come with the hoses attached, but if they aren’t, refer to the manual to see how to do so. Thread the hoses through the holes in the counter and place the new tap how you wish. Screw the retaining nut of the tap, securing your tap to the sink or countertop first by hand and then with your adjustable pliers.
8. Secure the pipes
Secure the hoses to the threads or water lines, do this first by hand and then tighten with a tool. Screw-in the connecter nuts to the mains pipe connection or valves.
9. Reconnect the water
Either turn the mains on again or switch on your water valve under the sink to reconnect the water. Now turn on your tap. Does it work? Eureka! You have installed a new tap! Make sure to check the connections and hoses for any drips.
You do need quite a lot of equipment to complete this task, and at least some working knowledge of plumbing. If you found this how-to a bit too daunting and you don’t have aspirations to be an expert DIYer, then it might be better to call in a reputable plumber before you flood the kitchen!