In this blog article we are going to talk about fixing a kitchen faucet loose from the countertop. First, we will see what a kitchen faucet is, and then we will talk about fixing a kitchen faucet loose from countertop.
Before we talk about fixing a kitchen faucet loose from countertop, let us see what a faucet is. The word faucet is not common in all parts of the world. Many cultures know this item as a tap. So, a faucet and a tap are the same thing.
Wherever we need a water supply to do some washing, we have a faucet - in the kitchen, bathroom, in the dining hall, garden, etc. However, faucets and sinks are seen together most of the time. A faucet lets you control the flow of water. You can increase or decrease the speed of the water flow at will.
After use for many days or months, the faucet in a sink can become loose. As a result, it will not stay still like a faucet with a tightened screw. If the faucet is loose from the countertop, water may leak and floor your kitchen. If the kitchen faucet is loose at its base on the countertop, you can easily fix it by following a few steps. It is definitely technical but it is not rocket science either.
Among the tools you need a basin wrench, and a screwdriver are important. First, we will list the procedure in a list. Then we will discuss it in detail.
Under your kitchen sink. There could be a cabinet to hide the plumbing pipes and some empty space. If you have stored something in the empty space, you have to remove them.
Then shut down the kitchen faucet water supply.
Find the location of the bolts or screws.
Next step is identifying the baseplate type and the correct tool for the baseplate.
Tighten bolts or screws.
Use a wrench for tightening nuts.
Check the tightness of the baseplate.
Turn the supply of water back on again.
Put everything back as they were under the sink.
Check if any leaks have occurred or not.
Now, we will discuss the process in depth.
For every sink or basin there will be a faucet. The sink could be for laundry, kitchen, bathroom, garden, etc. Faucets are mounted either onto the sink or the countertop. The joining place where the faucets base and the countertop or the sink meet, there will be a base plate that holds the two together tightly.
However, with time the base plate becomes loose at the joint and the faucet loses its fixed standing. This becomes really troublesome because then you cannot use the faucet properly and it keeps dangling around whenever you touch it, or a leak could occur because of the loose faucet.
If you see something like this then:
Check if the base plate is fixed or not. If just the base plate is loose because of the loose screws, tighten them with a screwdriver.
Check if there is mysterious water around the base plate. Because, if the faucet is turned off, there cannot be any water without reason. If there is mysterious water, there could be a leak.
The most common reason for a faucet to come loose from its base is the frequency of its daily use, lack of care during use or use of abrupt excessive force to open the faucet for water, age of the faucet, etc. Age can wear down any object in this world.
Besides, rust, sediment build up, worn out or broken gasket etc., can also be valid reasons for the kitchen faucet to become loose from the countertop. The directly visible simptop is the wobbling or wiggling of the faucet.
You need to investigate the real cause of the loosening of the faucet. For that, you need to open up the plumbing pipes and joints directly hidden beneath the sink within a cabinet. If there is no cabinet, make sure that the space under the sink is clearly visible. If any object has been stored there, remove the object. There could be boxes or buckets under there. Remove them to get direct access to the plumbing pipes and joints.
Now stop the water supply to the faucet of the sink by turning the knob. You need to know which knob you should be turning off. If you do not know then call a professional plumber.
Turn off both the hot and the cold water supply by turning the valve.
After turning the water supply off, find out the bolts and screws securing the faucet base plate holding the faucet tightly with the sink or countertop.
Base plate will either be in round or square shape. Square base plate has four screws and a round base plate has two. You can use a screwdriver to loosen them. Do not use excessive force. You can strip the screws.
If the bolts and screws need tightening, use Phillips head screwdrivers to tighten them. You should not use too much force to over tighten them. They can cause damage to the plumbing or faucet.
Instead of screws, if the base plate has nuts holding it in place, use a wrench to make them tight to secure it to the sink.
After tightening the base plate, turn the water supply on and check for leaks or looseness of the base plate. If it is ok, then leave it as it is.
Now, put things back under the sink once again. Your work is done.
Unscrew the handle and remove it from the faucet using a wrench.
Now, you know how to access the screws to the base plate of your faucet. So, use a wrench if the base plate has nuts, or use Phillips head screwdrivers if there are screws securing the base plate. Remove the nuts or screws.
Carefully twist the faucet base and take it out.
Now replace it with a new faucet base, put the faucet base in the right place.
Tighten the screws or nuts.
Now, attach the handle back to the faucet again. Use a wrench.
If you have never done any plumbing at home before, and have no experience or confidence, please, call for professional help.
There are many different screwdrivers. However, the most common of all that you will use for the job is the flathead screwdriver. If you do not have that you can use Phillips head screwdriver as well.
Before you blindly start using any screwdriver, try to match the head of the screw and the screwdriver. If they do not match you will definitely cause damage to the screw head. So, find a screwdriver that matches the size of the screw head.
The tightness cannot be measured in a simple method, if you really want to. However, you can feel the tightness of a screw. If your faucet is a compression faucet, then you should keep tightening. When the compression on the washers can be seen, stop. There should be no leak after this.
For cartridge faucets, turn the screws until the cartridge is nicely back into its housing.
For the faucets with ceramic disk, tighten the disk till it is back to its housing.
Remember, extreme tightening can cause irreparable damage to your screws or nuts.
Problems with faucets can occur any time in future. However, you can delay the inevitable by taking good care of the faucet.
Regularly clean the base of the faucet with soap and water.
If there is any mineral deposit, then use a clean cloth and vinegar to clean the deposit area.
Regularly tighten the screws or nuts to prevent problems at the base plate.
We cannot live without using our faucet at home and beyond. There will be kitchen faucet loose from countertop, and there will be fixing it. The whole process will be a continuously recurring one throughout our lifetime. So, learn how to fix the problem, and Do it yourself to save some money.
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