The ability to regulate the flow of water from your sink is the kitchen faucet’s most crucial function. Therefore, if a loose kitchen faucet is not fixed right away, it can turn from a little inconvenience to a major headache.
The good news is that these kinds of kitchen plumbing problems are very simple to repair. You don’t need to contact a plumber for such minor issues, especially a loose faucet handle or a leaky faucet. And to tighten a kitchen faucet, you don’t need to be an expert plumber.
Through this article, let’s find out how to tighten kitchen faucet at home.
Also Read: 3 Differences you should know among faucet vs spigot vs tap!
How to repair loose faucet handle at home:
The faucet handle starts to spin after a while and drops water, which seems very annoying. Contacting the plumber whenever there is an issue at home is annoying.
Sometimes, a problem seems insurmountable and complex, yet it has a simple solution. Therefore a loose handle on a kitchen faucet could be repairable by yourself.
Let’s find out how how to tighten the kitchen faucet yourself:
Gather the necessary materials:
You must have the necessary equipment to do any faucet repair work successfully. An Allen or hex wrench, rubber seals, an old toothbrush, a screwdriver, an O-ring, and heatproof silicone plumber grease are all required to tighten the loose handle on the kitchen faucet.
Take necessary precautions:
It’s not necessary that your faucet has loose handles when you open it; it is possible that it has any other kind of flaw. Be prepared for any type of repair. You also need to tighten the faucet handle and the required equipment.
It’s also crucial to choose a workspace. Additionally, you must set up your workplace, in this case, the space adjacent to the sink. Anything that can obstruct your repairs, such as soap dispensers, scotch tape, rubber gloves, or other cleaning supplies, should be removed from the countertop.
It is also advised to cover the sink to prevent anything from dropping into the drain. Look down to the sink’s base, away from the countertop, and remove anything that may bump you from there. This advice is one that you should use as a precaution.
Turn off the water supply line:
Turning off the water supply pipe is the first thing to do. Standard water supply connections contain handles and valves to control water flow. The water supply line may be shut off by turning the valve counterclockwise, allowing you to do your repair operation without difficulty. The water valve, frequently found under the sink, may be shut off using your flashlight.
Check the faucet handle:
Now you have to locate the screw. The screw is typically underneath the spout and handle of faucets. You will find them when you lift the faucet handle.
Prepare the screwdriver that will fit it. Additionally, inspect the aerator. If the aerator is damaged, it cannot filter water effectively. Next, inspect the handle for any cracks or holes.
Removing the cap or handle screws:
Taking off a loose faucet handle usually confuses people. Typically, the handle is fastened to the faucet cartridge using screws from the sides.
The connection is covered with a plastic lid. Carefully remove the plastic cover and screws from the handle with an Allen wrench or screwdriver.
Check the faucet lever:
You need new parts if any cap, ball, or lever areas are cracked. That is unfixable in any way. If the cap has no fractures, it could merely be loose.
The ceramic disc cartridge may be seen when the handle is removed. With pliers, remove the cartridge, and check for leaks. It is better to replace the cartridge rather than try to fix it.
Replace the handle or use plumbing tape:
Apply the plumber’s tape to the cap. Some people advise cutting or removing the old tape off the cap if there are any loose bits.
The tape should then be tightly wrapped in multiple layers, perhaps three to five times. This tape will hold the faucet in place.
Clean the faucet parts and reassemble them:
The mineral buildup causes the rubber seals under the cartridge to start leaking. Carefully remove them, then use a toothbrush to cleanse them. If rubber seals are damaged, a fresh set is always preferred.
If the O-ring on the faucet body is damaged, get it replaced or temporarily greased with silicone. When you put them back together, remember to tighten the screws. Return the cap and lever to their original places.
Slide the handle back manually, then tighten it with your smooth wrench. Retighten the handle by turning the screwdriver in a clockwise motion. Make sure the finishing is tight. Next, check to see any loose feel in the handle.
Take professional assistance:
A loose screw or handle is typically the only cause of a loose kitchen faucet. To tighten the screw or handle, turn the screwdriver or wrench in a clockwise direction. The placement of the faucet’s installation and other factors might possibly cause it to become loose.
It won’t help to repair the faucet, either. It’s conceivable that a water leak over time caused the wood to decay where the faucet is located.
As a result, this component must be changed rather than the faucet.
If the handle on your faucet is still loose and not working correctly, you should get expert help. You might want to hire a qualified plumber when things get out of hand.
What contributes to sloppy kitchen faucet handles:
It is incredibly irritating to hear squeaky sounds from a loose faucet handle. The grips and base may become loose from excessive usage, but there are other things to consider.
Loose screws:
The screws that secure the faucet pipes to the sink base may become loose over time.
The faucet’s base is unsecured:
The center of the base is where the handles are attached. Overuse may result in the faucet base becoming loose. As a result, leaks are more prone to happen.
Unreliable o-rings:
The faucet’s O-ring anchors the handle and prevents it from deteriorating. O-rings become loose by the frequent use of handles, and the faucet starts wobbling.
How to fix the loose kitchen faucet base at home:
Now that we know the causes of kitchen faucet leaks let’s look at how to fix them. We’ll need some tools to work with first, though. You’ll need the right tools to tighten a loose kitchen faucet base.
Required material:
- Bathtub
- Wrench
- Light source
- Gloves
- Small Knife
Clean the cabinets:
Like most people, you keep a few tools, cleaning supplies, and other items in your sink cabinet. You must clear the area beneath your sink to access the kitchen faucet nut, which is located there.
You should clean the bottom a little as a safety measure to prevent getting too much dust on yourself.
Additionally, if your kitchen cabinets are stained, put a protective coating on the outside of the cabinets, as you don’t want to harm the stain or the cabinet doors. If you don’t take that preventative measure, you’ll also need to fix the broken kitchen cabinet door.
Disconnect the water valves:
After that, you must close the water valves under the sink. Water supply lines typically come in two varieties: cold water valve and hot water valve. Before you start hunting for the nut and tightening the loose kitchen faucet, you must do this.
This is a preventative step in case the pipe bursts or something else goes wrong to prevent you from being soaked.
Find the nut by sliding it underneath the sink:
Turn on your flashlight and move inside the empty sink cabinet behind you. Then find the bolt on the cabinet’s ceiling. The bolt should be installed immediately beneath the base of the kitchen faucet.
Achieve the proper size with the basin wrench:
Set the size of your (adjustable) wrench to the appropriate size of the nut holding the faucet in place once you’ve located the faucet bolt.
Tighten the nut now:
To tighten the nut, firmly fasten the basin wrench and crank it in a clockwise motion. You could find it difficult to perform this since you would need to twist your body into an odd posture.
To prevent the nut from slipping over the bolt, try not to overtighten it. Just keep tightening the screw until you sense resistance to additional movement.
Verify the tightness of the faucet base:
Come out from beneath the sink once you’ve finished tightening the bolt to see if the kitchen faucet is secure or if it is still able to move.
Restart the water supply and replace the objects you removed:
Replace all the objects you pulled out of the way at the start of this enjoyable do-it-yourself tighten a kitchen faucet job once you’ve verified that the loose kitchen faucet has been fixed. Wasn’t it more enjoyable when your only worry was which kitchen faucet to select? Wasn’t it more enjoyable when your only worry was which kitchen faucet to select? However, even after tightening kitchen faucets, they could still seem shaky. Here, we’ll look at an alternative remedy: how to tighten a loose faucet handle.
FAQS:
I need to tighten my kitchen faucet; what do I need?
An item known as a basin wrench is required. These unique plumbing tools provide leverage, including a long handle with a tee on one end. The other end has an adjustable wrench head that is spring-loaded and holds the nut. Thanks to the long handle, you can reach up beneath the sink bowl and grab those challenging nuts.
How to tighten kitchen faucet without a basin wrench?
In case you don’t have a basin wrench, you could have a socket wrench in your toolbox. A ratchet spanner is required, and you may also need screwdrivers, channel lock pliers, a clean towel, and water pump pliers. If you have a sink drain wrench, you can also use it.
Bottom lines:
These home DIY tasks might take between 30 and 45 minutes to complete. Do you want to contact your plumber for these simple to-do tasks? Do you want to spend your precious money on plumbing tasks that you can do it by yourself? In our opinion, it’s a big no. That’s not to imply that if you don’t have the time, you shouldn’t call your plumber.
We’re suggesting that you can use our advice to address the issue on your own and save some cash right now.
