Replacing A Kitchen Sink

If you want to get started on kitchen remodeling, but you want an easy project to start with, why not start by replacing your sink and/or faucet. Replacing a kitchen sink is not a difficult project, and can probably be done in an hour or so. You'll need the proper tools for the job. The required tools are:

You'll also need a new kitchen sink and/or faucet. Take a look through the kitchen aisle of your home improvement store, and see what is available, and what will suit your needs. Again, the experts at the store can help you choose the right sink.

If you have never attempted any plumbing projects, you may want to pick up a book with plumbing diagrams. Replacing a kitchen sink is fairly easy, but a good set of diagrams will help.

Before you start pulling things apart, take a look under the sink, and familiarize yourself with the pipes and hoses. You'll see shutoff valves for the hot and cold water, and hoses running from the valves to the faucet. Coming from the bottom of the sink will be the drain pipe. If you have a dishwasher, then you may find a drain hose from the dishwasher as well. Take a look at all of these hoses and pipes, and note how they are all connected.

Prepare your work area. Clean out all of the items from under the sink so you'll have room to work. Lay out some old towels under the sink, and on the floor in front of the cabinets, you will be shutting the water off, but there will still be some drips.

Next, shut off the hot and cold water valves. Turn on the faucet to make sure all of the water is out of the faucet. Disconnect the water supply hoses from the faucet, then disconnect the drain pipe from the bottom of the sink, and remove the anchor clips holding the old sink in place. Remove the old sink from the opening. If you are going to use the old faucet, remove it from the sink now.

Install the sink strainers in the drain opening(s) of the new sink, using a bead of silicone caulk under the lip of the strainers. Install the faucet on the new sink. Put a bead of silicone caulk around the underside of the sink's lip, and carefully insert the new sink into the opening. If the sink is heavy, you may want help with this step. Install and tighten the mounting clips underneath the sink. If any of the caulk oozes from under the sink onto the counter, wait until it cures, then carefully cut it away.

Now that the sink is in place connect the drain pipe to the sink drain, then connect the hot and cold water supply lines to the faucet. Turn the hot and cold water supply valves on, then turn on the faucet to flush the system. Let the water run for a few minutes, and check for any leaks. If there are no leaks, go ahead and turn off the water, and congratulate yourself on a job well done.