We use our kitchen sink every day in the home. Whether it is to wash dishes, fill up a glass, or put food in it, it is used quite a bit. However, it can become frustrating if the faucet is loose. You may look at it and think that you don’t know much about faucets and sinks, but this may be something you can do. How to tighten the kitchen faucet? First, you will need a basin wrench and flashlight and find the nut under the sink. Then, it is a step-by-step process to fix this loose kitchen faucet.
Let’s take a look at this process you may be able to do on your own and save money!
The kitchen faucet is important to control the flow of water. If it is loose, water will leak out.
Tightening the Faucet Base
First, you will start with tightening the faucet base, which involves accessing the nut. To do this, you will need :
- Basin wrench
- Flashlight
- Removing items from under the sink
In order to get to the nut, you will need to remove items from under the sink. Hopefully, you have the items organized nicely and it is a matter of just taking them out. If not, this may also be a good time to go through items and see what you can throw away. This will help you when you return the items to their place after you are done.
Water Valves Need to Be Turned Off
Anytime you are looking under the sink and making a repair, you want to turn the water valves off. This will keep you from getting soaked. You never know if a pipe is going to burst or something else happens while you are under there.
1. Get on Your Back and Slide Under the Sink
If you don’t have a bad back and can lay down on it and slide yourself under the sink, this will be necessary to do this repair. If you cannot do it, ask a family member or call a professional to help. Don’t forget to take the flashlight with you under the sink so you can tighten the nut.
2. Choose the Correct Size for the Wrench
When looking at the choices of size for the openings on the basin wrench, make sure you choose the one that fits the nut. If you have an adjustable wrench, measure the opening with the size of the nut to find the correct one.
3. Time to Tighten the Nut
Now that you have access to the area under the sink, turned off the water valves, and found the correct size wrench, it is time to tighten the nut. To do this:
- Turn the wrench in a clockwise direction to tighten the nut
- Next, safely get your body out from under the sink.
- Check the base of the faucet to see if it is now tight.
- If it is tight, then put all the items back under the sink. If it is not tight, see if you need to turn it a little more to tighten.
Once it is tight, then give yourself a pat on the back as it is now complete!
Tightening a Kitchen Faucet Handle
Maybe you find that the kitchen faucet handle is now loose? Sometimes it can be because of a loose screw, a loose faucet base as mentioned above, or worn-out O rings.
You are on a roll, so let’s take a look at how you can tighten the kitchen faucet handle as well!
There are many types of faucets:
- Touchless – cost about $200
- Pull-out – cost about $60
- Commercial kitchen faucets – cost about $100
You will need to find out which type of faucet you have so you can look up how to tighten a loose kitchen faucet handle for that model. No matter what the model is, you will need the following tools:
- Phillips head screwdriver
- Flathead screwdriver (or knife)
- Hex head wrench (also known as an Allen key)
Turn off the water supply under the sink. As mentioned above, this is done by turning the valves off and is important so you don’t get soaked.
Know What Type of Faucet Handle You Have
Some faucets have a set screw with a hex head. This is located at the base of the handle. If you don’t see this, look for the decorative cap and pop this off by using the flathead screwdriver or knife.
- If you can’t find this, you need to pop off the decorative cap in the handle.
- Do this by using the flathead screwdriver (or knife)
- Once you have removed the cap, look inside the handle
- You will see either a hex head set screw or a Phillips head screw.
Tighten the Handle
One would think that tightening the handle would be the same for all faucet handles, but unfortunately, it is not. It depends on the faucet type on your sink.
Set Screw
- Turn the faucet to the “on” position.
- If there is a set screw at the base of the handle, grab the hex head wrench (Allen key)
- Push the Allen key into the screw
- Turn it clockwise to tighten
Screw Under Decorative Cap
- Grab the hex head wrench or Phillips head screwdriver.
- Turn it clockwise to tighten the screw.
- It may be necessary to hold the faucet handle while you do this.
- Put the decorative cap back on
Once you follow these directions, check that the faucet handle no longer moves. If it doesn’t, then you have done another great job and can turn the water supply back on. Then, put everything back under the sink.
Other Recommended Maintenance
While you are fixing the kitchen faucet base or handle, take a look to make sure there is no water leaking at the connection of the pipes under the sink. It is important to know if the sink trap is leaking before any damage is done.
Another area you want to take a look at is your water. If you have a well, making sure you have it tested is important. If you find that the water has coliform, you can shower in it but not drink from it. Also, you should make sure to get the water cleared up right away.
Lastly, is that a new gas oven in your kitchen? A gas oven turns on differently than an electric oven so make sure you read the directions before attempting to use it.
When Should I Call A Professional
If you are not able to tighten the faucet or the faucet handle, you can call a professional. A professional can tighten them for you and may even notice if there are any other issues. The last thing you want to do is bust a pipe under the sink so hiring a professional may be the best bet.
Conclusion
A loose faucet or faucet handle can cost you money with the water that is wasted as well as create a mess. If you are having issues in your kitchen, reach out to Atkinson Inspection Services in Orlando, Clermont, and the Villages. They can help recommend a plumber or other professional to help you with your needs.
