How to Replace or Upgrade Your Kitchen Sink Tap

Replacing or upgrading your kitchen sink tap can significantly enhance the aesthetics of your home and kitchen. This guide provides a step-by-step process for doing it yourself (DIY).

Tools Required

• Screwdriver
• Small and large shifting spanner

Steps to Replace or Upgrade Your Kitchen Tap

1. Turn Off Water Supply

• Shut off the water supply to the kitchen taps.
• Release the pressure in the tap by turning off the mains water supply to your home.
• Check if your kitchen water supply line has bull stop valves. If not, consider installing them during this process.

2. Prepare the Work Area

• Clear all items and shelves from under the sink to ensure sufficient working space.
• Have old towels ready to catch residual water from pipes, preventing damage to cupboards.

3. Remove the Old Tap

• Loosen or remove nuts on the flexi hose connected to the water supply.
• If bull stops aren’t installed, this is a good time to install them.
• Unscrew the tap nut to loosen the fitting. This may be challenging in tight spaces, so take your time.
• Once nuts and washers are removed, pull out the tap and flexi pipes from the sink.
• Clean the area on the top and underside of the sink as it may be messy, especially if there have been leaks.

4. Install the New Tap

• Pre-assemble the new tap:
  • Screw in the mounting bolts.
  • Attach the hot and cold flexi pipes.
• Insert the new assembly through the sink tap hole.
• Slide on the washer on the underside and secure the nuts.
• Tighten flexi hoses to the ball stop valves tightly enough to ensure no movement, but avoid overtightening.
  • Connect hot to hot and cold to cold.

5. Final Steps

• Turn on the water supply.
• Open a tap to bleed any trapped air.
• Close the tap and check for water leaks at the fittings.

Conclusion

• The upgrade is complete, providing an updated kitchen tap and the satisfaction of a DIY project.
• For more DIY projects and product reviews, visit the builder’s website and YouTube channel.