A straightforward faucet installation takes one to two hours. Add time if the existing shutoff valves are corroded, the supply lines need replacing, the sink or countertop configuration differs from the new faucet, or the old faucet is seized in place by mineral buildup.
What the Job Involves
- Shut off the water at the fixture stops and drain the lines
- Disconnect supply lines and remove the old faucet
- Clean the mounting surface — usually with mineral deposits to remove
- Set and secure the new faucet, including the drain assembly if it is being replaced
- Connect new supply lines
- Restore water, check for leaks under pressure, and verify flow and temperature
What Adds Time
- Corroded shutoff valves. The most common complication. If the angle stop under the sink will not close or leaks once disturbed, it has to be replaced — and that means shutting off the house main. In older Albuquerque homes this is more the rule than the exception, and it is worth replacing them while access is open.
- Seized mounting hardware. Hard water cements old faucet nuts in place. Getting them off without damaging the sink takes patience.
- Configuration differences. A single-hole faucet replacing a three-hole setup needs a deck plate; going the other direction may not work at all.
- Supply line replacement, which should be done as a matter of course on an older installation.
- Drain assembly work if the pop-up or basket strainer is also being replaced.
- Tight cabinets and awkward access under a sink.
Worth Doing at the Same Time
Replace the angle stops and supply lines. They are inexpensive, they are the most common source of under-sink leaks, and replacing them requires the same access you already have. A twenty-year-old braided supply line failing while you are at work floods a kitchen.
The Local Note
Hard water is why faucets in Albuquerque need replacing sooner and come out harder. A water softener extends the life of the new one considerably.
Contact B. Carlson about fixture installation in Albuquerque.
