Two weeks ago in our blog we talked about bathroom faucets and how to choose the right one for your bathroom. Last week we touched on how to install a widespread bathroom faucet. Today we are going to touch on how to install a single-body faucet.

Step 1: Prep The Faucet

Most of the higher quality single-body faucets will come equipped with a flexible gaskets. These gaskets are there to ensure that the seal between the bottom of the faucet and the sink deck is waterproof. However, not all of the single-body faucets will come with these gaskets. If you look at the bottom side of your single-body faucet and you see a flimsy foam seal then you are not so lucky, but we can do something to improve this. What you want to do is remove this flimsy foam seal from its groove and replace it with some plumbers putty.

Step 2: Inserting The Tailpieces

Now you are ready to insert the faucet tailpieces throughout the available holes in the sink deck. Once through you want to thread the washers and mounting nuts over the tailpieces by hand until they are sung. You can also apply some pipe joint compound to your threads to ensure a good tight fit. Next take a wrench and further tighten the nuts approximately a half turn more. Make sure you don’t over tighten the nuts as this will end up stripping the threads. Now thread and tighten the coupling nuts onto the faucet tailpieces with a wrench.

Step 3: Installing The Handles

Before installing the faucet handles you want to first start by using faucet grease to grease the valve system. Once completed you can then place the handles on the faucet and tighten into place using a screwdriver. If the handles came with index caps now is the time to place them on the appropriate faucet handle (hot and cold).

Step 4: Flush System

Now that everything is in place we want to test the system and also flush out any debris. To do this you want to first unscrew the aerator from the spout and then open up both the hot and cold taps fully and leave running for a minute or two. During this time you want to check for leaks. If you find any just tighten the nuts until they stop.

If you have any questions about single-body faucets please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. Alternatively if you want Caldwell Plumbing to assist you with your bathroom faucet installation you can get a free project estimate today and even schedule an appointment with us.