Kitchen sinks are often an overlooked part of the kitchen, and many people don’t give them much thought until they need to replace one. The good news is that sink replacement doesn’t have to be a complicated and expensive process, but it’s always best to know what you’re getting into before you start ripping out your old sink.
This article discusses how to replace a kitchen sink, what type of sink is right for your needs, where to find quality sinks at affordable prices, as well as some tips on installing the new sink.
Replacing the kitchen sink will be a task that will need to be done with care and precision. You will need to make sure that you will follow all the proper procedures to ensure a safe and even more effective replacement.
You will need to make sure that the removal process will not affect the other water pipes or even any of the appliances near it. This is why you need to have the knowledge and be able to use your resources well.
The following are some of the steps that you will have when replacing a kitchen sink. We would also recommend you to read our buyer’s guide on the pedestal sink tested and reviewed by our experts.
Table Of Contents
How To Replace A Kitchen Sink — Detailed Steps
Step 1: Drain The Water
The first thing that you will need to do is to drain the water from the sink. You have to make sure that the sink drain hole will be completely dry so that it can give no resistance and will not snap off while you are trying to remove other parts of the kitchen sink.
A common way of doing this is to use a wrench on the side of the sink’s drain and twist it counter-clockwise. You may also use a rag or towel to cover the drain hole and simply run hot water so that it will help force out all the excess water in it.
Step 2: Disconnect The Pipes Clamp
If you are just changing an individual kitchen sink, you will need to make sure that the plumbing connections are already loosened, and if you will be replacing it with a new one, then they would have to be disconnected completely.
You can use wrenches for this step as well but make sure that the pipes will not wear out from excessive tightening. After this, discard the old sink and the old parts of the kitchen sink.
If there are any worn-out or damaged pipes, you can use a utility knife to cut them off but make sure that it will not affect the other water pipes near it.
Step 3: Disconnect The Water Supply Line
Next, move on to disconnect the hot and cold water lines from the kitchen sink. You just need to loosen the clamps and twist off all the connecting parts until they are completely disconnected from each other.
Ensure that you will not damage any of these pipes when doing this step, as it can be very risky if they get damaged or broken.
Step 4: Disconnect The Vent From The Sink
Once you have removed the drain hose, you will have to get rid of the vent pipe as well by loosening or removing it. Be careful with this part because if you damage it, there can be a problem with your sink.
You may need to replace the pipe and make changes on where to vent out your sink’s water vapor in order not to cause any damage to your sink.
Step 5: Disconnect The Stop Plugs Of The Sink
Make sure that you will disassemble or remove the stopper plug and the sink strainer of the kitchen sink. If there is still water in it, make sure that you will drain them completely.
Remember to use a cloth and run hot water for this purpose. A simple way of removing the strainer is to use pliers and twist it clockwise until you completely remove it.
Some strainers are usually fitted with a spring-ring that will help you install it back after taking it off from its previous place. This step may be a little tricky for some people, especially if they have never done it before.
If you are unsure about how to do this, then you may need to consider asking a pro plumber for help. You can also follow online tutorials or videos that show the process of removing and installing kitchen sinks with relative ease.
Step 6: Remove The Sink
Next, remove your old sink from the counter-top support as well as from the cabinet area underneath it. Put it aside, and then start installing your new one in its place.
Step 7: Connect The New Sink to The Pipes
Once you have installed your new sink, you will need to connect it to the pipes that you removed earlier. These are usually clamped down, so all you need to do is loosen the clamps and twist off the pipes at their points of connection.
Once you completed this, connect your new sink by twisting down these sections back into place.
Step 8: Adjust And Fix The Clamp
You may need to adjust your clamps as well in order for them to fit on properly without any leaks or dripping from the new sink. If you are replacing just the kitchen sink without changing any other part of your plumbing, then it is best to tighten down the clamps again in order for them not to loosen or wear out after repeated use.
Step 9: Finishing Touches
There will be cases when you don’t have a new strainer or stopper with you when you are replacing your kitchen sink. In this case, all you need to do is to follow the guide that came with your new sink in order for you to install it properly in its place.
Step 10: Turn On The Water Supply
Once everything has been put back together and fixed into place, turn on the water supply line and check for any leaks; if there is one, fix it immediately.
The process of replacing a kitchen sink can be done in some simple steps that anyone could handle as long as they have the right tools and parts to do it with.
Make sure that you will follow these steps carefully and step by step to replace your kitchen sink without causing any problems.
Tools Required To Replace A Kitchen Sink
To replace a kitchen sink, you may need these tools to avoid much hassle installing your new sink and making everything runs much smoother.
4-in-1 screwdriver
A 4 in 1 screwdriver is a screwdriver with four different types of tips. A typical 4 in 1 screwdriver may have Philips, slotted, Torx, and hex head tips. The number and type of tips will vary by brand. In general, any cross-slot tip can be substituted for a slotted tip and vice versa.
Adjustable wrench
A crescent wrench or adjustable wrench is a type of open-end wrench with an adjustable jaw that can be set at any angle to turn objects that a flat-bladed screwdriver cannot reach, such as recessed bolts or nuts with rims.
Bucket
A bucket is a portable container that is typically used to carry materials, water, or other liquids. Buckets are usually made of plastic or metal. Plastic buckets retain the most heat, while metal ones conduct heat more effectively.
Some buckets have spouts at the bottom for pouring liquid out with minimum spillage and dripping.
Caulk gun
A caulking gun is a mechanism usually used to dispense sealants, typically silicone sealants. The mechanism consists of a tube and handles which are squeezed together by the operator to force material out of the gun tip and into an area that needs to be filled or sealed.
Cordless Drill
The cordless drill is a handheld power tool that can be used for drilling holes in surfaces and driving screws into wooden surfaces. It is operated by pressing the trigger to drive the motor, which rotates the chuck to drive the bit.
If you hold the trigger down, it will drill continuously until pressure is released. When drilling, it is important to use a speed that has enough torque to do the job without bogging down and without overheating.
The most common speeds are about 12,000 revolutions per minute (rpm) for wood, 9500 rpm for metal, and 7500 rpm for drilling concrete.
Flashlight
A flashlight is an electric-powered portable device usually used to produce a bright handheld beam of light for illumination, and in some cases, signaling. It consists of a light bulb contained in a reflector or lens with plastic coverings on the outside to protect it and prevent undesirable excess light from escaping, which could be distracting or might cause eye damage.
Hacksaw
A hacksaw is a hand saw with a short, rigid metal saw blade held tightly in a frame that permits it to cut a narrow kerf and is used for cutting metal. In order to get a good cut, the blade should be kept reasonably tight against the material being cut.
This is done by holding the frame firmly with one hand while pushing and pulling on the saw with the other.
Jigsaw
A jigsaw is a hand-powered saw with a fine-toothed blade that runs on two parallel metal bars. The blade can be guided across the material to produce different shapes by holding the piece of material in the desired position and running the saw over it.
A jigsaw’s teeth make the inner curve of every cut, but many times this type of saw is used for cutting out pieces from an existing object, such as cutting out letters from wood or metal.
Pipe Wrench
The pipe wrench is a type of plier with an open jaw used for gripping objects. It is usually used on pipes or other such round, cylindrical objects. A pipe wrench has no movable jaw parts and can provide a very strong grip because the fixed pivot point enables it to distribute force evenly.
A vise grip (sometimes spelled vice-grip) is a form of pliers that is shaped like an “H” and is tightened by twisting the handles toward each other. This type of plier grips items tightly but only from one direction; the four teeth at the end can also be used to cut wires.
Plumbers Tape
Plumbers tape is woven cloth tape with a high-tensile strength that is coated with a rubber adhesive on one side. It is used to wrap threaded pipes, joints, valves, fittings, and similar components for protection against leakage. This type of tape is usually in the same color as the pipe material.
Putty Knife
A putty knife is a fillister (or flathead) type of trowel with a rectangular or triangular blade that has a straight edge. It is usually used for scraping, spreading, and smoothing joint compounds, glazing compounds, and other paint-like materials.
Rags
A rag is a pile of clothing scraps, paper, or other material that is gathered up and used to clean, polish, wipe off excess liquid, dry something wet, or satisfy personal needs. It is often made from an inexpensive natural fiber such as cotton.
Safety Glasses
Safety glasses are a type of protective eyewear that helps prevent objects from damaging the eyes. It is commonly worn by carpenters, electricians, mechanics, and many other professions where there is the risk of objects being thrown or coming into contact with the eyes. Many safety glasses also protect against dust and sunlight.
Slip Joint Pliers
A slip joint plier is a type of plier that can be tightened by adjusting the pivot point. This type of plier is able to grip items from any direction, and it has no movable jaw parts.
Despite this, slip joint pliers are not the best choice for gripping objects that need high pressure, as they will often come loose due to a lack of friction.
Soldering Torch
A soldering torch is a tool that produces a flame as high as 3000 degrees Fahrenheit. The tip of the soldering torch can be shaped, and it consists of an electric heating element, or it can be fueled by gas, butane, or propane, depending on the type. A disadvantage to this type of torch is that they are at risk for arcing and sparking.
Utility Knife
A utility knife is a type of knife that is more often used for jobs that are not meant to be served by a heavy-duty knife. It is a kind of medium-sized pocketknife. A utility knife is also called an “all-purpose” or “general purpose” knife.
Although it’s small in size, it can be used as anything from an ordinary box opener to cutting thick rope. Its sharp blade allows for easy separation and removal of materials such as insulation, vinyl floor coverings, wallpaper, drywall, carpeting, etc.
Final Verdict
This concludes our blog post on how to replace a kitchen sink. We hope you were able to find some helpful information in this article about the process of replacing your kitchen sink and that it was not too time-consuming or confusing for you!
If you have any queries, then please let us know in the comment below; we will be happy to help as best we can. Remember, if something seems like it might be broken or faulty with your new sink installation at home, don’t forget there is always someone available 24/7 who would love to take care of it for you.