A nut is responsible for securing a kitchen faucet, and you’ll find it under the sink. Due to frequent use of the kitchen tub, you may find loose faucet. A faucet gets secured by tightening its nut.
Unfortunately, some of the drains do not contain instructions on how to tighten their fixtures. If you have no idea about tightening a kitchen faucet nut under a sink, this guide should help you.
A faucet helps in controlling the water flow from a sink. When loose, you may experience water wastage and a lot of inconveniences.
Table of Contents
3 Steps to Tighten Kitchen Faucet Nuts Under a Kitchen Sink:
Tightening a kitchen faucet is not difficult, but it can be a tedious task if it has been around for years. Most probably, it could get corroded, and the fact that it gets positioned under the sink could make the task daunting.
But with the right repair tools, fixing the nut could be an easy task. If the nut that you want to tighten is for a new sink, tighten it before installing the sink. Otherwise, you need to prepare to go beneath the sink to secure the nut.
Tools Required:
- Basin wrench
- Adjustable pliers
- Headlamp
Step 1: Clear the Space under Your Sink
Most sinks come with shelves beneath them. Since the kitchen faucet nut comes under the sink, you need to clear all the shelves to create room to carry out the task.
The P-trap of some tubs blocks the way. In such a case, remove it. Use adjustable pliers to unscrew the nuts that hold it to the wall drain and the sink tailpiece.
Step 2: Adjust the Faucet to Position
After accessing the nut, adjust the faucet to fit into its place appropriately. Then center it and ensure that it aligns well with the behind wall.
When well fitted, start securing the retaining nut under the sink. But you’ll need someone to help you hold the faucet steady as you tighten the nut.
Because the area below the sink may be dark, wear a headlight to help you see clearly. Use your hands to turn the nut until it’s tightly screwed.
Step 3: Tighten the Nut Using a Basin Wrench
Though the nut may have felt tight enough while using your hand, a basin wrench does an incredible job in tightening it fully. While its jaws clamp onto the nut, you get to use the basin wrench’s long handle to reach the nut with ease.
Then turn the handle clockwise to tighten the nut. The basin wrench’s jaws tighten automatically with every turn. Repeat rotating the handle until the faucet is stationary, and the kitchen nut is tight.
Though it’s essential to tighten a nut under the kitchen sink faucet, it’s critical to avoid overdoing it. Plastic nuts crack when overstretched, while it may be like an uphill task to remove a metal nut in the future.
In case your sink’s faucet comes with hexagonal bolts or screws for securing it, use a screwdriver with a long handle long-handle to tighten the screws. A set of ratcheting socket will work out great when tightening bolts.
The right tool is useful for the job, but what happens when you don’t have a basin wrench and a budget for a professional? Unfortunately, most homeowners may panic, but no need.
There exist alternatives that bring light at the end of the tunnel of such a situation. The following household objects can tighten a kitchen faucet in the absence of a basin wrench.
What to Use as an Alternative to a Wrench
Duct Tape
Despite its many uses, it may surprise you to learn that duct tape is useful in tightening kitchen faucet nuts. If you clear the work area beneath the sink properly and can reach the nut with ease, tie the tape around it.
First, tear approximately 12 – inches of the tape’s length and cut it at the center to have two 12 – inch strips. Then stick one strip on the other’s back to make a sturdy duct tape.
Then take a part of the new strong tape and wrap it around the nut. Leave a tail of around 6 to 8 inches and press the tape firmly on to the nut to ensure it adheres firmly.
Then pull the duct tape’s tail to the direction responsible for tightening the nut. If satisfied that the nut cannot turn any more while tightening, remove the tape. The kitchen will have secured than before, making your kitchen sink’s fixture stable.
Two Coins
It’s funny to think that money is a useful makeshift tool, but the coins work great. Look for two large coins, especially the pence coins, and position them on each side of the kitchen faucet nut.
Using your middle and index fingers, place the coins between their knuckles to allow an extra grip. Then twist the coins towards the direction of tightening the nut. Ensure you rotate until the nut cannot move further.
Zip-Tie
You may think zip-ties are only useful in attaching hubcaps and tidying up cables, but they come with extra benefits. You can use them in place of a wrench! You only need to position the zip-tie around the kitchen faucet nut and make it very tight. Then grab its tail and pull the zip-tail towards the tightening direction.
Other Bolts or Nuts
The above suggestions may not work as expected, but you need not fret. Use the bolts and nuts lying around to make a wrench alternative. Attach a nut to the bolt and place it on the nut’s top. The bolt’s thread should be on the nut’s top.
Ensure the nut gets well secured between the bolt’s head. Then take another nut and attach it to connect both bolts. Adjust until tightly connected. Then turn it to the direction of tightening the kitchen faucet nut until fully tightened.
Conclusion
As a homeowner, it’s essential to learn how to tighten a faucet nut. Loose kitchen faucets may increase your water bill and cause you a lot of inconveniences. With the above step by step guide and the list of wrench alternatives, you have no excuse not to tighten a faucet.
