A loose faucet can be a big problem in the kitchen if not dealt with immediately. It makes people wonder, Why Your Kitchen Faucet Keeps Coming Loose?
In fact, it could get so terrible that you may have to call a plumber. These plumbers charge you exorbitant rates and make a quick buck out of it. However, you can fix that problem on your own since this blog will show you how you can fix the valve yourself and save money in the process.
Why does Your Kitchen Faucet Keeps Coming Loose?
Kitchen valves, like most things in life, do tend to loosen up with age. A loose kitchen tap lever can not only prove an annoyance but also erode your plumbing by causing leaks or other damages that may not be easy to pinpoint.
Older kitchen taps tend to be the main culprits when it comes to kitchen taps loosening up, as they often wear out over time and become difficult to keep tightening. However, new (or newly installed) models have developed this problem.
This is because the gaskets and washers that hold them together are susceptible to drying out, making them vulnerable or impossible to tighten correctly.
Few things will go wrong when you’re using a sink. There are so many factors that can affect the normal functioning of your plumbing fixtures! It’s like some sort of Murphy’s law for pipes.
The nuts that hold your tap in place, commonly referred to as J-nuts, are crucial to keeping the different pieces together during their use. If these nuts become oversized or undersized, it is difficult for the tap to remain in place when turned on, and it may come loose.
How To Tighten A Kitchen Faucet Base?
Tightening a loose kitchen tap base is tricky, but we know how to solve the problem and fix it in no time. Taking off the tap can be difficult since the nuts are at the bottom, and you have to dig under it to get there.
However, once you’ve loosened all of the necessary nuts for adjusting it, tighten them together, and your sink will be as good as new!
Tools needed
- Flashlight
- Vice grips or similar
- Basin wrench
Steps
After preparing all the necessary tools, you can follow the following guideline.
- Take Everything Out From Behind The Sink.
Most homes use their under-sink storage space to store cleaning liquids, bleach, and basics like soap. If you have items stored in this location under your sink, you need to get them out of the way before doing anything underneath it.
- Turn The Water Valves Off
When you are about to tighten a small nut, you should always turn off the water supply before doing so. This will prevent flooding in the most common scenario where turning off the valves is not strictly necessary.
- On Your Back, Slide Beneath The Sink.
Next, place the flashlight under the sink and then roll your body underneath it as well. Several nuts hold the tap and water in place, so first, use your fingers to locate the smallest of them.
- Make Sure Your Wrench Is The Right Size.
If you’re using a wrench to unscrew a nut that attaches the valve to your sink or laundry tub, make sure you adjust it to the correct size.
- Get The Nut Tightened
Tighten that nut by carefully turning it clockwise with your wrench. Don’t worry about twisting yourself into an unnatural position to reach it because as long as you can conveniently access both the pipe and tool, then you should be able to finish tightening the nut in no time at all!
- Ensure The Faucet Base Is Tight
Reach your hand out from under the sink and make sure that the tap is firm.
- Replace Everything That Lives Under The Sink And Turn The Water Back On.
If you’ve checked that the spout is secure and won’t fall off under its own weight, you can turn your valves back on again and replace everything you had to move out of the way when fixing it.
How Can I Tighten A Kitchen Faucet Handle?
Tensing a loose handle is a standard job that most people find themselves regularly doing.
Most taps are pretty basic, but the variations on individual fixtures can make the process of tightening that much more complex. It’s not to mention all of the various kitchen and bathroom sink types.
Tools needed
- Flathead screwdriver
- Phillips head screwdriver
- Hex head wrench
Steps
- Below The Sink, Turn Off The Supply.
Turn off the tap at first. Make sure you’re not going to get any unwanted splashes if your pipe connections are loose.
Then, operate the valves so water comes out of them, open the hot water tap for about a minute, turn it off, and open and close the cold water valve to check for any leaks.
- Figure Out What Kind Of Faucet You Have
If you can’t find the set located near the base of your faucet handle, but rather than see some decorative cap, you must use your flathead screwdriver or usually a knife to pop it off.
Once that is done, you can remove and access the headset so that you may loosen it enough to free the handle from its adjuster.
- As Needed, Tighten.
Types of valves If you have an adjustable valve, wrap a rag around the screwdriver (or use pliers), then turn it to the left. If you have a tap from the past or in some developing countries, those are known as quarter-turn valves.
Turn it to the left for hot and to the right for cold. Make sure your wrench is long enough not to pressure the handles when turning them.
- Make Sure The Handle Isn’t Moving.
Once it seems as if everything is in place, you need to make sure that the tap won’t budge. It should not move when you run water through it because this could cause a significant leak, potentially putting your home at risk for something severe such as a flood!
- Turn On The Water And Replace The Decorative Cap
Once you connect the handle to the stem, close the faucet valves and check to ensure that hot and cold water is open. Now you’re ready to get your beverage fixed!
See also: What Causes Low Water Pressure In Only One Faucet?
Final Thoughts
We know that staying on top of repairs is essential, especially in your house. With this blog post, we hope you are now aware of the issues that can arise with kitchen faucet handles, why your kitchen faucet keeps coming loose, and learn how to fix them effectively.
Thanks for reading our article! Good luck fixing your kitchen faucet, and we will see you soon.
