How to Replace Wall-Mounted Faucets

  • 1-4 hours
  • Intermediate
  • 100-250
What You'll Need
Stud finder
New faucet
Silicone tape
Basin wrench
Keyhole saw
Pencil
Pipe wrench
Silicone sealer
Flashlight
Towels
Metal door with hinges
Power screwdriver
Wood screws
What You'll Need
Stud finder
New faucet
Silicone tape
Basin wrench
Keyhole saw
Pencil
Pipe wrench
Silicone sealer
Flashlight
Towels
Metal door with hinges
Power screwdriver
Wood screws

Removing and replacing wall-mounted faucets is more work than removing one from a standard sink. You may want to install a new style of faucet to go in part with a new makeover of the space. These faucets can have also problems that cause them to leak. The article that follows will show you how you can replace wall-mounted faucets easily.

Step 1 – Access

With any luck, the plumber installed an access panel on an adjacent wall (typically inside a linen closet). Open the panel and continue to Step 2. If there is no access panel you’ll have to make one. The faucet is attached from behind the wall. Use the stud finder to locate the studs on an adjacent wall and mark them with the pencil. Use the keyhole saw and carefully cut through the wall between the studs. Make your cuts as straight as possible to make repair easier. Once the section is cut through, remove the piece and place it to the side.

Step 2 – Water

Prior to removing the faucets, you need to turn off the water to the area where you are working. You can turn it off at the main source or just the area you are in. If you can shut the water off locally, you need only to locate the valves under a sink or behind a toilet. Turn them clockwise and the water will shut off.

Step 3 – Remove the Faucet

Use the flashlight and shine it inside the access hole you cut in Step 1. Locate the nuts and bolts holding the faucet in place. Have a friend hold the faucet steady on the other side of the wall. Begin loosening the hardware holding the faucet in place. A pipe wrench may work well, but the limited space may make it difficult. Use a basin wrench to reach into tight spaces. Once the hardware is removed, the faucet will be loose and your assistant can pull it faucet away from the wall. Use the towels to clean up any water that came from the pipes.

Step 4 – New Faucet

Have your assistant place the new faucet fixture through the existing hole in the wall. As your assistant is holding the faucet in place, you guide it into the pipe. Use the plumber’s tape and wrap it tightly around the threads. You can then tighten the pipe fittings using the bolts and nuts supplied with the new faucet. Apply silicone caulk around the new faucet. Wet a finger and trace the sealant to smooth it out.

Step 5 – Access Panel

You now have a great opportunity to create an access panel, that should have been present to begin with. Choose a metal door (or wood if you prefer) that is large enough to cover the hole in the wall. Place the door over the hole so that the hinges are over a stud. Attach the door to the stud using wood screws.