How to Replace a Bathroom Vanity Faucet

Faucets are the hardest-working fixtures in your home, and eventually, the internal seals wear down, leading to drips, leaks, or just an outdated look. Replacing one is a rite of passage for the home DIYer; it's a focused, mechanical task that yields an immediate improvement in both form and function. Getting it done well means ensuring a watertight seal at the mounting deck and verifying that your supply connections are tight without being over-torqued. If you take your time clearing the space underneath the vanity and prepare for the inevitable few ounces of water left in the lines, this is a clean, straightforward upgrade that will save you a service call.

  1. Shut Off the Water First. Clear everything from under the vanity to gain working room. Locate the two shut-off valves under the sink and turn them clockwise until they are fully closed, then open the faucet handles to drain the remaining pressure.
  2. Loosen the Old Lines. Use an adjustable wrench to loosen the nuts connecting the supply lines to the shut-off valves. If the lines are stiff or old, hold the valve steady with a second wrench to prevent twisting the copper pipe inside the wall.
  3. Extract the Mounting Nuts. Use a basin wrench to reach the large mounting nuts holding the faucet body to the underside of the sink deck. Unscrew these completely and remove the washers or mounting plates.
  4. Clean to Bare Porcelain. Pull the old faucet up and away from the sink. Scrape away all old putty, silicone, or mineral deposits from the sink deck using a plastic putty knife to ensure the new faucet sits perfectly flat.
  5. Seat the New Faucet Snugly. Apply a bead of plumber's putty to the base of the new faucet or install the provided rubber gasket. Insert the faucet tails through the holes and tighten the mounting nuts from underneath until the base is firmly secured against the deck.
  6. Test Every Connection. Attach the new supply lines to the faucet tails and the shut-off valves. Turn the water on slowly at the valves and check every single connection for moisture before closing up the vanity.