Introduction: How to Change a Kitchen Tap

About: Couple of years ago I created my metal casting blog and over the years I uploaded many projects, my main goal is to increase the awareness of recycling, I use recycled scrap aluminum for all my projects and h…
This is a simple instructable showing how to change a kitchen tap in less than an hour.
I got this tap in Ikea for a reasonable price and the flexible hoses in my local hardware shop. Taps pluming systems may vary between different makes of kitchen taps. But the basics are generally all the same, it's not rocket science.
So lets get started...

Step 1: Tap and Tools

Most of the taps comes in a kit with all the parts you will need. I prefered to buy these 2 flexible easy fit hoses rather then using the ones I got in the kit.

Tools you will need are:
- 2 spanners for opening and to tighening the nuts.
- Teflon tape is important to seal the threaded joint connections preventing leaks.
- Screw gun or screwdriver.
 

Step 2: Preperation

Main and most important thing is to turn off main water supply to the tap.
Remove all shelf contents and cover panels for easy access to the pipes. 
In some houses like mine there is a water valve for your hot and cold water supply from the boiler and the attic tank. After closing the main valve turn off the hot water valve from the boiler too.

Step 3: Dismantling Pipes and Sink

Start by dismantling the drain pipe connected to the sink. 
Before releasing the pipe place a bucket under  the pipes for draining left over water in pipes. Next open the hot and cold water pipe connections. Every tap and plumbing system is a bit different in my case I had to disconnect the pipes from both sides in order to be able to lift the sink and tap out.
If your sink has connectors under it release them with a screw gun.
Push connectors back and lift sink out. Release old tap with a spanner.

Step 4: Assembly of the New Tap.

- Connect the sink/tap threaded rod.
- Place a rubber o ring in the tap round slot. 
- Slide the rubber spacer on the threaded rod.
- Connect one flexible hose and then slide the plastic spacer over the threaded rod.
- Slide into the sink hole then connect the second hose.
- Fasten both but not too hard with a spanner (use teflon tape if needed).
- Slide metal securing plate into place and tight nut.
- Tighten nut with spanner to secure new tap into sink.
- Connect back old pipes to the main water pipes, use teflon tape around the threaded joints to prevent any leaks.
- Connect flexible hoses to main water pipes, use teflon tape again.
 - Make sure the rubber o ring is in the nut placed correctly before tightening.
- Tighten using 2 spanners.
- Secure all sink counter fastenrs into place and connect back the sink draining pipe.
- Turn main water supply on and cheak that all connection joints are not leaking.

Step 5: Soap Dispenser

Your new tap is in place and ready for use, turn on main water supply and turn tap on. Check all connectors while water is on to make sure you have no leaks.
As you can see I am left with an extra hole in my sink so I had a soap dispenser that I wasn't using in my other bathroom . After adjusting the soap dispenser connector I added 2 rings to compensate for the bolt height . Another option is to get rubber hole plugs and stick it in to the hole.