The Moen kitchen faucet in your kitchen has been in use for a long time and needs replacement, but you don’t know what to do? Come on, it’s not so difficult that you have to call a mechanic! Just keep on reading, and we will show you how to remove a Moen kitchen faucet by yourself. Let’s take out a piece of paper and write down the notes!
How to Remove a Moen Kitchen Faucet? Step-by-step Guide For You
Before going deep into how to disassemble a Moen kitchen faucet, it is a must to know when you would need to do this. Well, if you notice any problem with your faucet, it’s time to perform this removal task. It could be improper installation, a low-quality faucet, terrible leaks, or the deformation of the faucet’s rubber gasket after prolonged use.
Down below is a detailed and straightforward guide to remove the Moen kitchen faucet. All the tools you need are a basin wrench and a sink/faucet installer.
Without further ado, let’s get started!
Step 1: Shut Off The Valves And Wait For The Pipes To Dry Out
Before working directly with the faucet, the first thing you need to do is to turn off the waterline. By leaving the valves open, you may risk having water splash out of the pipes while you’re doing the job.
As a consequence, you might have to leave your work unfinished and clean up the mess. Shutting off the valves will also safely prevent toxic gases from coming out of the pipes.
Step 2: Put Aside The Garbage Disposal
After shutting off the waterline, you need to empty the garbage disposal underneath the sink. It’s important to get rid of obstacles that are blocking your pipes.
Step 3: Unscrew Underneath The Sink
There are a few screws that seal the escutcheon to your faucet, so you have to reach underneath the sink to unscrew them. Normally, two screws are enough to firmly seal the escutcheon to the sink. Locate and unscrew them.
Step 4: Remove The Pipes
After you have unscrewed the escutcheon, you will see that pipes are connecting to the faucet. You can use the same screwdriver to unscrew the pipes one by one.
Notice that the main pipe is firmly held by a white ring (or a metal ring). To make this ring out, you have to use force to pull it out.
It is really hard to get your hand and a normal screwdriver up behind the sink. You can try using a basin wrench or a sink/faucet installer. Here’s what it looks like:
This installer can help you loosen the nut on the supply line and the nut that holds the faucet line. It is also effective in shutting off the valves, which will save you a lot of energy. The tool is inexpensive, and you can easily find it on the market or in any mechanic store.
Step 5: Remove The Handle Lever
In the next step, you have to remove the faucet handle with a wrench. By taking out the handle, you need to see if there are any problems with your faucet (such as leaks or rubber gasket issues).
Note: You must treat the handle lever very carefully to prevent disruption in the system.
If your faucet has a dome, you should have no difficulty removing it. Simply insert the wrench, turn it, and the dome will come out.
Step 6: Remove The Mechanism
The mechanism controls the water flow, so it is the most important fragment of the faucet. Thus, you need to handle this part slowly and cautiously.
After you have removed the dome, what’s lying underneath is the faucet cartridge secured by a valve nut. Unscrew the nut, and you’ll be able to remove the cartridge.
Next, lift the big spout O ring out. As you have disconnected the faucet from the valves, gently lift the faucet spout and little O rings underneath.
Now that you have removed the last part of the faucet, your work is done!
Tips for Removing a Moen Kitchen Faucet
Faucet removal is not difficult; however, there are a few things you might want to keep in mind to get your work done fast and effortlessly.
- Upon shutting off the valves, you should use a rubber or metal water stopper to block the sink’s drain hole! In many cases, the screws slip and fall into the drain pipe. Better be safe than sorry!
- Getting underneath the sink will not be comfortable, so it’s recommended that you put some mattress or cushion under your back if you have to go deep under.
- You will be irritated if your cabinet doors keep rubbing on your back, especially when the edges are tapering. To avoid this, you should use something heavy to block the doors from closing in while you’re at it.
- Cleaning the location where the faucet is connected to the sink after disassembling will make it easier to install a new one because the old location is often packed with dirt and rust from the old faucet.
The Bottom Lines
There you got it – how to remove a Moen kitchen faucet. As we promised at the beginning, it’s not complicated at all, right?
The kitchen faucet is an indispensable item in every home. If it malfunctions or ceases to work completely, it will cause you a bunch of inconveniences. Thus, it’s essential to know when your faucet needs removing and repairing on time!
Thank you very much for reading our article! Stay tuned for our next guide!
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