8 Steps of How to Change Utility Sink Faucet Rings

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Many utility sinks have tacky parts which get damaged very quickly. One such part is the faucet’s O-ring that is placed around the connection between the body and the hole of your sink. It stops the water from spraying out and causing immense trouble.

Most faucets have one or a few O-rings whose rubber build tends to get frayed upon usage. When this happens, the faucet starts dripping, causing a loss of water. If your faucet is leaking, then this could be a very likely reason. Hence, in this article, we will teach you how to change utility sink faucet rings. Follow the steps diligently to make your faucet work like brand new!

Also Read: Best Utility Sink Faucet

Table of Contents

1 Steps of How to Change Utility Sink Faucet Rings
2 Frequently Asked Questions
3 Conclusion

Steps of How to Change Utility Sink Faucet Rings

Turning off the Water Supply
Getting Ready
Detaching your Utility Sink Faucet
Removing the Utility Sink Faucet Body
Shopping for O-Ring
Cleaning the Utility Sink Faucet’s Body
Reassembling the Utility Sink Faucet’s Body
Testing your Utility Sink Faucet

Things you will need:

A flat headed screwdriver
Adjustable basin wrench
Rag
Lubricating oil
O-Ring
Nylon Pad
Distilled White Vinegar

Step One: Turning off the Water Supply

To start off your plumbing task, you need to disconnect the water supply to your utility sink’s faucet. This will ensure that no water is sprayed onto your face throughout the process.

A utility sink faucet that has shut-off valves will have handles below the sink. Turn off both the hot and cold water supply by pulling down the handles. Some sinks also have knobs that can be turned until it does not rotate anymore to shut off the water supply.

If you have neither of these options available, simply turn off the main water supply.

Step Two: Getting Ready

Once your water supply has been disconnected, turn on the faucet to let any remaining water flow away. You should then place a rag on the utility sink’s drain to make sure none of your screws or parts manage to slip away. Get all your tools ready and, throughout the process, take pictures to make sure you know which parts should go where.

Step Three: Detaching your Utility Sink Faucet

Flat-headed screwdrivers can easily be slipped in beneath the faucet’s handle to have them removed. Doing this will help you reveal all the screws hidden under this part. Remember to not leave any scratches on the utility sink faucet’s body while you do this.

Now, using the necessary screwdrivers, disconnect the screws present to be able to remove your faucet’s body. If they seem too tight, apply lubricating oil to smoothen them down as much as possible.

Step Four: Removing the Utility Sink Faucet Body

With the screws removed, you can easily lift the faucet’s body. This will expose packing nuts and another set of hexagonal nuts which need to be loosened up. Adjust the wrench accordingly and unhinge the nuts from your faucet’s body.

You should also use the wrench to turn the faucet’s valve counterclockwise until it slips off. Within the valve stem, one can track the faucet’s washer and O-rings. Remove them and keep the damaged O-Ring aside.

Pour some distilled white vinegar and water into a bowl and then dip the stem into this solution. Any mineral deposits present will be broken down to give you a cleaner utility sink faucet.

Step Five: Shopping for O-Ring

To get the right sized O-ring, take the damaged one with you to the hardware store that you want to purchase from. They will help you find the one which will fit properly inside your faucet. Make sure to buy one that is of good quality as otherwise, you will need to replace it again soon.

Step Six: Cleaning the Utility Sink Faucet’s Body

Using a cleanser or dishwashing soap, you need to watch the parts of the faucet’s body. Use nylon pads to do some thorough scrubbing without leaving any scratches. Up next, wash the parts with water.

Step Seven: Reassembling the Utility Sink Faucet’s Body

With everything ready to be placed, you should now start with reassembling. Firstly, place the washer and newly purchased O-rings within the valve stem. You can check the pictures that we advised you to click to know exactly where they should be placed.

Now, using the wrench, fit the valve stem into its position. Tighten until it seems to be firmly standing and then fit in the hexagonal nuts along with the packing nuts. The body should then be slipped back into position and you should tighten all the necessary screws. Lastly, screw the handle back into its original position. You have now reassembled your utility sinks faucet!

Step Eight: Testing your Utility Sink Faucet

Turn on your water supply by pulling the handles of the shut-off valves or rotating the knob in the opposite direction. The main water supply will now be connected to your faucet, so turn it on to see if a smooth water stream is maintained. Analyze the faucet for any more leaks. In the unlucky case of the faucet still dripping, there is the chance that your valve stem, seal, or washer is damaged. You can either try replacing those parts or the entire faucet itself. A plumber can also be hired for further input.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you make an O ring seal better?

To make an O-ring seal better, you can use more than one and then have them squeezed tightly together. This will create a waterproof seal that will prevent leakages from occurring.

How do you get rubber O-rings to stay in place?

Rubbing on a thin layer of grease on the O-ring allows them to remain fixated. This allows them to stay in a fixed position and do their designated tasks.

Should O-rings be lubricated?

Yes, O-rings should be kept well lubricated to cut down damage from metal abrasion. Scuffing also creates no scars, increasing the overall longevity of your faucet’s O rings.

Will WD 40 damage O rings?

No, WD 40 will not damage your O-rings. Instead, it will keep them well lubricated, which results in them lasting for a longer time.

Conclusion

Leaky faucets are an absolute nightmare. However, most times, replacing the O-rings does the trick. So, in this article, we tried to teach our audience how to change the utility sink faucet rings. Hopefully, this will help you avoid the cost of hiring a plumber too often. You can also check this to discover some superior quality faucets which will always try to keep you stress-free!

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