How to Replace Cartridge Sink Faucets

A cartridge faucet usually uses up and down mechanism to turn on and off.

For temperature, they use the left and right movement. You can already guess that the cartridge inside will eventually wear out and the faucet will start to malfunction. 

Today we will learn how to replace cartridge sink faucets. It's not an easy task, but with the help of this guide surely you can do it.  

Firstly you will need some tools to operate.

• Needle nose.
• Slotted screwdriver.
• Philips-head screwdriver.
• Knives.
• Cartridges.

Turn off the water:

The first rule of working with water and electricity. Turn off the main valve. This way you won't have any risk of drowning your workspace with water.

 Leave the faucet on for a minute:

Even after you turn off the main water valve there will be water left inside the pipe. You need to drain that. Just leave the tap open for a minute and it will empty the pipes.

 Pry off the handle:

Using the flat head screwdriver you can pry off the handle cape. It may need some strength depending on the bond. But don't worry you won't break it. Use a moderate amount of force upwards and the cape will pop right up.

 Remove the handle:

After removing the handle cap, you will notice the handle is connected with some screws. Remove those and the handle will come straight off.

 Remove the retaining nut:

Inside the handle, there will be a nut that stands out from the rest. It's called the retaining nut. You can remove that with the help of a pipe wrench. Plyers may be enough but a pipe wrench will do the job better.

 Remove the retaining clip:

Using the needle-nose you can easily remove the retaining clip from the retainer.

 Remove the O-ring sealing:

You may need to use screwdrivers for this process. Don't worry, it is necessary. Use a little force and remove the O-ring seal. 

If you can't open the O-ring seal even with the help of a screwdriver. Just use a utility knife and cut open the O-ring seal. You can always replace it.

 Clean the faucet housing:

After removing the O-ring seal, clean any kind of debris from the faucet housing. You can do that by using a soft cloth.

 Replace the cartridge:

In case you didn't know, cartridges come in many shapes and sizes. That's why when you go to cartridge shopping you must know the manufacturer name. If you know the exact model that's even better. But the shopkeeper will be able to help you with your problem if you know the manufacturer's name.

You can remove the old cartridge by holding that with a plyer and pulling upwards. Depending on the model you may need a special tool to remove the cartridge. After removing the cartridge, see if the O-ring is damaged or not. In the previous step if you decided to follow the easy step and cut the O-ring seal, then you need to replace it with a brand new O-ring seal. Install the new cartridge and make sure it's aligned accurately without force.

 Reinstall the O-ring seal:

If you destroyed the old one then you need to replace it. Put silicone grease on the O-ring and put it on the faucet cylinder. 

Re-attach the sprout that you removed earlier and install the retainer clip. Tighten the retainer nut. 

Place the handle and install it the correct way. If everything went smoothly you can turn on the water and see if the faucet is working. It should be working and you can re-install the handle cap. I think you understood the full procedure that How to Replace Cartridge Sink Faucets.

 That's it you have fixed your broken cartridge faucet. 

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