Disconnect supply lines — Disconnect the Faucet Supply Line

Beginner3 hours

Part of project

How to Replace a Leaky Angle Stop (Shutoff Valve) Under Your Sink · Step 4 of 9

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In this video

Use a Basin Wrench to loosen and disconnect the nuts connecting the water supply lines to the existing faucet

Goal: Detach the water supply.

A Basin Wrench is a tool used in hard-to-reach spaces where a standard wrench cannot access

Used in this video

Basin Wrench — Loosening nuts

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This Old House

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FAQs

What's the single most important safety step to take before I even touch the leaky angle stop?

The most critical step is to shut off the main water supply to your home. This prevents potential flooding and ensures a safe working environment. Always confirm the water is off by testing a nearby faucet before proceeding with any work.

The project is listed as 'beginner' difficulty, but 3 hours seems long for a valve. Is it really that involved?

While replacing an angle stop is beginner-friendly, the 3-hour estimate accounts for prep work like gathering tools, draining lines, dealing with potential seized parts, and thorough leak testing. Taking your time ensures a proper, leak-free installation, so don't rush the process.

I see "Adjustable Wrench" and "Tongue and Groove Pliers" listed. Are these specific tools essential, or can I get by with a generic wrench set?

Yes, these specific tools are highly recommended. An adjustable wrench helps securely tighten the compression nut on the new valve without stripping it, while tongue and groove pliers (like Channellock) provide a strong grip for holding the valve or pipe steady. Using the correct tools prevents damage and ensures a tight, leak-free connection.

This project specifically mentions installing a "compression-style valve." Are there other types of angle stops, and why is this type recommended for a DIYer?

Yes, other types include soldered (sweat) and push-to-connect (SharkBite) valves. Compression-style valves are ideal for DIYers because they create a watertight seal by compressing a ferrule onto the pipe, requiring only basic hand tools and no specialized skills like soldering, making them relatively easy to install.

Transcript

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and cold yep nothing nothing all right so now to get the faucet out those connections are in a really tough place way up underneath that sink so it's really hard to loosen these nuts with pliers there's just no room to swing so for that i have a special tool it's a tool called a basin wrench and that's designed to have these jaws that get up into that tight space and can actually loosen the nut or flip the jar over and you can tighten that like that right we're gonna lefty loosey

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