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Disconnect the Hot Water Line — Disconnect Water Supply Lines

Beginner

Part of project

How to Replace a Two-Handle Kitchen Faucet · Step 2 of 7

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In this video

Place a bucket underneath the connection to catch any drips. Using an adjustable wrench, carefully loosen the compression nut that connects the hot water supply line to the shutoff valve by turning it counter-clockwise. Once it's loose, you can finish unscrewing it by hand.

Goal: Detach the hot water line for flushing

Used in this video

  • Adjustable Wrench (brand: Unknown, Tool Type: Adjustable wrench, Jaw Size/Opening: Medium, Material: Steel, Power Source: Manual)Loosening and tightening the compression nut on the water supply line.
  • Bucket (brand: Rubbermaid, Tool Type: Bucket, Material: Plastic)Catching water and debris from the disconnected line.
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This Old House

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FAQs

Do I really need a special basin wrench, or can I just use a regular adjustable wrench for this project?

While an adjustable wrench is useful for visible connections, a basin wrench (like the TEKTON or Husky models listed) is highly recommended. Its long, telescoping handle and pivoting jaw allow you to reach and loosen nuts in tight, awkward spaces under the sink that a standard wrench cannot access. This tool significantly simplifies the removal and installation process.

What are the most important safety precautions to take when replacing a kitchen faucet?

The most crucial step is to completely shut off the hot and cold water supply lines to your sink before starting any work. Ensure you have a bucket and towels handy to catch any residual water, and use proper lighting (like the listed flashlight) to see clearly in the confined under-sink area. Never try to force connections without proper alignment, as this can cause damage.

The project is rated "beginner." Is it truly manageable for someone with no plumbing experience?

Yes, this project is beginner-friendly because it primarily involves disconnecting and reconnecting parts, not complex pipe cutting or soldering. The most challenging aspect is often working in confined spaces under the sink. Take your time, follow the instructions carefully, and ensure all connections are hand-tightened before a final wrench turn to avoid cross-threading.

What should I do if I can't get the old faucet nuts or supply lines to loosen?

Old nuts can be stubborn due to corrosion or mineral buildup. First, try applying penetrating oil and letting it sit for a few minutes before using your basin wrench for leverage. If still stuck, a hacksaw or oscillating tool might be necessary to carefully cut the old nuts or lines, but proceed with extreme caution to avoid damaging the sink or existing plumbing.

Transcript
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So go ahead and turn off the hot water and then you can start removing the, the line. Okay, the camera might be moving a little bit. So like I said, I'm just using a adjustable wrench, but if you have the right size, wrench, then go for it, but just keep in the sample for you guys and just loosen it enough until you could remove it just by using your hand, it still needs some work. Yeah, it's not very comfortable being underneath your sink, but it's doable and you'll see. Yeah, the camera's going to be moving a little bit so just hang tight. Okay, so once you know that it'll be, once you know that that will be loose enough to completely come off, I still need a little bit more. It would be easier if I wasn't recording, but I wanted to record it to share my experience and hopefully you'll learn and do it yourself. Okay, I don't know if I mentioned it, but you need some kind of container to collect any water that might be coming off from the lines. I just got my, my restroom, waste bin to the small enough to fit underneath the, the small enough to fit underneath here, but you can use any kind of container, because yeah, the lines will have some water and it will come out so that's what I'm using. So I'm almost there. So let's keep going. Okay, looks like it's coming off. And I'll use my other hand and you'll see. Let's see if you can see the water that comes out. Not water good. Okay, so you see this line?

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