Do you need to replace your Kohler kitchen faucet, and you’re wondering how to do it? Wonder no more because we have researched this question and have the answer for you.
Here is an overview of how to remove your Kohler kitchen faucet:
- Turn off the water valve for the cold and hot water.
- Disconnect the water lines from the cold and hot water valves.
- Loosen the mounting screws.
- Unscrew the mounting nuts under the sink.
- Pull out the faucet from the sink. Apply a slight pressure if the faucet is sealed by caulk.
The instructions above give you a summary of what to do. The succeeding sections have detailed instructions for removing your Kohler kitchen sink. Read on!
How to remove a Kohler kitchen faucet?
We’ll start by listing the tools and items that you will need to remove a Kohler kitchen faucet. Then we will proceed to the detailed steps of how to remove it.
What are the tools and materials needed to remove a Kohler kitchen faucet?
Here are the tools and materials that you will need to remove your Kohler kitchen faucet.
- Adjustable wrench
- Basin wrench
- Faucet and sink installer
- Penetrating oil
- Pillow
- Rags or old towels
- Rechargeable lamp
- Rubber gloves
- Safety glasses
- Shallow basin
What to prepare before removing a Kohler kitchen faucet?
Here are the things you will need to do before removing your Kohler kitchen faucet.
- Remove everything under the sink. You will primarily work under the sink to remove your faucet. Thus, you will need the space to work on your back and space for the rechargeable lamp to provide light.
- Some homes have a power supply outlet under the sink. If you have a power supply under the sink, turn it off from the circuit breaker. Don't turn it back on until you have completed what you need to do and have verified that there are no leaks in the shut-off valves under the sink.
- Position the rechargeable lamp to point the light on the faucet assembly under the sink. Place it close to one side so that it will not block the area where you will be working.
- Wear your safety glasses. You will be working on your back with the faucet above you. This means that screws, nuts, or bolts can fall on your face while you work. The safety glasses are there to protect your eyes from anything that could fall on them.
How to disconnect the water lines before removing a Kohler kitchen faucet?
Follow the steps below to disconnect the water lines that supply hot and cold water to your Kohler kitchen faucet. You will not be able to remove the faucet until you have disconnected the water lines.
- Close the shut-off valves of the hot and cold water supply.
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- Be careful with the hot water supply valve because it can get really hot, and you can burn yourself if you’re not careful. This is where you should use rubber gloves or old towels to hold the hot valve.
- Spray a generous amount of penetrating oil if the shut-off valve has become too hard to shut off. Let it sit for a few minutes, then try to shut it off once more. If it is still hard to shut off, spray some more and let it soak once more.
- Always brace the supply pipes whenever you are tightening, loosening, closing, or opening the shut-off valves. This is to minimize the movement of the water supply pipes and prevent any unnecessary damage.
- You will need to turn off the water supply to your entire house if you do not have a shut-off valve under your sink.
- Open your faucet to drain any excess water inside the pipes and relieve them of any stored pressure.
- Use one of your wrenches (pick the one with the right fit and most comfortable to use) to loosen the water line coming from the shut-off valve. Remove the cold water line and the hot water line.
- Keep the nut and the water line raised until you can position the shallow basin under the water line. Drain all the remaining water inside the water line into the shallow basin.
- Do the same thing for the other water line to drain the water from it too. Be careful with the water line that supplies hot water.
- Disconnect the diverter from the water line coming from the Kohler kitchen faucet. There are several different ways that the diverter line is connected to the side sprayer. However, the most popular is through a locking mechanism that keeps the connection tight and in place.
How to separate the Kohler kitchen faucet from the sink assembly?
After disconnecting the water lines, the next step would be to separate the faucet from the kitchen sink. These are the steps to separate the Kohler kitchen faucet from the kitchen sink and remove it completely.
- Position your pillow under the sink. Get under the sink on your back so that you can have a good look at the faucet assembly under the sink.
- Some faucets have mounting screws that help give the mounting nut a tighter grip on the sink. Loosen these screws using your screwdriver. You might need a longer screwdriver if these screws are hard to reach.
- If the mounting screws are hard to remove, spray a generous amount of penetrating oil and let it soak for a few minutes. Retry if the screws are no longer stuck. If they are, spray more penetrating oil and let it soak once more. Do the same thing if the mounting nut is hard to remove.
- Like the mounting screws, the mounting nuts can also be hard to reach because they will be behind the sink, and the position of the sink could be limiting the space for you to work on the nuts. Check which of the wrenches you have prepared will allow you to reach the mounting nuts while giving you a good grip too. Unscrew all the mounting nuts under the sink.
- Carefully lift the Kohler kitchen faucet from the sink. Apply a steady amount of force to get rid of caulk that might be holding it down. Uninstall the escutcheon assembly as well.
- Clean the area thoroughly.
How to remove a Kohler tub spout?
It is sometimes necessary to remove tub spouts to be able to clean the mineral buildup inside the spout. Some Kohler tub spout models require a hex key, while some can be removed without any tools.
We’ll cover all of these in the sections below.
How to identify the Kohler tub spout you have?
It is important to know which kind of tub spout you have. Forcibly twisting the wrong Kohler tub spout could cause damage to the pipes.
Check the bottom of the spout where it meets the wall. You could use a small mirror (or a smartphone’s front camera) to check under the spout for a crevice.
If you see a crevice there, then that type has a set screw. It is a slip-fit type of spout.
If you see a completely smooth bottom, then that spout can be twisted off. This type is a threaded spout.
How to remove a Kohler Slip-Fit spout?
Plumbers often apply plumber’s putty when installing a Kohler tub spout based on the manufacturer's suggestion. If this is the case, use a putty knife to remove the seal.
Use a hex key (Kohler often uses a 5/32-inch hex key) to unscrew the spout once you’ve removed the seal and the screw has been exposed. Turn the hex key counterclockwise and loosen the screw. You don’t have to remove it completely.
Once the screw is loose enough, you can pull the tub spout off the water pipe.
The TEKTON 30-piece hex key wrench set is available on Amazon. Check it out through this link.
How to remove a threaded Kohler spout?
Use a putty knife to remove any plumber’s putty or caulk to unseal the spout from the wall.
Most Kohler spouts can be twisted off by hand. However, a sufficient mineral deposit can make it harder to twist some spouts off.
If you cannot loosen it by hand, use a wrench to twist it. If you plan to reuse it later, cover the spout with an old towel before using the wrench to grip it.
The Red Devil plastic putty knife, a 3-piece knife set, is available on Amazon. Check it out through this link.
Conclusion
A Kohler kitchen faucet can be simple to remove, although it can be hard to reach. Using the right tools can help a lot in removing it from your sink.
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