How to Repair a Loose Kitchen Faucet

The faucet in the kitchen sink is connected to the water supply in your home through two water hoses (one for hot, one for cold) underneath the sink. A pair of plastic wing nuts hold the faucet secure in place in the sink. Sometimes these wing nuts can work themselves loose, resulting in a wobbly faucet. Fixing a loose kitchen faucet is a fairly simple repair.

• 1

  Open up the cabinet beneath the loose kitchen faucet. Remove any supplies or objects that might be in the way and set them aside.

• 2

  Locate the water supply shut-off valves. These are typically mounted on the wall underneath the kitchen faucet. There will be two hoses running up from the water supply valves to the faucet above. Rotate the knobs on the end of the faucet clockwise to turn off the water.

• 3

  Unscrew the supply hose couplings on the underside of the faucet. Detach the sprayer hose, if present, by rotating the coupling counterclockwise. Unscrew the plastic wing nuts located above the couplings and remove them.

• 4

  Lift the faucet body up and out of the sink. Clean the area around the faucet sockets with a putty knife and kitchen cleaner. Remove any old traces of caulk or putty, as these may cause the faucet body to seat incorrectly and cause it to come loose again.

• 5

  Roll out a thick bead of plumber's putty and press it into place on the underside of the faucet. Insert the faucet body back into the sink so that the inlets poke through the holes in the sink.

• 6

  Screw the plastic wing nuts back on the underside of the sink around the water inlets. Tighten with the pliers. Wrap the inlets on the faucet with Teflon plumber's tape. Connect the supply hose couplings and tighten. Reconnect the sprayer hose, if present, and tighten the coupling.

• 7

  Insert the caulk into the caulk gun. Trim off the edge at the 1/4 inch mark at a 45-degree angle. Caulk around the base of the faucet. Allow the caulk time to dry according to manufacturer's instructions.

• 8

  Restore the water supply by turning the water supply valves counterclockwise.