How To Tighten A Kitchen Faucet Nut Under A Sink (Do This!)

If you should notice a little bit of water leaking out from your faucet, don’t panic. The problem is actually a quite common one. Even better, the fix is a simple one that even the most amateur DIYer out there can handle.

The one caveat is that it requires accessing faucet nuts that are located under the sink. With a few handy tools, the process is simple. Just clear out the sink so you have room to work, adjust the faucet position, and tighten the nut. That’s all there is to it and you should notice that the water no longer leaks out from the loose faucet.

Want to learn more about what makes up a kitchen sink? Check out 36 Parts of a Kitchen Sink.

To a total amateur, seeing water coming out of the base or handle of your faucet can be a scary proposition. The good news is that it is a fairly common issue. You likely will not have to replace the faucet or have a repairman out to handle the issue.

The leaking is more often than not due to a loose component. The nuts that hold the handle and the base in place can loosen over time. That is totally normal. Tightening the nuts is typically enough to get those components secured once again, taking away the avenue for water to leak out. You can also typically pinpoint the leaking to one specific area of the faucet, making it easier to identify the trouble spot.

Before you can attempt to tackle the job at hand, you need the right tools. The good news is that you need just a trio of tools to do the job: a basin wrench, adjustable pliers, and a flashlight. The good news is that, even if you don’t have these tools, they can be had for cheap at your local home improvement store.

Keep these tools handy. Whether you face a leaking sink or not, those tools will likely come in handy at some point in time. Having them in your toolbox is highly recommended as they will no doubt be useful for small fixes here and there.

Headlamp. If you have a headlamp, all the better. When you are under the sink trying to work, it can be difficult to see. Having a flashlight may work just fine, but a headlamp will project light directly where you are looking.

Since the solution requires getting underneath the sink, you will need to have space to work. If you are like most other people, underneath the sink can become cluttered with a variety of things. Garbage bags, cleaning supplies, and various miscellaneous items no doubt litter the cabinets.

Completely empty the space. Take the time to properly clear the space out. If you have a specific organizational tactic, arrange the items in a way that indicates how they were stored. Also, make sure to keep chemicals up and out of reach of any children or pets that may be in the home.

Do not leave anything underneath the sink. The space is restricted enough as it is. Give yourself as much space to work with as possible. Having more space means improved comfort and less distraction as you want to get the job done sooner rather than later.

Depending on the design of your cabinets and sink, there may be a P-trap that blocks access. If that is the case, you will have to remove it. You can use your adjustable pliers to remove the nuts that hold the P-trap to the sink tailpiece and wall drain.

Adjust the faucet. When you have removed that piece, you should be finally able to access the nut. Use it to adjust the faucet so that it fits appropriately into place. Center it and make sure that it lines up well with the wall just behind it.

When you have the faucet well-fitted, secure the retaining nut beneath the sink. If you have someone that can help, all the better. They can hold the faucet steady while you tighten the nut. This is also where the headlamp will come in handy. It gets dark under the sink and proper lighting can make the job a lot easier.

You may be able to use your hands to tighten the nut, but don’t chance it. Even if the nut feels tight when using your hand, you likely will not be able to properly tighten the nut. That is where the basin wrench comes in handy.

Using the basin wrench. With the basin wrench handy, clamp it onto the jaw of the nuts. The elongated handle makes accessing tight areas like this much simpler. With a secure grip, turn the handle clockwise in order to tighten the nut.

Continue to tighten the nut until the faucet sits stationary and the kitchen night is completely tight. The key here is to not overtighten the nut. Nuts made of plastic can crack when they are overtightened. For metal nuts, overtightening can make it a gargantuan task to remove in the future.

Screws or hex bolts. If your sink’s faucet has screws or hex bolts instead, then a screwdriver with a longer handle will work just fine. A socket set is of great use when it comes to tightening bolts and will no doubt come in handy at some point in the future.

That all sounds quite easy, right? But what if you don’t have the tools for the job on hand and don’t want to or can’t run out to the local home improvement store to pick one up? Don’t worry, that does not mean that you can’t get the job done.

There are more than a few alternatives around the house that can be used to get the job done. With a little ingenuity and creativity, you can use the following to tighten the bolts and get your faucet back in working order again.

If you want to get truly MacGuyver-ish about it, you can get the job done with either a zip-tie or a couple of coins that are laying around the house. It may require a bit more effort than some of the other methods, but you can still get the job done.

Zip-ties. You may be surprised at the sheer number of things that can be secured using zip-ties. But they don’t stop at just tidying up cables or attaching hubcaps. All you need to do is position the zip-tie around the faucet’s nut and make it as tight as you can. Like the duct tape, you grab onto the tail of the zip-tie and pull. Keep pulling on the zip-tie until the nut feels secure.

Coins. If you are adamant about not heading to the store and don’t have anything listed above, then there is one last recourse: two coins. That’s right, a pair of coins (think quarter-sized) can come in handy far more often than you may realize.

All you have to do is position them on either side of the faucet nut. Then, using your index and middle fingers, put the coins between those knuckles. That is meant to give you enhanced grip as you turn. Then, twist the coins in the direction that will tighten the nuts. Keep turning until you can’t anymore and test the faucet to ensure that it is tight enough to stop the leaking.