Every homeowner has to face this problem at any point in life that your faucet needs repairing. Many homeowners prefer doing such tasks themselves as it is the best way to manage your household chores within budget. Also, you have a chance to be a self-sufficient homeowner by doing so.
Removing a bathroom faucet handle is not a difficult task, but you have to consider that every brand has a different style of faucets, and so their mechanism may differ. Kohler is one of the famous brands specializing in kitchen and bathroom faucets and fittings. In case you are looking for a guide on “how to remove Kohler bathroom faucet handle, you are at the right place.
Reasons
Before going into the procedure of removing bathroom faucets, let us look into the reasons that lead us to replace the handles.
Changing the Look
If you are thinking about changing the look of your bathroom fittings, you will need to replace the handles. And for that purpose, you do not have to be a pro at this job. Have a perfect guide, grab the tools, and get started.
Broken Handle
You might need to replace the handles if you end up with a broken one as it can give an odd look to the whole bathroom.
Rusted or Loose Handle
With the passage of time and consistent use, the bathroom or kitchen fitting starts to wear and tear. Old parts result in leakage and, that leakage can lead to rust and mineral buildup around the handle.
Replacement of Cartridge or Washer
Constant leakage from the faucet is also a common problem that you might face. Over time, the cartridge starts to wear out, making water flow easily through it. Replacing the cartridge or washer can stop the dripping. For that, you have to un-assemble the faucet parts.
Kohler has a wide variety of bathroom faucets that includes the sink, bathtub, bidet, or shower faucet. Whether or not you are looking to replace the bathroom sink faucet handle. This company usually offers four types of faucets. Center set faucets, single holes faucet, wall-mount, and widespread faucets are most common. These types come with furthermore styles of handles. Which are lever, cross, oval, square, and knob handles. There is a minor difference in their attachment to spout. Therefore, the removal of the handle will be similar.
Tools
Tools you will require for this job
- Screwdriver
- Strap wrench
- 50/50 solution
- Old cloth or towel for cleaning
- Lubricant
How to Remove Kohler Bathroom Faucet Handle?
- Before starting any task, make sure to turn off the water supply valve. You can find the valve under the sink. And if it is not available, turn off the main water supply of the house. If the faucet has double handles, you have to shut both valves.
- After that, turn on the faucet by rotating the handle to drain the remaining water in the pipe. Use pliers to hold and turn on the spout if the handle is damaged and you cannot move it. This step will ensure no pressure or water is present in the pipe, and you can work without creating any mess.
- Now, look for the cap on the handle if you have any. Take a flat object to lift the cap, for instance, a knife or a flat head screwdriver. Place it between the space of lid and handle and apply gentle pressure to lift the lid.
Similarly, if you have a lever handle, turn it to reveal the nut underneath holding the lever to the valve stem. Unscrew the nut and gently lift the lever. Knob handles have a plug button that hides the setscrew attaching the handle with the spout.
- If your faucet is old, then these setscrews might be covered with rust. This rust can make it difficult to unscrew them. Therefore you can use some lubricant to loosen it up.
- Take the screwdriver in one hand and hold the handle in the other hand. Now unfasten the screw holding the handle with the faucet. Be careful while unscrewing the nut as the handle may fall, and you will end up with another mess.
- Tip: use every tool gently, or it can ruin the finishing of the faucet.
- Now that the handle is not in the way, you can perform the repairing task. Even if you are only replacing the handles before reassembling, make sure to clean mineral deposits or debris from the faucet. It will not only clean the area but also prevent any further damage.
- After replacing or repairing re assemble everything by doing each step in reverse order. And turn on the faucet to check for any leaks.
Tip: Once you have detached all the parts of the bathroom faucet. Clean them with a 50/50 solution to remove mineral deposits or debris. You can make the solution by mixing vinegar and Lukewarm water equally.
Where to Find Replacement Handles?
You can buy replacement handles from a hardware store if you know which model you have. But If you are confused about where to buy replacement handles, it is difficult to figure out the model number. Then follow these instructions
- Go to the official Kohler website
- From the upper left corner, click on the sidebar
- There you will see four options Bathroom, Kitchen, Lighting, and Support
- Select Support option that includes Find parts and Identify your product
- If you know the name or model number, you can choose the option of Find parts, which will lead you directly to the desired product part.
- If you are not sure about the details of your product, then go for Identify your product.
- Here you will see some questions, and you have to select from the given options. That will lead you to your desired product.
You can order directly from the official website with the benefit of several discounts. Also, if you find any difficulty in repairing or any other faucet-related task, their website will find a pro to contact.
With the help of this guide, you will be able to remove the bathroom faucet handle yourself. You can perform this task even if you are new to this. Nothing can stop you if you have a perfect guide and tools.