Introduction:
If you have bought an RV and find its faucets faulty or not up to the mark of quality for you, then you should replace them. If your new RV doesn’t have a proper Kitchen faucet and you want to replace it yourself, this is the guide. You can purchase RV sinks and faucets from reliable sources like TORVA and start installing them yourself after having sound knowledge.
Kitchen faucets are mainly held to the countertops using a huge nut. This makes the replacement and installation of RV sinks and faucets relatively easy. Coming from the control base of the faucet are cold and hot water supply lines and a sprayer hose line that feeds your faucet. You must remove the old faucet first, which will be very easy. You must only remove that holding nut and disconnect the cold and hot water lines.
Having a high-quality and stylish faucet in your RV kitchen will make your RV look much more elegant and functional. You need to understand the need to purchase faucets one time and use them for long periods. A replacement will help you find suitable faucets that suit the theme of your kitchen and give it a proper look and functionality. Here is how you can upgrade your RV kitchen faucet.
What types of RV kitchen faucets are available?
Kitchen faucets are available in many forms and types. These are one-piece, with integrated handles and a spout that only needs one hole. One-hole kitchen faucets with a single handle are mostly user-friendly and easy to clean. Two-hole kitchen faucets are bridge-style designed, and even handle faucets are in combination with room for a sprayer. Three-hole kitchen faucets are the most traditional faucets with cold and hot taps; the fourth hole is for the sprayer.
- Single Handle
The kitchen sink faucets mostly come with a new handle feature that rotates directionality to let you change the water temperature.
- Double Handle
The two handle features are for cold and hot water settings. These also come with a sprayer which sits over the side.
- Pull-Out/Pull-Down
Pull-out or pull-down featured faucets or sprayers with stream and sprayer options. Hands-free faucets are convenient for your kitchen and maybe touch- or motion-activated. These faucets have different controls, such as volume and water temperature, making them safer for houses with kids.
What materials are best for RV kitchen faucets?
RV kitchen faucets are made of plastic or metal in most cases. Metal faucets may be made of chrome, bronze, or nickel and are much longer-lasting than plastic alternatives. These RV sink faucets might be a bit heavier than their plastic counterparts, but are highly durable. They also give a very sleek look but are over the expensive side. Plastic faucets will come cheap and are a trendy choice among the Rvers. These faucets are less durable but come cheap, so you will find them installed in your newly bought RVs installed by previous owners.
How do I choose the right size faucet for my RV?
If you have a faucet specially designed for your RV, then it will fit in your RV. However, check the dimensions and ensure the product fits your sink. Some also need a mounting hole, whereas others need two or even three, based on whether they are double or single-handled or come with a sprayer. Along with this, the height of the spout also differs based on the make and model of the RV faucet and sink. These are highly crucial factors to consider before you install the new faucet.
What features should I look for in an RV kitchen faucet?
Here are some features you must consider before you buy your new RV sink faucet.
- Space constraints:
R kitchen are mostly small in size. To ensure you get a good fit for the faucet, measure the area that will accommodate the kitchen sink and faucet. To stay away from issues later on, you should consider the faucet’s reach and height.
- Water pressure:
Compared to residential residences, the pressure in an RV may be less. It would help if you looked for an RV kitchen sink faucet that can perform well over lesser pressures. This guarantees a constant water supply even with low water pressure in your camping locations.
- Durability and material:
RVs are prone to constant shocks and movements, so select a sturdy faucet. As they are highly long-lasting and corrosion-resistant, brass and stainless steel are ideal options. Steer clear of the plastic faucets as they can break quite easily.
Step-by-Step Guide to Replacing Your RV Kitchen Faucet
Here is a guide to installing the faucet by yourself.
Items needed:
You will need the following items to complete the installation.
- Adjustable wrench
- Pair of channel locks
- Socket set, which includes deep sockets
- Teflon tape
- Plumbers putty
- A small bowl or a bucket to catch the left water in the supply line
- Faucet wreck that will help you reach the hard-to-reach nuts that secure your RV sink faucet in place. Mostly, the space where these are located is too tight.
Shut off the water supply:
Next, you have to shut the water supply off. If you are connected to your water supply in city water or a park water source, you can shut off the supply on the faucet. If you are boondocking, you should make sure that you turn off the water pip before you start. Now, you can clear out what you are storing in the cabins under the sink and give yourself room to work.
RV sink faucet replacement:
Now, you have to replace the faucet based on the faucet style. A single-hole faucet includes all supply lines and the sprayer hoses being fed using a single hole in the sink or on the countertop from the base of the faucet. If you have three current holes for mounting, then no worries. The single-hole faucet may have a base plate covering the remaining two holes. In this way, if you want to go from the three-hole to the single-hole look, you may do this with a few holes in your sink or countertop. But if you have the single-hole style but want to go with the three-style, you must drill in some extra holes in the sink countertop.
Secondly, if you have three-hole faucets, you have a similar number of supply hookups but a hot and cold valve on the right and left of the faucet to turn the supply onto the faucet. Your water supply lines from the coach will now connect to the faucet valves on the left or right. If there are water supply lines for a pull-down or the handheld sprayer, this will still come off from the faucet in the middle.
Maintenance Tips for Your New RV Kitchen Faucet
To keep your RV kitchen sink faucet running smoothly and delicately, you must maintain it occasionally. The functionality and longevity of the RV kitchen sink faucet mainly depend on proper maintenance. It would help if you did the following to maintain the faucet in the best condition.
Maintenancetips
The functionality and longevity of the RV sink faucet mainly depend on ideal maintenance. It would help if you did these to keep the faucet in its best condition.
Regular cleaning
Cleaning your faucets from time to time will help avoid the collection of dirt and grime on the faucet. Steer clear of any harsh chemicals that might harm the look of your faucets and instead choose water and soap solution for a squeaky clean look.
Check for leaks
You should inspect for leaks periodically and fix them on the spot to prevent water damage. Reinstall the worn-out washers and tighten the loose connections.
Protection against water freezing
If you also use an RV in winter, ensure the faucet isn’t freezing. When it isn’t in use, drain the plumbing system and the faucet or use the antifreeze product to keep the faucets from freezing.