Just as you do not need to panic and call in a plumber when plumbing repairs are required, there are kitchen installations that you can do for yourself, even as a beginner, in your home or RV. You can easily handle installing a dishwasher, replacing a kitchen pipe, and installing a kitchen faucet.
Ensure to check if you
require permits from your local authority to carry out specific installations.
Installing A
Dishwasher
Installing a dishwasher is easy, and you do not need to
spend money on a plumber to do it for you.
Tools
Needed
Ø Wrench
Ø Pliers
Ø Screwdriver
Materials
needed
Ø Dishwasher
Ø Wire
nuts Screws
Method
1.
Attach the drain line
Take your Dishwasher out of the box, and lay it face down
to see its back. Double-check that all the connections are intact.
Remove the cap from the drain line.
2.
Thread The Drain Line
Crimp the clamp around the hose. You will need pliers to
secure it well. Thread the drain line into the hole under the sink.
3.
Place the Dishwasher Under the Counter Top
Carefully place the new Dishwasher under your countertop.
Adjust the dishwasher legs' height by levelling the
countertop using a wrench with the screws anchoring the Dishwasher to the
countertop.
4. Reattach the Wires
Ensure the power is off at the breaker. Reattach the wires
carefully, matching the colours, then screw on the wire nuts and finally wrap
with electrical tape.
Put the copper ground wire under the green-round screw, and
then tighten downwards.
5.
Connect the Supply Line to the Dishwasher
Using a wrench, attach the Dishwasher and the supply line
and connect the drain line to the plumbing system.
Turn on the water that is under the sink.
Connect the drain line to the plumbing system by tightening
the clamp firmly around the hose. After making the connections correctly, turn
the power on at the breaker.
You can install a dishwasher depending on your RV's size
of. Nonetheless, it is good to know that you will use a lot of water, yet you
want to conserve as much water as possible. Because you have to regularly fill
up your fresh water tank, you most probably want it to last for a long time.
Also, you will use high voltage power from your generator,
which needs to last for as long as you are on the road. If it is your home,
power conservation is a priority. Furthermore, you have to winterize it to
prevent freezing during winter.
How to
Replace a Kitchen Pipe
Replacing a kitchen pipe may
look complex, but it's one of the easiest projects to carry out, even for a
beginner. You may want to change it because it is leaking or for some other
reason. The curved pipe is connected to the waste lines and the sink drain. As
you prepare to fix new pipes, it's good to ensure that they are aligned. If the
alignment is off even slightly, it won't seal, and it will continue leaking.
Replacing a kitchen pipe in your RV is the same as that in
residential homes. The only difference is that the drain pipe connects to one
sewer line in your home, while in the RV, it connects to two separate tanks,
the grey and the black tank.
1.
Remove the Old Pipes
Removing the old pipes should not be difficult. However,
you may need the necessary tools to loosen the P-pipe that cannot come off
easily.
Supplies
Needed
Ø Hacksaw
Ø Adjustable
pliers
Ø Bucket
Ø Tape
measure
Method
1.
To Begin…
Place a bucket under the curved part of the P-trap. Turn
off the water valve to prevent getting soaked if the faucet is open without
knowing when working on the pipes.
Inspect and take measurements using tape so that you may
purchase the right size. Using adjustable pliers, grasp the nuts found on the
pipes extending down from the drain and the sink, and turn it clockwise. If the
pipe is metal, you may have to spray lubricant to loosen the threads' nuts.
Disconnect the traps by pulling them away and turn them
upside down to drain water into the bucket. If the traps were attached to a
common tee, unscrew the connection and remove the tee.
If necessary, remove the tailpieces. To remove them,
unscrew them from the drain by turning clockwise using adjustable pliers.
2.
Install The New Sink Drain Pipe
Once you have removed the old pipes, you are now ready to
install the new pipes under the kitchen sink. To achieve a perfect connection,
you need tight and precise fittings.
Screw-in the tailpieces; they are long and can extend to the
same level as the drain line's top. Extend the tailpieces to at least 2 feet
above the cabinet's bottom- if the drainpipe is on the floor. With a hacksaw,
cut the tailpieces to the desired length.
Still using a hacksaw, cut the new pipes to match with the
old ones. Ensure they are the same diameter. PVC pipes are preferred in the
kitchen because they do not rust easily.
Connect the pipes with compression fittings, and then use
your hand to tighten the nuts up to the point where you are ready to fix the P-traps.
Next, proceed to slide every trap onto its fitting tailpiece. Then proceed to
tighten your nut, and then swivel it so as to meet the pipe that goes to the
drain. Fix that end then proceed to tighten the nut.
After you are done fixing the new pipes, open the drain and
let the water out to check if there are any leaks. Tighten any connection that
is leaking using adjustable pliers.
Tips
If your sink contains garbage disposal, the trap is
attached to it the same way it is
attached to the tailpiece.
If you cannot unscrew the tailpiece, then unscrew the lock
nut and push it up to remove the complete drain. After you replace the drain,
spread the plumber's putty on the filter's bottom part before replacing the
lock nut.
Never use pipe dope or plumbing tape to stop P-trap leaks.
None has any effect and will only make the leak worse.
Installing a
Kitchen Faucet
Installing a kitchen faucet is simple, and it's a great
project for a beginner. It also doesn't take much time. You need first to
identify a tap you prefer. You may, for example, choose a sleek design made
from stainless steel.
Faucets in an RV are fixed the same way as in homes. You
can install any faucet in your RV, though most RV suitable faucets are plastic,
unlike metal ones found in your home.
Tools
Needed
Ø Wrench
Ø Screwdriver
Method
1. Remove all the items under your sink so that you can
access the pipes.
2. Shut off the water supply to avoid making a mess as you
work. Grab a few towels as well. Some water will remain in the pipes even after
you turn off the water.
3. Locate the two water lines. They may either be at the
water shut-off valve or the back of the cabinet. If yours is attached to the
old faucet, you need to de-attach them to remove the old one.
4. Disconnect the water pipes by unscrewing them using a wrench.
Remove the old faucet by lifting it and then pull the attached lines through
the hole on top of the sink.
5. New faucets typically come with new water pipes already
attached, making them easy to install. The yellow arrow points to the hose
pipe.
6. When you install the faucet, the spray hose will make a
loop and plug right back into a clip on the faucet. Ensure the faucet is
adequately tightened at the spray hose.
7. Place the plastic washer that is grey in colour over the housing and the attached lines, and then proceed to drop them down inside the opening on the sink. Remember that your grey goes on the countertop or sink. The rest of the hardware remains under the sink. Screw the faucet tightly in place.
8. Connect back the water lines under the sink and reattach
the spray hose to its clip. Turn on the water and run the faucet, testing it
for leaks. You now have a new working faucet.
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