How to Replace Pedestal Sink Parts | Ask This Old House

Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner replace all the plumbing components in his pedestal sink.

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Time: 2-3 hours

Cost: $150

Skill Level: Moderate

Tools:

Shopping List:

Steps for Replacing Pedestal Sink Parts:
1. Start by shutting off the hot and cold water valves to the sink. Open the faucet to ensure the shutoffs hold.
2. Disconnect the hot and cold water supply lines using pliers. There will still be a little bit of water in these hoses so be prepared with a small bucket or a rag to catch the water.
3. Remove the basin of the sink from the base of the pedestal.
a. The basin is usually held against the wall by two bolts, which can be loosened using a wrench.
b. Richard recommends scoring along the wall with a utility knife to prevent any caulking between the sink and the wall from damaging the wall.
c. To loosen the drain connection, carefully slide the pedestal away from the basin until you can get a wrench around the drain.
d. Once everything is disconnected, pull the basin away. Richard suggests sliding a putty knife in between the score marks from the utility knife with a hammer to ensure that all the caulking has been separated from the sink.
4. With the sink removed from the wall, replace any parts that require replacing.
a. To replace the supply hoses: disconnect the nuts from the base of the sink using a basin wrench. Secure the new hoses using the same process in reverse.
b. To replace the pop-up assembly: loosen the drain connection using the basin wrench. Disassemble the linkages for the pop-up and pull the plunger from the top of the sink. Reverse this process for the installation. In the case of the video, Richard replaced the pop-up with a push-button drain that required no linkages and came with the faucet.
c. To replace the faucet: disconnect the nuts underneath the hot and cold handles using the basin wrench. Pull the faucet and the handles out of the sink. Slide the new faucet into the hole. Apply plumber’s putty underneath the faucet on the face of the basin. Tighten the new nut from the underside of the basin. Make all the new hose connections to the faucet. Newer models have plastic push connections that can be made without any tools.
5. Place the sink back on the bolts against the wall and on top of the drain.
6. Tighten the bolts and the nut for the drain using a wrench.
7. Slide the pedestal fully into position.
8. Connect the hot and cold water lines to the hot and cold shutoffs using the wrench.
9. Turn the water back on.

Resources:

The other tools and materials Richard used to remove the old faucet and install the new one, including the wrenches and the plumber’s putty, can be found at home centers and plumbing supply houses.

About Ask This Old House TV:
Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we're ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Jenn Nawada.

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How to Replace Pedestal Sink Parts | Ask This Old House

[btofan]

I wish Richard was my best bud and he would come over to my house and do weekend projects. I would make coffee.

[SportsFan]

Another good vid by Richard. Has such a likable disposition

[larrymoore]

Good stopper design, eliminates the linkage and the adjustment. I like the clean look of the faucets.

[markhall]

That was a good one. A tip from me: always keep the plug hole blocked / covered when working in a sink or bath to prevent items falling down there.

[theelementaldogllc]

Well, shoot. I had hoped changing out the faucet on a pedestal sink would be easy. I think I'd better call the plumber instead of trying it Great video with a lot of good and useful information and I really like that fancy stopper.

[PeterYacono]

Question for Richard. How does he deal with full city water pressure and how dangerous is it ?

[colinmoore]

Thanks Richard, I will be tackling this same job tomorrow.

[darrendexter]

I am needing to change the faucet only on my pedestal sink, and was looking for the right tool to get to the upper connector on the supply lines. Richard says it at 0:47 - Basin Wrench!!! Thank You!!

[lenn]

So when your sink is filled with dirty water you have to reach your hand in that water and press down on the stopper?

[brianrussell]

I like that pop-up/pop-down sink drain. No more fussy assemblies. Best part of that whole video. Are these drain assemblies available in the big box stores? Or only in the professional plumbing supply houses? Richard, thank you. You’re a pro and are appreciated!

[DanBurgaud]

I'd like to share this:
It is common knowledge we have P Trap on our sink and shower floor drain - to prevent sewer gas from backing up. But did you know that the P-Trap itself, after some time would collect gunk from all the soap, dirt and grim along it's inner surface and it stinks? There are numerous remedies to this such as Vinegar + Baking Soda etc... But nothing beats using a high pressure washer.

[jombyalters]

Oh that was simple. What about those where the pedestal that is enclosed with pipe running down center and through a hole?

[RoastBeefSandwich]

Richard "Full City Water Pressure" Trethewey

[likearockcm]

I've had problems with those pop up stoppers before, maybe they're better engineered these days.Richard is the best and makes plumbing fun !

[mejesse]

Thitooey's favorite saying, "GOOD"...

[DanBurgaud]

We have 4 pedestal type sinks and I ABSOLUTELY HATE IT!

[VideosbySteve]

Pedestal sinks look great in the trash.

[bigmikemb]

He is not kidding about plumbers not liking a pedestal sink

[SteelheadTed]

This was very helpful and wouldn’t you know it, the faucet you replaced is exactly the same model I replaced. Must have been popular 15 years ago.

[marcellamaitland]

Thanks . I am a single mom, my sink is leaking as it is broken. I have to move the sink from the wall and change the damage patrs by myself .