RV Faucet Replacement: A Step-by-Step Illistruated Guide

The process of replacing an RV faucet is simple. Carefully follow the steps below and you will have the new faucet working in less than an hour. This process works the same for both Kitchen and Bathroom Faucets.

Please make sure you gather all of your tools and parts before starting. Getting into the middle of a project like this and realizing you need something is not good. Water will be off for the entire coach until the project is complete!

Step by Step Guide to Changing a RV Faucet

  1. Gather your tools and supplies. Replacing a RV faucet is a straightforward job, but it does require a few tools that you will need to remove the old faucet and install the new one. The tools you'll need include:
Required Tools: PEX Crimp Tool, PEX Cutter, 1/2″ PEX Barb to 3/8″ shut-off valve
Find a Faucet that will fit in the desired location
  1. Turn Off on-board Water pump, Electric and GAS Water Heater, and water. If you are connected to external water, turn it off. Also make sure your water pump is off.
Turn Off Water
  1. Open sink faucets and low-point drain valves. This will relieve pressure from the lines and drain the water out below the replacement sink level.
Open Water Faucets to Release Pressure
Open Low-Point Drains to Evacuate Water System
  1. Identify Water Supply Lines and Disconnect. The Water lines are below the cabinet. RV Faucets are typically connected with compression fittings. Two crescent wrenches will make disconnecting the lines easier.
Identify the Water Supply Lines. Blue is Cold and Red is Hot.
Disconnect the Water Lines from Faucet. Two Crescent Wrenches works best.
  1. Remove Bolts holding Faucet to Countertop. Most Faucets have finger screws that can be removed by hand.
Remove Nut Holding Faucet to Countertop. Ours had two Phillips screws that needed to be loosened first.
Remove old Faucet
  1. Install gasket around bace of new Faucet and Install in Counter. The gasket keeps water from draining under faucet. If yours does not have a gasket use a beed of silicon.
Install Faucet Gasket. Make sure the beed is facing toward the Faucet.
Insert Faucet into Countertop carefully to avoid scratching the faucet or the counter.
Tighten Nut to hold Faucet in Place. Do not Over Tighten. Make sure Faucet is centered on Sink over Drain.
  1. Cut PEX Water Lines to Length. Do not cut too short.
Cut PEX Lines to Length. Ours had a plastic coupler. We cut below the coupler into the hard PEX line.
  1. Install PEX Fittings onto Water Lines. Install the Crimp rings, shutoff valve and then crimp.
Install PEX Crimp connectors on Lines
Install 1/2″ PEX BARB to 3/8″ Shut-Off Valves onto Hot and Cold Water Lines.
Crimp PEX Rings to Lines. Careful to ensure a solid crimp. Pull on the shutoff valve and ensure it will not release from the line.
  1. Connect Faucet supply lines to 3/8″ shutoff valve. The shutoff valves come with compression fittings. Some faucets supply lines will require them. Discard if yours doesn't.
Connect Faucet Supply Line to Shutoff Valve. Make sure the Gasket seats into valve fully. Notice the red gasket on the picture above. This is indicating that it is the HOT supply line. All faucets will use Red and Blue or have labels identifying what line is hot vs cold.

If your faucet is not marked HOT and COLD you will have to run water through the line to verify the orientation.

On standard faucets the left valve is hot and the right side is cold. This is the same for single valve faucets that twist left (HOT) and right (COLD). Faucets that pull forward and backward to set temperature, forward is cold and backwards is hot.

Tighten Nut connecting Supply Line to the Shutoff Valve. Do not Over Tighten.
  1. Turn on Water, Open Shutoff Valves and Sink Faucet. Turn off any sink that may be in the open position, Close low-point drains, Turn On Water and inspect installation carefully for leaks.

Do not turn on Water heater yet!

We want to ensure it is full of water before turning it on. Turning on the Water heater without water inside will permanently damage the heating element! The water should be warm enough for identifying hot vs cold water with the Water Heater off.

Turn on Faucet switching between HOT and COLD. Verify water is flowing smoothly then close valve and check fittings for leaks.

It is important to bleed the lines of air before checking for leaks. Flowing water through the new faucet and the others in the RV will ensure that all PEX lines are charged with water. It is a good idea to check the new fittings several times a day for a few days to ensure they are not leaking.

The best way to ensure the water system is fully charged is to run one sink at a time on hot then cold. Let water run until it is sable without any spirts of air.

After you are comfortable that the air is out of the hot and cold lines by running water through all faucets, shower, toilets, washer, etc. you can turn on the water heater.

Jim Kerr

Jim Kerr is a entrepreneur that has founded several businesses including Orbitz, Team Convergence, Assure Flight, and Passion Highway. He is an airplane pilot, PADI SCUBA Dive Master and adventure traveler. Along with his wife Lisa, they travel North America in their 2020 Grand Design Momentum 397TH Toy Hauler with their cat Dexter. To find out more about Jim, visit JamesNKerr.com

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