Are you experiencing issues and need to know how to remove kitchen faucet handle with no visible screws? Here’s our step-by-step guide.
Problems could arise from a malfunctioning faucet filter or cartridge. Alternatively, it could be due to a leak or clogs in the faucet. Whatever the situation, you must remove your faucet handle before checking it.
It is pretty easy to remove kitchen faucet handles with visible screws. Removing kitchen faucets with no visible screws, on the other hand, isn’t that straightforward.
The first thing you have to do with faucets that do not have visible screws is to find the location of the hidden screws.
How to Determine Where the Screw Is Located at Every Kitchen Faucet Style
The first step in removing a faucet is to remove the screws. However, removing screwless faucet handle systems is often tricky since the screws are hidden.
Changing faucet handles with no screws involves removing the flexible supply tubes for most of these faucets. Additionally, you may need to unscrew and unmount nuts found on the tailpieces.
There are about seven different types of kitchen faucets, namely:
- Toucheless kitchen faucets
- Single and double-handled kitchen faucets
- Pull out/pull down kitchen faucets
- Separate sprayers kitchen faucets
- Touch kitchen faucets
- Commerical kitchen faucets
- Wall-mounted faucets
Although these kitchen faucets are of different types, they all have a general design principle.
Your faucet screws could be somewhere up under your sink. This style of faucet is called the deck mount or simply the mount faucet.
The brass faucet body has its faucet screws beneath the sink. If your faucet is old, you may find the brass faucet design there. However, it is pretty unlikely since basins or lavatories used this design.
Can You Remove Kitchen Faucet Handle That Has No Visible Screw?
You can easily remove a kitchen faucet handle with no visible screws if you know how. All you need is a few available tools and simple instructions to remove a faucet handle with no screws. The first thing in the process is to know the type of kitchen faucet you have.
The type of kitchen faucet you have will determine where you can locate the screws. As a general rule, modern faucets have screws under the cap.
Once you remove the cap, you will find some screws there. Unscrew them, and you can easily remove your faucet handle with no screws.
How to Remove Kitchen Faucet Handles With No Visible Screws
As we already noted, replacing any sink faucet handle with no screws is not a big deal.
However, it may become a big deal if you do not have the right tools or the correct information to follow. You will need a few tools/equipment to help you in removing kitchen faucet handles with no screws.
- Two pairs of highly specialized channel-type pliers
- A bucket
- Screwdrivers
- Basin wrench
- Allen wrenches (often not needed)
- Towel or blanket (optional)
- Utility knife
- Penetrating oil (optional)
Once you have the equipment/tools listed above, you can proceed with this step-by-step guide to remove the tap handle without a screw.
Turn off the Water Supply
The first step before removing any faucet handle is to shut off the water supply. Once you have cut off the water supply to the faucet system, you can start your job.
You can shut off the water supply by turning off the two valves under the sink. Alternatively, you can shut off the house’s main supply valve.
Turning off the valves under the sink may not be as effective as the main supply. Sometimes, the water may leak from the faucet handle. In such cases, you may need to go to your house’s main supply to shut off the valves.
Additionally, you can drain the remaining water in the faucet by turning on the handle. Once drained, you can continue the faucet handle removal process.
Also, note that you will have to change the sink faucet valves if they continue leaking after shutting them. It is quite common for old faucet valves to keep leaking. Hence, you can easily solve this problem by including new ones in your replacement project.
Removing Loose Faucet Handles With No Screws on a Standard Top-Mount Faucet
Ost kitchen sinks use the top-mount design for their faucet handle systems. This faucet has a brass faucet body that sits above the sink.
Additionally, you will find that body usually has an outer casting. To remove such a handle, you must follow these steps after turning off the water supply.
Disconnect Water Supply Tubes
The next step after turning off your water supply is to disconnect the supply tubes lodged under the sink. The supply tubes lead to the shutoff valve. To remove the supply tubes, use two sets of pliers; one holds the shutoff valve in place while the other turns the compression-mounting nut.
You will often find the supply tubes either rigid-chromed copper or flexible. However, if you find the supply tubes soldered to the shutoff valves, you can use a hacksaw or tubing cutter to cut through them. Note that you may also have to replace your supply tubes if they are not relatively new.
Loosen the Mounting Nuts
You must use a basin wrench to access the sink basin from behind to lose your mounting nuts. Once you find the vanity cabinet behind the sink basin, you can grip the mounting nut. The mounting nut holds one of your faucet valve tailpieces to a countertop or sink.
Turn the mounting nut counterclockwise while unscrewing it down the threaded tailpiece. You can repeat this motion on the other tailpiece. You may need to remove the water supply tubes on the faucet tailpiece ends to gain more access.
Remove the Faucet Body
Carefully remove the faucet body from the sink once you have removed all the mounting nuts. If the faucet is sealed to the sink deck, you may need to slide through a caulk bead. Use a sharp knife to cut through the caulk bead to free the stuck faucet body.
How to Remove a Bottom-Mount Faucet
The bottom-mount faucet’s design is such that the bulk of its body is below the sink. You will have to remove the spout and handles in such instances first. Next, you will need to remove the mounting nuts that hold the faucet from above.
Once you have removed these nuts, you can easily drop down and remove the faucet body from under the sink. You must follow these steps to remove your bottom-mount faucet.
Remove the Spout and Handles
Unlike the standard-mount faucets, you will have to work from above to remove the valve handles and spout from the faucet. Inspect your faucet body for a hidden screw holding the handle in place. This screw is sometimes located under an escutcheon ring. You must lift this ring to expose the screw.
Unscrew the Mounting Nuts
Once you have found the mounting nuts holding the faucet body, you must begin to unscrew them. You may find nuts on both handles and the spout. However, the number of nuts you find depends on the faucet design. You must use a channel-type plier to remove these mounting nuts. Also, you must repeat the process for the spout mounting nut if you find any.
Remove Faucet Body
Once you have removed all the mounting nuts from above, you can proceed to remove the faucet body. You can remove the faucet body from under the sink if it does not fall on its own. Tug gently on the faucet to remove it if it has not fallen.
Note that placing a towel under the faucet is good practice before removing the nuts. It would help if you placed a towel to prevent your faucet from causing damage to your floor or cabinet while falling.
How to Remove Double Handles Kitchen Faucet Handles With No Screw
Removing a double-handle kitchen faucet handle is just similar to the single-handle faucet system. Here are a few things you may need to remove a double-handled kitchen faucet with no screw.
- A flat-head screwdriver
- A pair of pliers
- A piece of cloth
- An Allen wrench
- A hand-puller set
- An adjustable wrench
- Distilled white vinegar
Step One: Turn Off the Water
You can shut the faucet valves under your sink to shut off the supply. Alternatively, you could shut off the water supply from the main house valve.
Step Two: Remove Faucet Cap
If your kitchen faucet has a cap, you must remove it using a flat-head screwdriver. You will often find the cap on top of the faucet handle. However, you may also find the cap on the side of your faucet handle. Once you remove the cap, you will find a visible screw underneath.
Step Three: Remove Hidden Set Screw
Cover the drain before you remove the hidden set screw. Use an Allen wrench or a spanner to remove the set screw.
Step Four: Remove Both Faucet Handles
Once you remove the set screw, you can pull off the handles gently from both sides. Use a set of pliers or a handle puller to execute this task. You can use distilled white vinegar to remove any mineral deposits accumulated on your faucet. Next, you can inspect your faucet for faults.
How to Remove a Screw With No Metal Head?
While trying to lose the faucet handle with no set screw, you may also come across those with no metal head. Sometimes, the screw broke off while you tried to remove it. Although frustrating, you can easily remove the screw by following these steps.
Step One: Use a Screw Extractor
The best way to remove a screw with no metal head is to leverage a screw extractor. Screw extractors are typically found in home improvement stores. If you don’t have one, you can visit a home improvement store to get one. No worries; a screw extractor is relatively cheap and will not cost you.
Step Two: Drilling
Once you have obtained your screw extractor, you can proceed to drill a hole in your broken screw. Use a drill smaller than the screw to make the hole down the center. You can use a 1/16 drill bit for this purpose. Always be gentle, so you don’t break the bit in the screw head.
Step Three: Use Your Extractor
The next step is you push your extractor into the drilled hole. Once you have pushed your extractor as hard as you can into the hole, you can use a hammer to tap the extractor into the hole completely.
You can turn your extractor counterclockwise using a plier to remove the screw without a metal head.
Conclusion
Removing a kitchen faucet handle without visible screws is not as hard as it seems. As a homeowner, you don’t need to hire a plumber to help remove your faucet handle.
You can follow the same process we have outlined for any kitchen faucet handle you want to remove.
You can find hidden screws under the handle cap or under the sink in every situation. Take great care while removing your faucet, so you do not damage the entire system.
