How To: Replace Water Supply Lines
Learn how to properly replace your water supply lines with expert tips from Ben Goheen, a master plumber with 15 years of experience. Whether you’re fixing a leak or preventing a failure, SharkBite supply stops and Eastman supply lines make installing supply lines under your sink or toilet easier.
Under Sink Supply Line Install
First, check your home water pressure. Use a pressure gauge on your outdoor spigot to check if your water pressure is close to 60 psi. This will tell you if your PRV is working properly, and if your home water pressure is too low or high, it might be time to replace your PRV.
Examine your application(s) and measure. Check to see what kind of supply lines you currently have under your sink. This home had old poly supply lines that were susceptible to cracking and a p-trap that needed cleaning. After assessing what you’ll need, measure the height from the supply stop to the bottom of the sink. Check out Eastman’s variety of supply line options and lengths.
Turn off the main water line. Find where your main water line is located and carefully turn it off. Then, drain out the system by opening a faucet that is lower in your water system.
Learn More: How to Turn Off Main Water Valve for Plumbing Repairs
Check the p-trap. Start the install with your p-trap, if necessary. Ben recommends cleaning it out every 1-2 years so no blockages occur. To clean it, loosen the nut from the pipe and once the pipe is free, clean it out. Then, hand-tighten the connections, including the gasket.
Disconnect the old supply lines. Open the supply stops and unscrew the lines from the stops with two wrenches- one to hold the stop and one to loosen the connection. Then, loosen the connections closest to the sink and remove the old lines.
Note: When using a poly line, always use a poly ring to connect to your stops. You may need to purchase a poly ring, as most supply stops come with a brass ring. This does not apply when using a braided Eastman supply line.
Install your new supply lines. Hand-tighten your new Eastman supply lines and use a wrench to snug them up. Do the same for the top of the lines. If you did not replace your old supply stops, use a wrench to tighten up the packing nuts.
Toilet Supply Line Install
Ensure that you have checked your home water pressure. Then, to check if you have a failed supply stop valve, turn the valve off and flush the toilet. This will ensure that there is no water running through the supply line and into the toilet. If water continues to run and fill up the toilet, then your valve has failed. After checking the valve, shut the main water line off and drain your system.
Disconnect the old supply line. Use two wrenches to disconnect the supply line, one to hold the stop and one to loosen the nut. Then, carefully disconnect the other side of the line from the toilet, ensuring that the top nut does not come loose, since this is what creates a seal between the tank and the fill valve.
Install your new supply line. Hand-tighten the line to the toilet connection point and snug it with a wrench. Then, hand-tighten the other end of the line to the supply stop, but if you are replacing your supply stop, don’t make this connection yet.
Replacing the supply stop. Depending on your pipe type, cut the pipe from the supply stop using the correct method. For this install, Ben used a copper pipe cutter. Then, deburr the pipe with a SharkBite Max depth & deburr tool and mark the correct insertion depth. Then, slide your escutcheon on and push your SharkBite Max supply stop onto the pipe, then add the clip. Finally, connect your new supply line to your new supply stop and keep it turned off until you are ready to test your connections.
Check Connections
After you’ve replaced all the supply lines you’d like, leave the supply stops closed and go to the main water line and slowly turn it back on. Then, open a faucet to bleed the air out. Then, ease on your supply stops. For toilet applications, make sure to flush the toilet after the tank fills up.