How to seal around kitchen faucet? (Step by Step Guide)

Caulking is a sealant that fills cracks, gaps, and imperfections on the surface. This means that you should caulk where moisture might penetrate and cause deterioration. 

The faucet base cannot make a tight seal by itself to the counter it sets on, so it would be a good idea to caulk around the kitchen faucet.

Here I’ll configure out how to seal around kitchen faucet with all the important steps.

Why Should you Caulk Around Kitchen Faucet?

If there is no tight seal around the faucet and the countertop, moisture can seep underneath the counter and faucet. 

This can happen from an internal leak or splashes. 

Some faucets come with special rings to help them seal in place. 

You have to seal other faucets after you install them and then reseal them later to help prevent leaks.

Choosing the Right Caulk

When choosing a sealant, or caulk, look at the color of the faucet, countertop, and sink along with the type of materials each one is. 

You can get it in different types of material and colors; silicone, copolymer, and acrylic bases. 

Some even consider plumber’s putty as a type of caulking.

Steps for Caulking Using Plumber’s Putty

• Turn off the water supply under the sink to the faucet. Make sure that the hot and cold water is turned off.
• Once you have turned off the water, turn the faucet on to drain all water out of it.
• If you are installing another faucet, you have to remove it from the counter or sink. Use a wrench to disconnect the water supply lines. You will also need to use it to loosen the nuts holding the faucet to the counter or sink.
• When the faucet is off, you need to clean the area. You want to make sure that you wipe off any old grease or grime and old sealer with hot soapy water. It would be best to do this whether you are replacing the faucet or reusing the same one. If you are just resealing the faucet, you also need to wipe off the faucet base. Once this is done, dry it completely.
• Roll a piece of plumber’s putty about three-fourths thick into a rope and form it into a ring. The ring should be the approximate diameter of the piece (s) of the faucet base. 
• Press the putty onto the base of the faucet piece (pieces). 
• Put the faucet back into the hole (holes) on the counter or sink. Then replace the nut and gasket back onto the piece (pieces) of the faucet.
• Reconnect the faucet supply lines.
• Turn on the water to test the faucet for leaks by splashing water around the base and just running the water.
• If you do not see any water seeping out of the faucet or water seeps beneath the faucet, it is sealed completely.

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Steps for Caulking Using a Caulking Gun

• You would prepare the area the same way you would if you were using a plumber’s putty.
• To get rid of the caulking, you may have to use a caulk removal tool or a scraper but make sure when using either of the tools that you do not damage the surrounding countertop or sink.
• To clean the faucet joints, you can use rubbing alcohol and around the area that will make the seal. If this is a new faucet, you should not have to clean the joints but can do it to get any dust off. It would be best if you always cleaned the area where the seal will be.
• Once this is done, you will need to use mineral spirits to rub away any caulking that remains and clear all the surfaces of any oils, including those from your fingers, debris, grease, mildew, mold, and dirt. 
• Rinse the area with cold water and dry with a clean, dry cloth.

Preparing and Using the Caulk

When preparing the caulk, follow the instruction from the manufacturer. 

• Load the nozzle end into the open end of the caulking gun. 
• Press the back of the tube in place by the plunger.
• Cut the tip off the tube using a utility knife at a 45-degree angle making a one-quarter inch opening.

To make sure that you have done it right, squeeze a small caulk line on a piece of cardboard o be sure that it is putting out a line one-quarter inch thick. 

This is also to prime your caulking tool. 

When you are ready to caulk, you will need to put one-quarter inch around the hole’s outer edges (punches). 

Once this is done, put the faucet on top and press it firmly into place on the sink or countertop. 

Do not worry if some of the caulk comes out the sides. 

After the faucets are set, you go under the sink and install the washers and nuts and water lines.

Once you have finished caulking around your kitchen faucet, you can clean up any leaked out caulk using a caulk-smoothing tool to ensure that any visible caulk is clean and smooth looking. 

You can clean up any small amounts using mineral spirits.

Final Verdict

Many people don’t know exactly how to seal around kitchen faucet. For them, I tried to explain all the steps briefly. Here I added some further instruction that might help you to seal around the kitchen faucet.

• Caulking around the kitchen faucet will help to prevent leaks that can lead to damage to the countertop or wood, mold, mildew, and environments for insects.
• Before you expose the caulk to water, make sure that it is entirely dry. Look on the caulk tube to find out the extract drying time. Once dried, it is ready to use without any issues with splashes or leaks. On average, it takes about 24 hours to dry and cure.
• If you choose to use a plumber’s putty, it requires very little time to dry or harden. This means that you can use your faucet immediately.
• Do not use plumber’s putty on porous countertops like granite or marble.
• It is important to make sure that there are no leaks around your faucets or any way to get water under the faucet because over time, it can lead to an expensive repair bill.