How to Fix a Reversed Faucet
Your hot is cold, and your cold is hot, and you couldn’t be more confused about your plumbing!
Perhaps you’ve encountered the dreaded swapped faucet before. You twist the handle all the way to the left to wash some dishes, only to be baffled by freezing cold water until you realize that the error is in the installation of the fixture itself. Whether you purchased your home this way, had a plumber slip up on installation, or hit a snag while trying to be handy yourself, this all-too-common issue has a pretty simple fix. (Phew.. thank goodness!)
5 Steps to Fix a Reversed Faucet
- First and foremost, these instructions are for faucets which have only one handle or knob, rather than two separate ones. Confirm that your swapped faucet is indeed a single-handle situation. Are you with us so far?
- Turn off the water supply. Don’t try to perform any plumbing maintenance without taking this step — just trust us on this one.
- Pry off the index cap, which sits on top of the handle, hiding the center screw. Then, unscrew the center screw and remove the handle and retaining ring, if applicable.
- Pull out the cartridge, which you’ll see poking out of the inside of your reversed faucet. You’ll need to rotate it 180-degrees and slide it back in.
- Replace the retaining ring and screw your handle back into place. Recover with the index cap, turn on your water, and give it a go!
Remember, not all reversed faucets are created equal, so if you’re having trouble following the instructions above to a T, it may be better to call in a professional instead. This will ensure that your plumbing problem is alleviated without causing more damage in the process.
