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Your kitchen faucet is probably one of the most-used fixtures in your home. If your faucet has seen better days, or if it’s out of style, watch this video to learn how to replace it yourself. It’s not that hard, and it can transform the look of your kitchen in just a couple of hours.

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A new faucet is a great way to give a fresh look to a kitchen or bathroom. Your local independent home improvement retailer has a variety of styles to choose from, from the simple to the extravagant, and we can often special order, so you get just what you want.

Plus, installing a new faucet is an easy project for a beginning do-it-yourselfer. In this video, we’ll show you how to install a basic, pull-out faucet in your kitchen sink. But before we get started, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Even though we’ll be installing a faucet in the kitchen, the same principles apply to installing any faucet. Also, you should know that different faucets may have different configurations. For example, bathroom faucets may have a pop-up drain attached. Some faucets have a single handle, or a mixer, and others have two handles.

Whatever the configuration of your faucet, you’ll always be hooking up the hot and cold water lines as well as a bolt that holds the faucet to the sink.

You’re going to need a few basic plumbing tools for this project, so be sure to check out our Tools and Materials checklist for a complete list of everything you need.

Let’s get started by removing the old faucet. Like with most plumbing projects, we’ll start by turning off the hot and cold water shut-off valves, which are usually located in the cabinet directly under the sink. When you’re finished, open up the faucet to relieve the pressure.

Next, use an adjustable wrench and a pair of channel locking pliers to disconnect both of water lines from the faucet. If you suspect the supply lines are old and gaskets worn out, you might consider replacing them with flexible supply lines like the ones I’m holding here.

Underneath the sink, use a basin wrench or a socket wrench to remove the nut holding the faucet tailpiece assembly in place.

If your existing faucet has a spray hose, you’ll also want to disconnect the line that connects the hose to the faucet. Sometimes it’s easier to pull the faucet out and disconnect it from above.

When you’re finished pull the faucet out and clean the area on the sink where the old faucet was located.

Now you’re ready to install the new faucet. Most sinks today have three holes to accommodate the faucet. Measure the distance, center to center, of the outside holes of your sink to make sure the new faucet will fit. And always be sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions.

When you set the new faucet in place, you’ll need something to seal the base. Some faucets, like ours, have a gasket that goes between the sink and the faucet. If yours does not have one, apply a bead of plumber’s putty along the groove around the plate. This will keep water from dripping down into the sink cabinet.

If you have a gasket, put it on the lip of the plate, and with the plate in place, go ahead and thread the hoses through the plate and place the faucet on the sink.

Underneath the sink, thread on the flange and the nut that will hold the faucet to the sink using a basin wrench or a socket wrench. If you’re installing a pull out faucet, you’ll also need to add the weight that will retract the pull-out spray back into the faucet and connect the pull out spray water lines.

Next, attach the supply lines to the faucet and then to the shut-off valves below. Remember, hot water goes on the left and cold water connects on the right. You can also attach any accessories, such as a spray hose or, in this project, a soap dispenser, if your faucet came with one.

Finally, it’s time to turn on the water and check for leaks. If you find a leak, more than likely you’ll need to tighten the connections on the water supply lines.

If you have questions about this or any other home improvement project, be sure to read our list of Frequently Asked Questions for this video. And be sure to print out our Project Instructions, which includes a Tools and Materials checklist, before visiting your local independent home improvement retailer. That’s where you’ll find all the products and helpful advice to complete your project. If you’re not sure where to find your local store, check out our Store Locator.

Good luck with your project and thanks for watching

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Steps

  1. 1.turn off water

    Turn off the hot and cold water shut-off valves. These are usually located in the cabinet directly under the sink

  2. 2.open faucet

    Open up the faucet to relieve the pressure.

  3. 3.disconnect water lines

    Use an adjustable wrench and a pair of channel locking pliers to disconnect both of water lines from the faucet. If supply lines are old and gaskets worn out, consider replacing them with flexible supply lines.

  4. 4.remove nuts

    Use a basin wrench or a socket wrench to remove the nut holding the faucet tailpiece assembly in place.

  5. 5.remove line from hose

    Disconnect the line that connects the hose to the faucet, if your sink has one.

  6. 6.pull faucet out and clean sink

    Pull the old faucet out and clean the surface of the sink.

  7. 7.measure

    Measure the distance, center to center, of the outside holes of your sink to make sure the new faucet will fit. Read any instructions that come with your new faucet.

  8. 8.seal with gasket

    Seal the new faucet: if using a gasket, put the gasket on the lip of the plate and thread the hoses through. If using plumber's putty, apply around the base of the faucet and set it in place.

  9. 9.thread flange and nut

    Underneath the sink, thread on the flange and nut with a basin or socket wrench.

  10. 10.add weight

    For pull-out faucets, add a weight that will retract the pull-out spray.

  11. 11.Install new valve

    Attach supply lines to the faucet and then to the shut-off valves. Hot water connects on the left, cold on the right.

  12. 12.turn on water

    Turn on the water. If you find any leaks, tighten connections on the water supply line.

 

Project Faqs « back to project


The pull-out spray nozzle in my new faucet won’t retract back into the faucet, what’s causing this?

Perhaps the weight that retracts the spray hose fell off or is caught on something underneath the... More »

Townsend_retailer1

When replacing a faucet, do I need to put putty underneath it?

Yes, this will prevent water and moisture from leaking around the faucet and underneath the... More »

I don’t have enough room under my sink to get the faucet nut off with a wrench or a pair of pliers. What should I use?

There’s a special tool designed especially for that called a basin... More »

What type of paint should I use in my kitchen?

High-gloss paints are great for high-traffic areas because they provide a tough, washable finish that also resists water and grease. Use them... More »

What does it mean when a faucet is said to have 8-inch centers?

The faucet mounts with the fixture holes set 8 inches apart. It’s important that you buy the right size faucet to... More »

How do I remove a faucet seat?

Use a seat wrench, which has several sizes of square and hex... More »

My faucet is leaking and I think it is due to my hard water. What do you recommend?

Instead of buying a new valve stem, try to ream the faucet seat with a seat reamer to remove any calcium deposits that may have formed from your... More »

I bought a new faucet with a built-in pull out spray nozzle, and now I have an extra hole in my sink where the pull-out spray used to be.

You can use this hole for a variety of handy accessories, such as a soap dispenser or for the dispenser of an under-sink water filtration... More »

Do I need plumbers putty underneath my faucet?

This is a good idea to keep moisture from getting under the faucet and into the cabinet... More »

What do I need to do to repair my leaking faucet?

Is it leaking from the handle or out the spout? Most faucets are washer-type, and if these are leaking from the spout, you will have to replace the... More »

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