How to Install A Kitchen Faucet

Why We Should Do It Ourselves (DIY)

Although you might not be that interested in the inner workings of your kitchen sink, installing your own faucet is a great way to gain a better understanding of your home's plumbing system.

Having this knowledge will help you to complete plumbing-related tasks later down the road - saving you even more money since you won't need professional plumbing assistance.

Kitchen Faucet Installation Costs

DIY Installation won't cost you a cent unless of course, you need to purchase the necessary tools to get the job done. You'll also have to pay for the faucet itself, and prices range between $200 and $500 depending on the manufacturer and type of faucet you choose.

You'll also have to account for the time you spend completing the installation, but this can be completed in an hour or two.

If you still insist on hiring a professional to do the job, a great source is Angie's List. The cost will be lower if the plumber does not need to remove the old faucet fixture. In this case, you’re looking at about $150 for faucet installation.

However, Angie’s List says that “removing an old faucet before installing the new one costs $225 to $275.”

If you do not wish to do this job yourself then we recommend getting a local plumber to do the job. You can find free quotes from your area by filling in the form below.

Things To Consider Prior To Installing a Faucet

Mounting Holes

New and old faucets come with a few different mounting hole configurations. If you look at your current faucet, is the faucet base mounted in one place on the countertop? Is there a hole in the countertop required for a soap dispenser?

Generally, kitchen faucets come in a 1, 2, or 3 hole system, 1 being the most common. It can be difficult to tell how many holes your current faucet has, so you may have to peek under the kitchen sink to get a better view. Your new faucet should have the same number of holes as the one you’re replacing.

Mounting Type

There are two main mounting types for kitchen faucets: deck-mounted and wall-mounted. Deck mounting your faucet means that it will sit directly on the countertop or sink itself. This type of installation is simple and can easily be done on your own.

Wall-mounted faucets aren’t as common, mostly because they are extremely difficult to install. With these, you need to access the plumbing from behind the wall. If you choose a wall-mounted faucet, you may want to consider hiring a plumber.

Faucet Type

Tools

Before any home improvement project, you’ll want to make sure you have the right tools and that they are within easy reach. If there’s a tool you don’t have that’s necessary to complete the task, it’s time to make a trip to a home improvement store in your area.

You’ll have plenty of uses for these tools in the future, so think of it as an investment into your life as a do-it-yourselfer.

Make Sure You Have Your Tools!

How to Install a Kitchen Faucet (Step by Step Guide)

1. Turn Off the Water

Before you begin, you need to turn off the water to the kitchen sink. This step is important since there should be no chance of water running while you attempt a plumbing job. You can access the water supply valves from underneath the sink.

Once they are shut off, turn on your faucet just to make sure. This will drain any remaining water and also depressurize the system before you start disassembling.

2. Disconnect the Supply Line

We suggest that you take a picture of the set up of your current plumping configuration before you disconnect. At any point, you can refer to this picture to reassemble the supply line. In order to remove the old faucet, you must first disconnect the supply lines underneath the sink.

Use an adjustable wrench to unscrew the nuts connecting the supply lines to the sink. Then, place the supply lines to the side. Consider replacing them with new lines if they are damaged or worn out.

3. Remove the Old Faucet

To remove the faucet from the top of the sink or countertop, you must remove the nuts that hold the sink in place. They are usually found underneath the sink (this is where a flashlight can come in handy.

Once the nuts are unfastened, simply lift the old faucet from where it rests. If the faucet rests on a deck plate that is secured from above, unscrew them using a screwdriver and then take away the deck plate.

4. Clean Your Work Area

Now that the old faucet is gone, this is a great chance to do some cleaning. It would not be wise to install a new faucet without cleaning the area. It may take some elbow grease since grime and gunk tend to build up over time.

Clean away any old putty that held your old faucet in place. The area should be devoid of any rust or mold, as this can also cause problems and be damaging to the structure of your sink.

5. Mount the New Faucet

To mount the new faucet, it will first need to be anchored with putty. Lay down a thin string of plumbing putty on the underside of the faucet deck plate and then put the faucet in place.

This will create a watertight seal and prevent damage to the underside of the faucet fixture. This is extremely important or else you may damage the structural integrity of your entire kitchen sink.

Now that the deck plate of the faucet is in place, fasten it with the appropriate nuts and bolts - these will be included with the faucet itself. Tighten the nuts with your fingers before using a wrench; this will allow you to find the correct placement first.

If everything is aligned properly, tighten the nuts with the wrench the rest of the way. Try not to go overboard when tightening the nuts since this can cause stripping to the metal, making it more difficult to remove in the future.

6. Clean Your Work Area (Again) and Reinstall the Supply Lines

Now that the sink is mounted, scrape away any excess putty and wipe down the area. Once that’s done and the area is completely clean, reconnect the supply lines or install your new ones. This will require the use of a pipe wrench. Tighten firmly to make sure there is no water leakage.

7. Turn the Water Supply Back On

Others Things to Consider for Faucet Installation

Conclusion

Installing a new kitchen faucet is simple. As long as you are prepared with the manufacturer instructions and proper tools closeby, it only takes an hour or two to have your brand new kitchen faucet in working order.

But the undeniable best thing about installing a kitchen faucet on your own is the money you will save. If you follow the steps provided above, you’ll be saving yourself a few hundred bucks.