How To Replace a Kitchen Sink Faucet

There are an almost endless number of kitchen sink faucets on the market today. And their designs are almost as limitless. Fortunately, with a few model exceptions, most kitchen sink faucets follow a fairly standard procedure for removal and replacement. Some faucets require reworking of the plumbing inside the cabinet but this is usually minor.

Preparation

A new kitchen faucet is just the thing to complete a kitchen remodel

1. Gather a bucket and some rags to catch water.
2. Turn off the water at the stops or valves under the sink. If they are old, corroded, or difficult to turn, it is best to shut off the water at the main shut off. You should also shut off the water at the hot water heater.

Removing the old faucet

1. Disconnect the hot and cold water lines at the valves under the sink. Hold the valve with one wrench while you loosen the nut with another to keep from damaging the valve or piping.
2. If your old faucet was the type with the pull out spray spout, remove the weight on the hose under the sink, disconnect the end of the hose that connects to the faucet body and pull the spout/hose assembly free of the faucet.
3. Remove the faucet mount nuts and crush washers on the bottom side of the sink.
4. Pull the old faucet out of the sink. Remove the old gasket and clean the corresponding sink surface thoroughly.

Installing the new faucet

1. Install the new gasket on the base of the new faucet.
2. Place the new faucet mount bolts or water line connectors through the holes in the sink.
3. Install washers and nuts on the mount bolts or faucet base and tighten them securely. Make certain the faucet is properly centered on the faucet ledge of the sink.
4. If you are installing a pull out spout type faucet, feed the spout hose through the faucet body and connect it underneath with the supplied gasket but no Teflon thread or pipe joint compound.
5. Place the split weight at the base of the spout hose loop.
6. Sliding the compression nuts and ferrules respectively on the water lines, connect the water lines to the shut off valves or angle stops under the sink. Hold the tubing straight in the stop while you tighten the nut snugly. Once again, do not use Teflon tape or pipe joint compound on this joint. You can use a small amount of a light oil like mineral oil or machine oil on the joint if you think it needs some lubrication.
7. If your faucet has a separate spray, now is the time to install the spray escutcheon and spray hose. Use plumber’s putty on the escutcheon and no Teflon tape or pipe joint compound on the other end.
8. Remove the faucet aerator and flush the hot and cold water lines out well, then reinstall the faucet aerator.

Tips

If your old faucet has been in place for many years, it may be corroded in place. You can purchase a faucet removal tool at some hardware and home centers that will help you cut off the faucet mount bolts or nuts under the sink. It is operated with a ratchet and socket extension.

Do not use any type of caulking compound when installing the faucet. Use a good quality plumber’s putty instead.