How to Install Kitchen Sinks Faucets

It doesn’t take a plumber to install kitchen sinks faucets. Manufacturers get a much better profit selling to retailers than to plumbing suppliers, so they’ve made it a user friendly process. There’s no welding or soldering copper tubes involved. Hardware stores sell kitchen sink faucets for anywhere from 40 to 400 dollars. Shop for one, and don’t be afraid to install it yourself.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Adjustable wrench
• Adjustable pliers
• Phillips head screw driver
• Plumbing tape
• Flashlight
• Oil or spray lubricant
• Water supply connecting lines, unless included in the kit
• Steel wool pad
• Silicone sealer may be necessary

How to install Kitchen Sinks Faucets

1. Clean and prepare the area. Empty the cabinet under the sink. Clean around the three holes at the back end of the sink. Clean the threads of the connections at the water supply valves under the sink.

2. Attach the sprayer hose. Wrap plumbing tape around the threads of the sprayer hose connection, and the threads of the water supply tubes under the faucet. Wind the tape in a clockwise direction three times. Pull against the wound threads until tape snaps. Connect the sprayer hose nut as firmly as possible by hand, then tighten with a wrench. Leave the sprayer itself off for now.

3. Position the faucet. Lay the new rubber gasket over the area around the three holes, if provided. Feed the loose end of the sprayer hose through the center hole. If a rubber gasket is not provided, then rim the faucet base with silicone sealer. Put the faucet in place over the holes.

4. Secure the mounts. Connect the plastic nuts, or the caps and hex nuts, to the mounting bolts under the sink. These bolts are sticking through the two outside holes. Hex nuts will need to be tightened against the caps with an adjustable wrench. If you have plastic one–piece nuts, the wide end goes up. Do not use tools to tighten plastic mounting nuts. Turn the fins firmly tight by hand.

5. Connect the knobs or levers . Place knobs or levers for turning the water on in place, if your faucet has them. These are secured with Phillips head screws. Carefully tighten screws until they are just snug. Put the H on the left and the C on the right.

6. Connect the new water supply lines. Wind plumbing tape clockwise around the connector threads at the water supply valves. Twist the water supply lines on by hand, then tighten them with adjustable pliers. Secure the nuts at the other ends of the lines to the water supply tubes under the faucet. If the hot and cold supply valves are not marked, just connect one line to figure it out by trial and error.

7. Flush the lines. Remove the spout cap and screen from your new faucet. Leave the sprayer off, but pull the open end of the sprayer hose through the hole for the sprayer. place the hose into the sink. Turn all faucet knobs or levers all the way on. Then turn on the water supply valves. Allow the water to run for at least 20 seconds to remove any debris.

8. Attach sprayer and spout cap. Replace the spout cap and screen on the spigot. Wrap plumbing tape around the sprayer threads and securely connect the sprayer hose nut. Now turn on the water and check all connections to be sure there are no leaks. May you enjoy using your new kitchen sink faucet for many years to come.