How to Install a New Kitchen Faucet | Ask This Old House

Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner replace her kitchen faucet.

Time: 1-2 hours
Cost: $50

Skill Level: Moderate

Tools List for Installing a New Kitchen Faucet:
Wrench
Basin wrench
Scissors
Screwdriver

Shopping List:
New faucet
Cover plate for fourth hole
Plumber’s putty

Steps:

1. Shut the water off to the faucet underneath the sink.
2. Disconnect the water hoses from the shutoff valves.
3. Loosen the nuts underneath the sink using the basin wrench.
4. Cut the hose connecting the faucet to the sprayer with a pair of scissors.
5. Carefully wiggle the old faucet off of the sink.
6. Assemble the pieces of the faucet according to the instructions on the packaging. In general, it starts with a gasket that goes directly underneath the faucet and then a cover plate.
7. Apply a thick glob of plumber’s putty underneath the cover plate and put the faucet into place. Be sure all the hoses connected to the faucet go through the center hole.
8. Underneath the sink, slide the gasket, then the washer, and then the mounting bracket onto the faucet. Use a screwdriver to secure the bracket to the sink.
9. Add a weight to the spray hose to allow it to retract when in use.
10. Reconnect the hot and cold water hoses to the shutoff valves.
11. If there is a fourth hole exposed from the old spray hose, use a cover plate or soap dispenser to block it. Add plumber’s putty to the underside and secure it to the sink.
12. Turn the water back on.

Resources:

Everything else he used to replace the kitchen faucet, including the putty, soap dispenser, wrench and screwdriver, can be purchased at home centers and plumbing supply stores.

About Ask This Old House TV:
Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we're ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.

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How to Install a New Kitchen Faucet | Ask This Old House

[tripjet]

It's ALWAYS this simple and nothing can go wrong...go wrnog...go wong.

[michaelhilton]

Im 16 and i love this channel i help my dad build stuff because i learned from watching your channel

[HussainAlMutawa]

Oh that's right, you've seen this show before. I know it's planned but it's so candied.

[lizaa]

I installed this exact faucet yesterday. This video was a great help.

[TheEgg]

He couldn't wait to get the hell out of that house.

[infiltrator]

Glad they finally made a video on kitchen faucet replacement!

[tempaccount]

Thank you for showing the escutcheon installation! A lot of “how to” videos skip that part.

[MRrwmac]

Richard. Woah, you sure you used enough putty? I’ve always just put it near the seal. Have I been wrong? Nice work, but I wish the soap dispensers could be filled from the top - haha.

[grammel]

Can you post how to fix a relationship where she doesn’t love you anymore?

[Brandon_Jackson]

They got tired of us saying "show the end result" so this time they did😄

[ethereal_emily]

I love how they skipped the hard part... taking old faucet out...

[dereklull]

Plot twist. The soap dispenser didn’t work and Richard high tailed it out of there.

[jaystreet]

Why does my face plate have a plastic plate too?

[zxzlarszxz]

So, i actually need to do this soon. But you left me with some questions.
Like, how to remove the old one, how to add the waight. Do you need some kind of sealings for the connection between the sink and the water pipes..

[kennywonderley]

That tube of plumbers putty is not the stainless kind. That plumber's putty says it should not be used with plastic. Isn't that gasket plastic? What would be the problem if it was? Is there a way to tell the difference between plastic, PVC and ABS?

[tomhenry]

Need a show on put on a 21st century faucet to 1968 pipes

[ryananthony]

Plumber: see ya
Homeowner: wait i need to try it.
Plumber: oh yeah you seen the show before try the soap dispenser
Plumber: see ya!

[GuardedLegacy]

So I picked up a similar design faucet by Moen. It includes a plastic piece to go under the metal plate with a very small gasket (maybe foam) on the bottom of the plastic. It doesn't mention in the instructions to use putty and it doesn't say to use putty in the instructional videos on the Moen site. Is use of putty recommended always, or should the small included gasket do the trick? Thanks!

[kangjohan]

Soap why didn't I think of that.... I just cover it up and pretend it's not there anymore. lol

[Bettebet]

Hi. Does any one make a plate that allows for the faucet to be on the left most hole? Would I just have to use 2 of the hole covers?