This is just my own observation, but I sometimes get the feeling that many people are procrastinating on purchasing a new faucet because they will also have to pay the cost of installation by a plumber. Once you tally up the price of the faucet itself, the cost of shipping, and the additional cost of hiring a plumber, you can end up paying several hundred dollars (of course this depends what model you choose.)
If you’ve found this page because you’re trying to find out how you can avoid having to hire a plumber to install a new kitchen faucet or replace your existing one, I can sympathize! The good news is, as long as you know which end of the screwdriver is which, you should probably be able to perform kitchen faucet replacement and installation all by yourself.
In fact, provided that you can shut off the water supply to your sink, changing your old faucet for a new one really isn’t that hard. There are just a few simple rules that you have to follow. On this page I’ve included some points to give you an idea of what you’re getting into:
How many holes are needed?
You’ve probably already noticed that kitchen faucets are available in countless designs. I’ve showcased as many designs as I could on my website, so you can find models that require different numbers of holes. All faucets need one hole at least, but some faucets can require as many as four holes.
If your new faucet needs fewer holes than your existing one, the purchase may include base plates that you can use to cover the holes that you won’t be using anymore. This is really convenient in case you end up buying a new faucet later on that needs some of the holes that you’ve already got.
Even so, you may end up with an extra hole in the end. In that case, why not add a water filter, side spray or soap dispenser?
Other issues
Almost all manufacturers include instructions for installation with new faucets, but the instructions are often not all that clear or easy to follow. With that in mind, here are some things you should consider before you start your installation:
- ALWAYS be sure that you know what you’re doing when you switch off the water supply to the kitchen faucet. In most cases, you can do this just by turning off a tap or lever under your sink. Just be sure that you’ve turned off both the cold and hot water.
- After you turn off the water, turn the faucet on to release the water pressure, and then turn it off once the water flow stops.
- Before you start working, make sure that you’ve got all of the tools you’ll need. This may include a screwdriver, a wrench, and a pail to catch drips. Safety glasses are also important!
After you’ve done all this, you’re ready to go ahead and replace the kitchen faucet. Instead of babbling on, I’ve included a video here that you can follow step-by-step. This video features a Hansgrohe faucet, but I think most of it can apply to any brand.
Hopefully this video will make the job easier. At least you can pause after completing each step.