How to Change a Kitchen Sink Faucet Without Losing Your Mind (Or Flooding Your Kitchen)

I've changed more kitchen faucets than I care to remember, and I'll tell you something right off the bat – the first time I attempted this project, I ended up with water spraying across my ceiling at 11 PM on a Tuesday. My wife wasn't thrilled. But that disaster taught me everything I needed to know about doing this job properly, and now I can swap out a faucet in about 45 minutes without breaking a sweat.

The thing about kitchen faucets is they're deceptively simple-looking creatures. From above, they're just this elegant piece of hardware that delivers water on command. But underneath? That's where things get interesting – and occasionally infuriating.

Why Your Faucet Probably Needs Replacing Right Now

Let me paint you a picture. You're washing dishes, and that annoying drip-drip-drip starts up again. Or maybe the handle's gotten so loose it feels like you're operating a slot machine every time you turn on the water. Perhaps you've noticed that crusty mineral buildup around the base that no amount of CLR can conquer. These are all signs your faucet is crying out for retirement.

But here's what really sealed the deal for me last time: I calculated that my leaky faucet was wasting about 3,000 gallons of water per year. At my water rates, that's roughly $50 down the drain annually. A new faucet pays for itself pretty quickly when you think about it that way.

The Tools You Actually Need (Not the Ones They Tell You to Buy)

Every tutorial I've ever read lists about 47 different tools. Nonsense. Here's what you really need:

A basin wrench – this weird-looking tool with a long handle and swiveling jaw is absolutely non-negotiable. I tried doing my first faucet replacement without one, using regular wrenches and creative profanity. Save yourself the aggravation and spend the $15.

An adjustable wrench or two. Channel-lock pliers work great too. You'll need something to grip those supply line nuts.

A bucket or large bowl. Trust me on this one. There's always water hiding somewhere, waiting to surprise you.

A headlamp or flashlight you can wear. Under-sink work happens in the dark, cramped confines where holding a flashlight is about as practical as juggling while riding a unicycle.

Plumber's putty or silicone caulk. I'm partial to putty for most installations – it's more forgiving if you need to reposition things.

Some old towels. Not your good ones. These are sacrificial towels that might not survive the experience.

The Pre-Game: What Nobody Tells You About Preparation

Before you even think about touching that faucet, you need to clear out everything under your sink. And I mean everything. That half-empty bottle of dish soap you forgot existed? The mysterious cleaning product from 2015? All of it needs to go.

I learned this lesson when I dropped a wrench and it landed perfectly in an open container of Ajax, creating a small powder explosion that made my under-sink area look like a cocaine processing facility. My sinuses haven't been the same since.

Next, take photos of your current setup. Use your phone and snap pictures from multiple angles, especially of how the supply lines connect. You think you'll remember how everything goes together, but trust me, when you're lying on your back with your head crammed against the garbage disposal, those photos become your lifeline.

Turning Off the Water (And Why You Should Never Skip This Step)

Look for the shut-off valves under your sink. They're usually chrome or brass oval handles connected to the pipes coming out of the wall. Turn them clockwise until they stop. Righty-tighty, as my grandfather used to say, though he also used to insist that WD-40 could fix anything from squeaky hinges to marital problems.

Here's the thing about shut-off valves – if your house is more than 20 years old and those valves have never been touched, they might be frozen solid. Don't force them. I once cranked so hard on a stuck valve that it snapped off in my hand, turning a simple faucet replacement into an emergency plumber visit. If they won't budge with reasonable pressure, you might need to shut off the main water supply to your house.

After closing the valves, turn on the faucet to release any pressure and drain the lines. This is also your moment of truth – if water keeps flowing, your shut-off valves aren't doing their job.

The Removal: Where Things Get Personal

Crawl under that sink and get comfortable. You're going to be there for a while. I usually throw down an old yoga mat or camping pad because cabinet bottoms are inevitably gross and uncomfortable.

Start by disconnecting the supply lines from the faucet. This is where that bucket comes in handy. No matter how well you've drained the lines, there's always a surprise splash waiting. The nuts connecting the supply lines usually unscrew by hand once you've loosened them with a wrench.

Now comes the fun part – removing the mounting nuts that hold the faucet to the sink. This is where that basin wrench earns its keep. These nuts are typically way up behind the sink basin, in a spot seemingly designed by someone who hated plumbers. The basin wrench lets you reach up there and get a grip on those nuts without dislocating your shoulder.

I'll be honest – removing these nuts is often the worst part of the whole job. They're usually corroded, covered in years of gunk, and tightened by someone who apparently moonlighted as a professional arm wrestler. Take breaks. Swear if you need to. It's therapeutic.

The Gross Part Nobody Warns You About

Once you've got all the mounting hardware loose, you can lift out the old faucet from above. Brace yourself. Under that faucet, especially if it's been there for years, you're going to find a science experiment. Mold, mineral deposits, mysterious black gunk, maybe even a small civilization of bacteria.

I once removed a 30-year-old faucet and found what I can only describe as sink cheese underneath. It was simultaneously fascinating and revolting. Clean this area thoroughly with a scraper and some serious cleaning products. This is your chance to start fresh.

Installing Your New Best Friend

Before you get too excited about your shiny new faucet, read the instructions. I know, I know – real DIYers don't need instructions. But faucet manufacturers have an annoying habit of making each model slightly different. That weird plastic thing in the box? It probably serves a purpose.

Most modern faucets come with a gasket that goes between the faucet and the sink, but I still like to use a ring of plumber's putty for extra insurance. Roll it into a snake about as thick as a pencil, make a ring, and place it where the faucet will sit. When you set the faucet in place and tighten it down, the excess will squeeze out, creating a perfect seal.

Feed any supply lines or sprayer hoses down through the appropriate holes. This is like threading a needle while wearing oven mitts – it takes patience and occasionally some creative maneuvering.

The Underneath Adventure, Part Two

Time to crawl back under. The good news is that installing is generally easier than removing. Modern faucets often come with better-designed mounting systems. Some even have a single large nut that tightens everything down, rather than the multiple nuts of older models.

Here's a pro tip I learned from a plumber friend: don't overtighten the mounting nuts. You want them snug, but cranking them down like you're torquing lug nuts on a race car can crack your sink. Tighten until the faucet doesn't wiggle, then give it maybe another quarter turn.

Connect your supply lines to the shut-off valves. These should be hand-tight plus about a quarter turn with a wrench. Overtightening supply lines is a rookie mistake that can damage the rubber washers inside and cause leaks.

The Moment of Truth

Before you turn the water back on, double-check all your connections. Run your hand along each connection point, feeling for anything loose. Check that the faucet handle is in the off position.

Now, slowly turn on those shut-off valves. And I mean slowly. Water hammer is real, and it's startling when pipes start banging like someone's trapped in your walls. Watch carefully for any leaks. A small drip now becomes a big problem at 2 AM.

Turn on the faucet and let it run for a minute. The water might sputter and spit at first – that's just air in the lines. If you have a sprayer, test that too. Check under the sink again for any sneaky leaks.

The Cleanup and Victory Dance

Wipe away any excess plumber's putty that squeezed out around the faucet base. It comes off easily when fresh but turns into concrete if you leave it. Put everything back under your sink in a somewhat more organized fashion than before. This is your chance to finally throw away that rusty can of Comet from the Clinton administration.

Stand back and admire your work. Turn the faucet on and off a few times just because you can. Call your spouse in to witness your triumph. You've just saved yourself a $200 plumber's bill and gained the satisfaction of fixing something with your own hands.

When to Wave the White Flag

I'm all for DIY, but sometimes you need to recognize when you're in over your head. If you encounter any of these situations, it's time to call a professional:

Your shut-off valves are leaking when you try to turn them. This usually means they need replacement, which involves cutting into water lines.

The sink itself is damaged or the mounting holes don't match your new faucet. Drilling new holes in a sink is not a casual Saturday project.

You discover galvanized pipes or other plumbing that looks like it belongs in a museum. Old plumbing can be brittle and problematic.

You've been at it for four hours and your spouse is threatening divorce. Sometimes preserving your marriage is worth the cost of a plumber.

Final Thoughts from Under the Sink

After all these years and all these faucets, I've come to appreciate this particular home repair. It's manageable enough that most people can handle it, but complex enough to give you a real sense of accomplishment. Plus, unlike painting a room or installing flooring, you get to enjoy the results of your labor multiple times every single day.

The next time you're washing dishes or filling a pot for pasta, you'll have that little moment of pride. "I installed this faucet," you'll think. And if it starts dripping in a few years? Well, now you know exactly what to do about it.

Just remember to buy that basin wrench first. Seriously. Don't try to be a hero.

Authoritative Sources:

"Plumbing: Complete Projects for the Home." Creative Homeowner, 2019.

Cauldwell, Rex. "Inspecting a House: A Guide for Buyers, Owners, and Renovators." The Taunton Press, 2018.

"The Complete Guide to Plumbing." Black & Decker, Cool Springs Press, 2020.

DiClerico, Daniel. "Kitchen and Bath Renovation Guide." Consumer Reports Books, 2018.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "WaterSense: Fix a Leak Week." EPA.gov, 2023.

National Kitchen and Bath Association. "Kitchen Planning Guidelines with Access Standards." NKBA Professional Resource Library, 2020.