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Is it Hard to Install your own Faucet?

It’s not hard to install a faucet yourself if you have the right tools and there’s nothing wrong with the existing plumbing. However, if you have water leaking from pipes, corroded pipes, or broken valves, you will likely want to call an experienced plumber to get it installed for you.

What You’ll Need:

  • A new faucet
  • Basin wrench or rotary tool
  • Silicone caulk
  • Braided metal supply lines

Whether you’re looking to install a kitchen faucet or install a bathroom faucet, the process is similar. First, turn off the water using the shut off valve. Then, you will need to remove the old faucet. If you want to salvage the faucet, use a basin wrench to loosen the nuts that hold the faucet in place. If the nuts are too rusted to remove, or if they become stripped in the process, you may not be able to salvage the old faucet. If you don’t care about keeping it intact, you can use a small saw or rotary tool to cut the nuts off. If the faucet still seems stuck after all nuts have been removed, it may have an intact caulk backing holding it in place. Use a putty knife or other flat tool to gently pry underneath it and lift it up.  Once the old faucet is loose, remove the supply lines and pull it out.

Take the new faucet and position it in place to ensure it will fit correctly on the sink. Then, read any faucet-specific information included in the package so you don’t miss any important steps. Mount the faucet using the provided gaskets and a line of silicone caulk to make a seal to keep water out. If any caulk squirts out, clean that up before it dries.

Connect the supply lines to provide water to the faucet. If you have older supply lines (the solid metal ones), they will likely require a good amount of finesse to get them reattached tightly enough to prevent leaks. This is the perfect time to replace old sink lines with new braided metal supply lines. These easy connector lines attach quickly and prevent leaks wonderfully due to their built-in gaskets. They are also far more forgiving during installation because they can be curved as needed to provide a seamless fit without the need for extenders or additional connectors. While these are a bit more expensive, you’ll save yourself a ton of time using modern braided supply lines and will significantly reduce the risk of water damage later, which can add up quickly. Check to ensure that your new faucet uses the same threads as your preferred supply lines If they do not match, you will need to buy a connector. Take one to your local hardware store to find a match.

Remove the aerator and then turn the water back on to test the faucet. Particulate matter can gather in new lines and new faucets or can be stirred up while doing plumbing projects such as a faucet installation. You don’t want this material gathering in your new faucet’s aerator and blocking water flow. So, be sure to remove this before testing the faucet. If water comes out with expected water pressure and does not leak under the sink, you’re all done. Turn the faucet off and reconnect the aerator. If water pressure is low or there’s a leak, turn off the faucet and troubleshoot the issue. You may need to call in a professional plumber to fix the issue.

Additional resources:
DIY faucet repair
Repairing a leaking faucet
Installing a new kitchen sink and faucet
The cost to fix a faucet
DIY outdoor faucet installation
Hiring someone to fix an outdoor faucet
Do plumbers fix faucets outside?
Replace a leaking outdoor faucet
Leaking faucet repair costs
What is making my shower faucet leak?
How to buy a new kitchen faucet
Help! My shower is leaking from the faucet
Repair a dripping shower faucet
How to repair a shower faucet like a pro