How to Replace a Sink Faucet
Step-by-step guide to removing an old sink faucet, prepping the mounting surface, installing the new fixture, and connecting water supply lines without leaks.
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🧰 Required Tools & Equipment
- ✓ Basin wrench
- ✓ Adjustable wrench
- ✓ Slip-joint pliers
- ✓ Putty knife
- ✓ Bucket
- ✓ Flashlight or headlamp
📦 Materials & Supplies
- ✓ New faucet kit with mounting hardware
- ✓ Braided stainless steel supply lines
- ✓ Thread seal tape (PTFE)
- ✓ Plumber's putty or silicone sealant
- ✓ Shop towels
⚠️ Safety Checkpoints & Warnings
- • Verify water supply is completely shut off by opening faucet handles fully before disconnecting any pipes.
- • Wear safety glasses under the sink to prevent rust flakes and mineral scale from falling into your eyes.
- • Unplug any garbage disposal unit under the sink to avoid accidental activation while working.
📋 Step-by-Step Guide (6 Steps)
Shut Off Water Supply and Relieve Pressure
Locate the hot and cold shutoff valves under the sink and turn them clockwise until tight. Open the faucet handles completely to release residual water pressure and drain remaining water. Place a bucket directly beneath the valves to catch drips.
- • Shutoff valve handles turned fully clockwise
- • Faucet handles open with zero water dripping from spout
- • Assuming valves are off without testing faucet handles
- • Forgetting to place a bucket under the connections
Disconnect Water Supply Lines
Position the bucket under the supply line connections. Use an adjustable wrench on the supply nut while stabilizing the shutoff valve body with slip-joint pliers. Loosen and disconnect both hot and cold braided supply lines from the shutoff valves and the faucet shank.
- • Both supply lines disconnected from valve stems
- • Hose ends resting inside the bucket
- • Torquing the valve without holding backup, which can twist and break copper pipes inside the wall
- • Letting residual hose water spill onto cabinetry wood
Remove Old Faucet Mounting Nuts and Fixture
Reach behind the sink basin with a basin wrench to grip the mounting nuts securing the faucet shanks to the underside of the sink. Turn counter-clockwise to loosen and remove the locknuts and washers. Lift the entire faucet assembly straight up and out from the top of the sink deck.
- • Mounting nuts and washers fully removed from threaded shanks
- • Old faucet removed from the top deck, leaving empty mounting holes
- • Struggling with standard wrenches in tight sink clearance instead of using a basin wrench
- • Yanking the faucet upward while mounting nuts are still partially threaded
Clean and Prep Sink Deck
Scrape away all old plumber's putty, silicone, and mineral deposits from the sink mounting holes using a plastic putty knife. Wipe the surface thoroughly with a damp rag and dry completely. Ensure the mounting surface is flat, dry, and free of debris.
- • Sink deck surface around holes is clean, smooth, and dry
- • No old silicone, putty chunks, or limescale residue visible
- • Using a metal scraper that scratches porcelain or stainless steel
- • Mounting the new faucet over old, uneven putty residue
Position and Mount New Faucet
Install the base gasket onto the new faucet (or roll a bead of plumber's putty around the base if specified by manufacturer). Feed supply lines and threaded shanks down through the sink deck holes and center the faucet. From underneath, slide on the friction washer, mounting bracket, and nuts, then hand-tighten before snugging firmly with a basin wrench.
- • Faucet base sits flush and straight against the sink deck
- • Mounting nuts drawn tight against the underside of the sink deck
- • Tightening underneath before aligning the spout straight up top
- • Over-tightening plastic mounting nuts until they crack
Connect Supply Lines and Test for Leaks
Wrap male threads of shutoff valves clockwise with 2-3 layers of PTFE tape if connecting bare pipe threads (omit tape on compression/gasket fittings). Thread the supply line nuts onto the hot and cold shutoff valves and tighten by hand, then turn an additional 1/4 to 1/2 turn with an adjustable wrench. Slowly turn on the water shutoff valves, inspect all joints for leaks, and run water through the faucet for 1 minute.
- • Supply lines connected cleanly without sharp kinks
- • Shutoff valves fully open
- • Steady stream of water from the faucet spout with dry joints underneath
- • Over-tightening rubber-gasketed compression nuts, which deforms the seal and causes leaks
- • Crossing hot and cold supply lines (hot is on the left)
Don’t have everything?
- No Basin wrench? Sink installer multi-tool or deep-well socket set
- No Plumber's putty? 100% silicone sealant (or manufacturer-supplied rubber deck gasket)