How to Install a Pull-Out Kitchen Faucet

As This Old House plumbing expert Richard Trethewey notes, a complete kitchen remodel can cost big bucks, so many homeowners prefer to simply refresh the space — and they usually start with the faucet. Upgrading from an older three-hole faucet to a modern single-hole pull-out model is one of the most affordable changes you can make, especially since most manufacturers now include a cover plate to conceal the unused holes in your existing countertop.

In this video, This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows how to upgrade to a faucet and sprayer in one.

Pro Tip: Richard Trethewey, This Old House plumbing and heating expert, recommends checking the condition of your supply lines and shut-off valves while you’re under the sink. On one project, he found corroded pipes and shut-off valves with no handles — meaning the water couldn’t be turned off in an emergency. Replacing worn valves and supply lines during a faucet swap adds minimal time but can prevent costly water damage down the road.

Steps:

1. Go into the basement or utility room and turn off the cold- and hot-water lines leading to the kitchen sink.

2. If there’s a garbage disposer attached to the sink, remove it to gain more space to work. Disconnect the disposer’s drain line, then loosen the locking ring to free the disposer.

3. Use a hacksaw to cut through the existing hot- and cold-water supply lines leading from the faucet to the shut-off valves.

4. Loosen the nuts holding the faucet to the sink with a basin wrench. Once the nuts are removed, pull the old faucet from the sink.

5. Roll a ball of plumber’s putty into a thick rope, then wrap it around the mounting flange of the new faucet.

6. Set the mounting flange into place on top of the sink deck, then tighten the retaining nuts from below. Remove any putty that squeezes out from under the flange.

7. Use a propane torch to melt the solder holding the two existing shut-off valves in place.

8. With pliers, pull off the old valves. Be careful the valves will be hot.

9. Buff-clean the ends of the hot- and cold-water pipes with a strip of emery cloth.

10. Attach two new compression-fit shut-off valves to the water pipes. Tighten the compression fittings with two open-end wrenches.

11. Assemble the faucet, then fasten it to the mounting flange installed earlier.

12. Make the water connections between the faucet and the shut-off valves with rigid lav supplies. Use a bending spring to careful bend the supplies into shape.

13. Tighten the lav supply connections with two open-end wrenches.

14. Install the new soap dispenser into the old sprayer hole in the sink deck.

15. Re-install the garbage disposer, and test the operation of the faucet.

Pro Tip: When installing the new pull-out faucet, the spray hose includes a weight that helps retract it back into position when not in use. As Richard Trethewey demonstrates during the install: pull down the spray hose, make the connection, tighten the clip, and then install the weighted piece, “which is going to help to draw that spray hose back when it’s not in use.”

Why Rigid Lav Supplies? Richard Trethewey prefers rigid lav supplies over stainless steel braided hoses for making the final hot and cold water connections. As he explains: “I could use a stainless steel braided hose. But what I always prefer to use is a rigid lab supply.” Rigid supplies can be shaped precisely with a bending spring for a clean, professional installation under the sink.