Lots of people have two-handle kitchen faucets in their homes for a multitude of reasons. They can give better control of the temperature of the water you are using, and they may actually be a bit easier to adjust than a one-handle model. Two-handle faucets can also give you better control of the water flow.
There are many various kinds of kitchen faucets available for selection coming in differing shapes, colors, and styles. You may need a new faucet, or you may just want a better faucet than what you currently are using.
Whatever the reason, most of these faucets can be installed relatively easily with clear instructions from the manufacturer. So, your first task will be to read the instructions that come with the new two-handle faucet that you have selected.
Follow our step-by-step guide for two-handle kitchen faucet installation.
Necessary Tools
- Adjustable Wrench
- Basin Wrench
- Flashlight
- Plastic pan
- Pliers
- Safety glasses or goggles
- Screwdriver
Necessary Materials
- Two-Handle Faucet to install
- Pipe putty
- Towel or rags
- Faucet supply lines
- All-purpose cleaner
Step 1: Prepare your workspace
Underneath your sink, clear out any products or accessories that are stored there. If an electrical outlet is located underneath your sink, be sure to shut off the power before you begin. Prepare a flashlight, a pan, and some rags or towels for water leakage. PPE safety glasses are a must to protect your eyes from anything that might fall or drop from above.
Step 2: Close the Water Supply Valves
If you do not have supply valves under your sink, you will need to turn off the water for your home. If you do have valves, turn them clockwise to close. If they are difficult to turn, use pliers. Once you have closed the water supply, open the faucets to remove the remaining line pressure.
Step 3: Detach the Water Supply Lines
To install a new two-handle faucet set, you will need to remove the old one. Underneath the sink, the water supply lines should be disconnected. Individual supply lines for hot and cold water each will be attached to its own valve with a nut. With a wrench, remove these nuts. Should a valve leak or drip with the water supply closed, this indicates that the valve is defective. The water supply for the entire house should be turned off and the valve replaced.
Step 4: Dismantle the Faucet Connections
The supply lines that connect to your old faucet must be detached to remove the faucet. Water supply lines will connect directly to the two valves for hot and cold. These supply line connections must be unscrewed and detached. Now the old mounting must be taken off.
Step 5: Old Faucet Removal
Your old faucet will be attached to your sink on the underside with some kind of mounting fixtures. Mounting hardware can generally be located on the valve bodies for hot and cold. All of the fasteners and mounting equipment must be removed. For rusted or difficult screws or nuts, apply oil to loosen allowing time for the oil to soak in. Repeat if necessary.
Once all mounting accouterments are removed, your old faucet should lift out easily from your sink above. If you have caulking, you will need to break it. With the old faucet removed, thoroughly clean the sink or countertop area.
Step 6: Installation
Read the manufacturer’s installation guide. When you attach the faucet, you will need a rubber gasket or deck plate over the faucet’s underside together with a quarter-inch dab of pipe putty between the countertop and faucet to avoid leakage. This will be indicated in the instructions.
Step 7: Position the faucet and hot/cold assemblies.
If your faucet already has riser tubes attached, you can align these directly into the holes in your sink or countertop and lower the faucet into position.
Step 8: Tighten the Mounting Hardware
Underneath your sink, tighten the bolts that will hold your faucet unit in place. Some faucets will come with nuts and washers that are screwed onto valve pieces, while others will feature bolted brackets.
Step 9: Attach the Hot and Cold Valves
Underneath your sink, you will need to attach the flexible hot and cold water supply lines to the faucet spout.
Step 10: Reattach the Water Supply
Attach the riser tubes from the hot and cold valves to the water supply lines. Now turn on the water supply valves that are situated underneath your sink or turn on the water supply for your house if you do not have valves and look for any leakage.
Step 11: Flushing the pipes
Unscrew the aerator head from your faucet spout and turn the faucet on to run the water, do this to flush out the eventual remaining debris from your pipes.
Step 12: Mission Accomplished
With no apparent leakage underneath your sink, and car running water from the faucet, return the aerator head to the faucet. Your new two-handle faucet is ready to use.
