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Remove the Old Faucet — Disconnect the Old Sprayer Hose

Beginner2 hours

Part of project

How to Replace a Kitchen Sink Sprayer or Hose · Step 2 of 6

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In this video

Go under the sink and turn off the hot and cold water supply by turning the shut-off valve handles clockwise until they stop. Place a towel underneath to catch drips. Use an adjustable wrench to loosen the nuts connecting the old supply lines to the valves. Once loosened, unscrew them by hand. Then, use channel-lock pliers to loosen the large mounting nut securing the old faucet. After it's loose, finish unscrewing it by hand and remove it along with any washers. Pull the old faucet up and out of the countertop.

Goal: Shut off water and remove the existing faucet

  • Using a mirror can make it much easier to see the connections and nuts under the sink.

Used in this video

  • Adjustable Wrench (Tool Type: Hand Tools, Wrench_Type: Adjustable_Wrench)Loosening the nuts on the water supply lines connected to the shut-off valves.
  • Channel-Lock Pliers (Tool Type: Hand Tools, Pliers_Type: Channel_Lock)Gripping and loosening the large mounting nut that holds the faucet to the countertop.
  • Mirror (Tool Type: Hand Tools) · optionalTo see the plumbing connections under the sink without having to lie on your back.
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FAQs

Is a basin wrench absolutely necessary for this project, or can I get by with just an adjustable wrench?

A basin wrench is highly recommended, especially for beginners. Its unique design allows you to reach and loosen or tighten nuts in the cramped space under the sink that are difficult or impossible to access with a standard adjustable wrench. While an adjustable wrench will be used for some connections, the basin wrench prevents frustration and stripped nuts in tight spots.

Do I need to shut off the main water supply to my house, or just the hot and cold lines under the sink?

You only need to shut off the individual hot and cold water supply lines located directly underneath your kitchen sink. Turn the small valves on these lines clockwise until they are fully closed. There's no need to turn off the main water supply to your entire house for this project, making it less disruptive.

The project is rated 'beginner' and '2 hours.' What are some common challenges that might make it take longer, especially for a beginner?

While beginner-friendly, the biggest time extenders are often corroded or overtightened nuts under the sink, which can be stubborn to loosen. Working in a cramped, dark space can also slow you down, emphasizing the importance of good lighting like a headlamp. Having your tools and materials organized beforehand can help keep the project on track.

After installing the new sprayer and turning the water back on, what should I do if I notice a leak?

Immediately turn off the water supply under the sink again. Leaks commonly occur from connections that aren't fully tightened. Double-check all the nuts and fittings you worked on, ensuring they are snug but not overtightened. If the leak persists, you might need to disassemble the connection, inspect for any damaged or improperly seated washers or O-rings, and then reassemble carefully.

Transcript
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All right, well, let's get to work and start installing these faucets. Okay, the first thing we're going to do is remove the faucet that we currently have. So one of the first things we want to do is turn off the hot and cold water underneath the cabinet. Then we want to quickly look up on top and see what we're dealing with in removing that faucet that we currently have. I've found that using a mirror is a lot easier that way you can quickly see what you're dealing with. Typically, the cold water is on the right and the hot water is on the left. So let's turn them off. Okay, before you loosen the screws, you probably want to put a towel on the bottom because taking these hoses off, there'll probably be a little water that'll drip. I'm just using a crest wrench to loosen up the screws. Once you've got them loose, they'll come off by hand really easy. Do the same thing for the cold water side, the right side. Okay, once we got our water lines disconnected, we can start to remove our faucet. What you'll need is a large set of channel locks. I know this is kind of a pain, but you've got to reach up in there and turn it loose. And once it's loose, you can move it by hand. Once you have removed the nut and the gasket, you'll now be able to pull the faucet out from the top. Now we can remove our faucet. Believe it or not, we're half as done. At this point, you want to stop and think about all the money you're saving doing it yourself. See, it wasn't this hard.

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