You have finally had it with that old, crusty kitchen faucet. Maybe it drips no matter how hard you tighten the handle, or the finish is peeling in a way that makes your whole counter look tired. Perhaps the sprayer has given up entirely, or you simply want to add a modern touch to your kitchen. Whatever the reason, replacing a kitchen faucet is one of those DIY projects that looks intimidating but is actually quite manageable for a typical homeowner. With a little patience and the right tools, you can swap out that old fixture in an afternoon and save yourself the cost of a plumber’s visit.

Before you even touch the water lines, take a trip to the hardware store or browse online to pick your new faucet. Measure the existing setup carefully. Most kitchen faucets mount through one, two, or three holes in the sink or countertop. If you have a three-hole configuration, you can install a single-handle faucet that comes with a deck plate to cover the extra holes, or you can go with a traditional center-set model. Make sure the new faucet’s base fits your sink’s hole pattern and that the supply lines are long enough to reach your shutoff valves. Once you have your new faucet in hand, gather a few essential tools: an adjustable wrench, a basin wrench (that long-handled tool that reaches tight spots under the sink), a bucket, some towels, and plumber’s tape.

The first step is to turn off the water supply. Under your sink, you will see two shutoff valves—one for hot water, one for cold. Turn both clockwise until they stop. Then head to the kitchen and open the existing faucet handle to relieve any pressure and let a little water drain out. Place your bucket under the supply lines and disconnect them from the shutoff valves using your adjustable wrench. You will probably get a small amount of water dripping, so have towels handy. Now that the old faucet is disconnected from the water, you need to remove it from the sink itself. Look underneath the sink for the mounting nuts that hold the faucet in place. These are often large plastic or metal nuts that you can loosen with a basin wrench or a deep socket. If your faucet has a separate sprayer hose, disconnect that too. Once all the nuts are off, lift the old faucet out from above. You might need to push the supply lines and sprayer hose up through the sink hole as you go.

With the old faucet gone, clean the sink surface where the new faucet will sit. Scrape away old putty or silicone sealant, and dry the area thoroughly. Now it is time to prepare your new faucet. Most modern faucets come with rubber gaskets on the base, so you do not need plumber’s putty. Simply place the gasket on the faucet’s base, or if your sink has a rough surface, a small bead of silicone caulk can help create a watertight seal. Feed the supply lines and any sprayer hose down through the sink hole. From underneath, slide the mounting plate or washer into place and tighten the mounting nuts by hand first, then finish with your basin wrench. Do not overtighten—just snug enough to prevent the faucet from wobbling.

Now reconnect the supply lines. Apply a couple wraps of plumber’s tape to the threads of the shutoff valves, then hand-tighten the compression nuts from the faucet supply hoses onto the valves. Use your adjustable wrench to give each nut a quarter turn past hand-tight. Be careful not to cross-thread the connections. If your new faucet has a separate sprayer, attach its hose to the side port on the faucet body underneath. Some models have a quick-connect system—just push the hose in until it clicks. Others require a threaded connection with a nut.

Before you call it done, turn the water supply back on slowly. Open both shutoff valves and then turn on the faucet to full cold and full hot to flush any debris from the lines. Check all connections for drips. If you see a slow leak, try tightening the nut just a little more. Also check the sprayer head and the base of the faucet. Let the water run for a minute to make sure everything is working smoothly. If all looks good, wipe up any water and admire your handiwork. You have just saved yourself a couple hundred dollars and gained the satisfaction of doing it yourself. Plus, the next time a friend complains about a dripping faucet, you can casually mention how easy it is to swap one out—and maybe even offer to help.