Installing a kitchen faucet is actually fairly easy and straightforward – normally. The reason I say it like that is because what kind of access you have is a pretty large determining factor. If you’re installing a brand new kitchen sink, congratulations! You’re one of the lucky ones. If you’re replacing the faucet on a sink that’s already installed, you could be in for a headache.

The reason I say that those installing new sinks have it easy is because you’ll have full access to the faucet parts, which includes the normally elusive mounting nuts. You’ll be able to maneuver with ease and get to all the crucial bits with very little strain.

For those who’re installing a kitchen faucet on a sink that’s already in place, it gets a bit trickier. The fundamentals are the same, sure, but your access is going to be very restricted. The only way you’ll be able to get at the important bits is from underneath the sink, which means you’ll be lying on your back in your sink cabinet. There’s a great tool called a basin wrench that will help you reach those awkward places, but you’ll still be at a disadvantage. The only real way to save yourself awkwardness is to remove the sink first. It may be worth your while in the long run.

Most new faucet models require some assembly before they’re ready to install. Thankfully, they usually come with a pretty detailed guide to the steps you need to take. Remember that with pullout sprayers you’ll have to thread it through the faucet’s body beforehand.

Next up you’ll need to put the rubber gasket between the top of the sink and the base plate. If they didn’t give you a rubber gasket, plumber’s putty works just as well to create the seal. Put the mounting nuts onto the faucet shaft, align it properly with the sink’s holes and firmly tighten them. Some faucet sets come with a long socket designed specifically to help tighten the mounting screws. It’s usually a good idea to use this. Also, if your faucet has a pullout sprayer, now would be the time to attach that. Connect it to the faucet body, using pipe-wrap tape if the instructions call for it. Afterwards, check to see if your sprayer comes with a counterweight; if it does, attach it now, making sure not to crush the hose with it.

Finally we get to the hookup. Attach the faucet’s cold and hot lines to the water supply shutoff valves, found underneath the sink. If you need to, you can bend the copper tubes coming from the faucet for better access. Be sure to do this gently and cautiously. Then you just need to wrap some piping tape around the nipples of the valves and attach the tubes, tightening the nuts afterwards.

Now all you need to do is remove the aerator from the faucet and run water through the tubes to make sure there’s no obstruction or clogging. A good indication is if the water starts coming slower than you believe it should. For reference, the aerator is usually found at the end of the water spigot. Just unscrew it and let the water run for a couple minutes. Assuming that goes smoothly, you’re all done with the installation and can start enjoying your new kitchen faucet.