How to Install a Delta Kitchen Faucet

By
Aaron Stickley
Aaron Stickley

Aaron Stickley is a licensed plumber with 15 years of experience in commercial, new residential plumbing, and residential service and repair. He started his own residential service and repair plumbing business. Aaron's articles about plumbing on The Spruce span four years.

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Updated on 06/03/22
Reviewed by
Richard Epstein
Richard Epstein
Reviewed by Richard Epstein
Richard Epstein is a licensed master plumber with over 40 years experience in residential and commercial plumbing. He specializes in estimating as well as design and engineering for plumbing systems, and he works for one of New York's largest union plumbing construction companies.
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Fact checked by
Emily Estep
Emily Estep
Fact checked by Emily Estep

Emily Estep is a plant biologist and journalist who has worked for a variety of online news and media outlets, writing about and editing topics including environmental science and houseplants.

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Delta kitchen faucet installed with surrounding marble countertop

The Spruce / Kevin Norris

Project Overview
  • Working Time: 45 mins - 1 hr
  • Total Time: 45 mins - 1 hr
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Estimated Cost: $50 to $60

Installing a new Delta kitchen faucet is not too difficult when you have the right tools and instructions to follow. Every faucet has slightly different installation instructions based on the unique features of the model, but most faucets are installed in essentially the same way. This example is a Delta Leland pull-down kitchen faucet.

When picking out a faucet, you can decide how many holes you want to fill and how you want it to look. The installation instructions will change slightly depending on how many holes you want in your finished sink.

A new kitchen faucet will likely have all the materials you need to complete the installation. Double-check your kit to be sure, however, before you proceed. Always read the installation instructions, too, which will set the correct procedure for installation.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Screwdriver
  • Socket wrench

Materials

  • New Delta kitchen faucet kit
  • Silicone caulk (if needed)

Instructions

Materials and tools to install a Delta kitchen faucet

The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  1. Install the Spout

    The first step when installing a Delta kitchen faucet is to install the spout. Thread the mounting screws into the mounting nut making sure they are only a few threads in. Put the foam gasket on the spout and push the spout through the desired hole in the sink.

    From the bottom, screw the mounting nut and metal washer hand-tight all the way up to the underside of the sink. When you have hand-tightened the mounting nut as much as possible, use a screwdriver to tighten the screws. The combination of mounting nut and screws will completely secure the spout to the sink.

    Tip

    If the foam gasket is not enough to secure the faucet, you can also use silicone caulk under the spout to help seal the fixture.

    Delta kitchen faucet inserted into sink hole

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  2. Install the Valve

    Slip the foam gasket up around the tubes. Position it in the groove at the base of the valve. Push the tubes through the sink's hole while holding the gasket in place. Center the valve by aligning the tip of the “v” (or triangle) on the top of the valve straight out to face the sink.

    Use the mounting bracket and nut from under the sink and tighten using the tool provided or your own socket wrench. As you tighten, make sure that the valve stays straight facing the direction it needs to because sometimes it can move a little when tightening.

    Tubes poking through sink hole to install valve

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  3. Install the Sprayer Hose

    Install the sprayer head onto the threaded end of the hose and hand-tighten only. Attach the hose guide onto the other end of the hose and feed it through to the underside of the sink. Remove the hose guide and feed the weight onto the hose.

    Connect the sprayer hose to the valve hose by pushing the ends of the hoses together. Secure them by installing the clip to hold them in place. Pull the sprayer out and check that when you do, the sprayer hose does not catch on anything under the sink. If the hose gets tangled up during the installation, it can make it difficult to use the sprayer.

    Sprayer head added to threaded end of hose

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  4. Connect the Water Lines

    Connect the hot and cold water lines. The size of the faucet hoses can vary, but many newer faucets come with 3/8-inch hoses that need to be connected to 3/8-inch angle stops. To connect the water lines, just thread the flex lines by hand to make sure they do not cross-thread and then finish tightening them up firmly with a wrench or pliers.

    Tip

    If you do not have 3/8-inch angle stops, it's best to change them rather than use an adapter to connect to the existing angle stops.

    Flex lines threaded to connect water lines

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  5. Install the Faucet Trim

    Screw the valve trim on by hand. Slip the handle onto the valve and tighten it with the set screw. After the handle and set screw are tight, you can install the button that covers the set screw.

    Valve trim inserted on top of set screw

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris

  6. Check for Leaks

    Make sure the valve handle is in the off position. Turn the angle stops on from under the sink and check for leaks.

    Before using the faucet, flush out the sprayer hose. To do this, pull out the sprayer head and unscrew it from the sprayer hose, making sure to hold onto the sprayer hose. While holding the sprayer hose into the sink, turn the faucet on to both the cold and hot sides, allowing the running water to flush out anything that may have gotten into the lines. After about a minute, you can turn the water off and screw the sprayer head back on.

    At this point, it is a good idea to test for leaks underneath the sink again. Check for leaks several hours after the installation and once again the next day. Even a very small water leak under the sink can lead to mold and cabinet damage over time.

    Valve handle turned to check for leaks under sink

    The Spruce / Kevin Norris