Faucets for the kitchen and bath come from different manufacturers in many different styles. Fortunately, most faucets can be installed the same way. A mounting plate usually holds the faucet in place. The only tool that you will need for this job that is somewhat out of the ordinary is called a basin wrench. It is used to loosen the faucet from underneath where access is difficult because it is between the basin and the wall.

Before you can install a new faucet, you will have to remove the old faucet. So make sure to first turn off the water supply. You can do this by reaching underneath the sink and turning off the valves mounted on the wall, there should be two, one for the hot and one for the cold water.

However, if you look under the sink and do not have cut off valves, go no further, you will have to call a plumber to install them before the faucet can be replaced. You can allow a plumber to install the cut-off valves, but you can still save a few hundred dollars by still installing the faucet on your own.

The next step is to go below the sink and disconnect the flexible tubing that supplies water to the faucet. You will see two tubes that are connected to the valves that you've just turned off. Turn the nuts connected to the valves counterclockwise. Also have a pail ready because once these connections are opened you can open the faucet to remove any remaining water.

Depending on several factors, including the manufacturer, the age, and style of your faucet, you will have either one or two nuts holding the faucet in place on the underneath side. Use the basin wrench to undo these counterclockwise. The faucet should now lift right off.

Often loosening these nuts is easier said than done. Often they have been there so long that built-up corrosion has made it impossible to loosen them. If this is the situation with your faucet the only way that you are going to get it lose is by breaking these nuts. The easiest way that I find to do this is by using a drill and drilling through them.

Finally, the new faucet can be installed. Remove it from the box and check the directions to make certain that all the required parts are present. Follow any assembly instructions in the directions given by the manufacturer. This step is easier than it sounds.

Once you have the faucet together, position it over the holes in the sink but, before you do so place plumber's putty underneath it to make a watertight seal. Place the mounting bracket over the valves from the underneath side and tighten with the nuts provided. Installation of the water supply lines is the reverse procedure of when you uninstalled them.

And you thought this job was going to be difficult.