1. Remove the old faucet.

Using a plumbing wrench or other tools remove your old faucet.  This will include turning off the water supply and then removing the supply lines from your old faucet.  Hopefully you have shut off valves below the kitchen sink, but if not, then turn off the main water shut off.  I would suggest that this would be a great time to find ball valve shut offs to install below here such that you can turn off the water to just the kitchen sink while the entire remainder of the house still has full usage of the water.

2. Read the directions from the new faucet

An important step for all people who are about to install a new faucet.

3. Tighten the nuts to attach the faucet to the counter

Using a plumbing basin wrench (much easier) or another tool, tighten the large nuts to get the new faucet to be taut against the counter for years of continued use.

4.Connect the water supply lines to the faucet.

I prefer to use the flexible supply lines that have metal sheathing around them due to being easier to connect and also provide years of use.  You don’t need to use these metal sheathed lines, but it makes the job a ton easier.  Otherwise use whatever you have to connect the copper supply pipe to the faucet hot and cold water.

5. Flush Out supply lines

Just to ensure that the water supply lines do not contain any debris from solder or flux run them into a bucket or similar prior to connecting them to your new faucet.

6. Connect supply lines to new faucet

Using a basin wrench or similar connect the supply lines to the faucet.  If your faucet has a side sprayer DO NOT turn on your supply yet or you will get water everywhere.

7.  Connect any accompanying items to your faucet

This includes, but is not limited to, side sprayers and the like.  Follow the instructions in the guide that comes with your faucet to ensure proper installation.

8. Turn on the water supply and test out your next sink!
Simply turn your shutoff valves back on, and check for any leaks below the sink.  Once you are certain that there are no leaks below the sink, turn on the faucet and ensure that everything is running properly.

Here is a video that goes over the entire process as described above.

To that end, here is a quick guide to think about the best course of action should you have a plumbing emergency.  At first we need to assess what the current situation is.  Try to delve into the root cause of the problem as soon as possible.  There is usually a symptom that we notice that will lead us to suspecting something is wrong (be it a lot of water on the ground, a brown spot in the ceiling, a slow running or stopped drain, a noise of running water coming from a place unseen, and so forth).  In as quick a manner of possible, try to detail where exactly it is coming from.  It is important to understand if the problem is based in the supply lines or the drains.

If it is the supply lines then the first move always should be to turn off the water.  If you don’t have a shut off valve close and handy, run (don’t walk) to your main shut of supply.  If you don’t know where this is, it is most often where the water comes into the house.  Which is also in the utility room normally.  It is imperative that you stop more water from adding to the problem.  While it doesn’t look bad, water has an uncanny way of going really bad if not taken care of.  Now if it is a drain try to ensure that the drain in question (or any upstream drains) are not used and most likely find a way to get something to catch the water (an ice cream pail or 5 gallon bucket work well most of the time).

From here it is either time to hit the hardware store or call a plumber.  It is good to have it written down what the specific problem is if you are going to call a plumber so you can discuss the best course of action on the phone. When it comes to a plumbing emergency, it is always best to stem the tides of damage first and then work to fix the problem second.