How to Install a Two Handle Kitchen Faucet Step by Step (2026)

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A two handle kitchen faucet is one of the easiest fixtures to swap yourself. You get separate hot and cold control, a familiar look, and on most models a handy side spray. With a free afternoon and a few basic tools, you can replace an old, dripping faucet without calling anyone.

Quick answer

To install a two handle kitchen faucet, shut off the water, remove the old faucet, mount the hose guide and side spray, set the faucet shanks through the sink holes and tighten the wing nuts from below. Then connect hot to the left inlet and cold to the right, turn the water back on and check for leaks.

Key takeaways

Water off first: close both shutoff valves under the sink and open the old faucet to relieve pressure.
Hot left, cold right: this is the standard and your handles depend on it.
Hand-tight wing nuts: the faucet is secured from below, ideally with a helper holding it straight on top.
No side spray? Use the plug: an open side spray fitting will leak.
Flush before you use it: remove the aerator and run the water to clear debris.

Before You Start

Check how many holes your sink has. A typical two handle kitchen faucet with side spray uses a four-hole sink: two for the faucet shanks, one in the center for the spout hoses, and one for the side spray. If your sink has fewer holes than your new faucet needs, pick a model that matches or plan for a deck plate.

Read the instructions that came with your faucet. The steps below follow a common two handle design with wing nuts and a hose guide, but brands differ in small details. In my experience as a plumber, most installation problems come from skipping that sheet.

Unpack the box and make sure you have everything. You should find:

The pre-assembled faucet
Wing nuts for the faucet shanks
A hose guide with its own wing nut
The side spray and its hose
A side spray plug with a black washer inside

Tools and Materials You Need

Adjustable wrench
Basin wrench (handy for nuts in tight spaces)
Flashlight
Bucket and old towels
New braided supply lines (if the old ones are worn)
Plumber's putty or silicone (only if your deck plate has no gasket)
A helper for the topside steps

Safety first

Close the hot and cold shutoff valves under the sink before you touch anything. Open the old faucet to let out the remaining pressure, and keep a bucket under the connections because some water always stays in the lines.

How to Remove the Old Faucet

Shut off the water
Turn both shutoff valves clockwise until they stop. Open the faucet handles to drain the lines and confirm the water is really off.
Disconnect the supply lines
With an adjustable wrench, loosen the nuts that connect the supply lines to the faucet. Let the water drip into your bucket.
Remove the mounting hardware
Unthread and remove the nuts or wing nuts that hold the old faucet to the sink. A basin wrench makes this much easier if the nuts sit high behind the bowl.
Lift out the old faucet and clean the deck
Pull the old faucet and side spray up and out. Scrape off old putty and grime, then wipe the area dry so the new faucet sits flat and seals well.

How to Install a Two Handle Kitchen Faucet

Before you begin, unthread and remove the two wing nuts from the faucet shanks and the wing nut from the hose guide. Set them aside. You will need them in a few minutes.

Insert the hose guide and side spray hose
Push the hose guide and the side spray hose through the gasket and down into the side spray hole in the sink.
Secure the hose guide
Go under the sink and hand-tighten the wing nut to hold the hose guide firmly against the sink.
Feed the side spray hose
Bring the side spray hose back up through the center hole. Have someone on top guide the hose into place while you push from below.
Connect the hose and set the faucet
On top, tighten the side spray hose onto the bottom of the faucet. Then insert the faucet shanks through the sink holes and line the faucet up with the edge of the sink.
Tighten the wing nuts
From below, thread the wing nuts onto the shanks and tighten them by hand. Ask your helper to keep the faucet straight on top while you tighten, so it does not twist.
Connect the water lines
Hot always connects to the left inlet and cold to the right. Using an adjustable wrench, connect the cold supply line first, then the hot one. Snug them firmly, but do not crank on them.
Turn on the water and check for leaks
Slowly open the hot and cold shutoff valves. Look closely at every connection with a flashlight and make sure nothing drips or sprays.
Flush the faucet
Remove the aerator housing from the end of the spout. Run hot and cold water for about 15 seconds each to clear out debris, then screw the aerator back on.

Installing It Without the Side Spray

If you are not installing the side spray, you must use the side spray plug. Thread it securely onto the side spray fitting under the faucet, with its black washer in place. Without the plug, water will come out of that fitting as soon as you turn on the faucet.

Video Tutorial

Prefer to watch first? This short video walks through the same installation.

Final Checks

Once the water is on and the aerator is back, test everything from the top:

Both handles: hot on the left, cold on the right, each turning on and off smoothly.
Spout rotation: the spout swings freely over both bowls.
Side spray: water switches to the sprayer when you press it and back to the spout when you let go.
Topside leaks: no water around the base or the handles.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Swapping hot and cold: your handles will work backwards. Hot goes left.
Overtightening the supply nuts: it can crack the fittings or crush the seal. Firm is enough.
Forgetting the side spray plug: if you skip the sprayer, the plug is not optional.
Skipping the flush: debris in the aerator causes weak or uneven flow right away.
Twisted faucet: tighten the wing nuts while someone holds the faucet straight on top.

If water ever starts pooling around the base later on, our guide on how to stop a two handle kitchen faucet from leaking at the base walks you through the fix. For a sprayer that stops working, see how to fix a kitchen sink sprayer.

FAQs

Which side is hot on a two handle kitchen faucet?

Hot is on the left and cold is on the right. Connect the hot supply line to the left inlet and the cold line to the right inlet.

Do I need plumber's putty to install a two handle kitchen faucet?

Not if the deck plate has a built-in gasket or tight seal system. If it has no gasket, follow the maker's instructions, which usually call for putty or silicone under the plate.

Can I install a two handle faucet without the side spray?

Yes. Thread the side spray plug securely onto the side spray fitting so water cannot escape there, and leave the fourth sink hole covered or used for another accessory.

Should I replace the supply lines when I change the faucet?

It is a good idea. New braided supply lines are inexpensive and old ones can be stiff, kinked or corroded, which makes leaks more likely.

Why is my new faucet spraying unevenly after installation?

Debris from the pipes is usually stuck in the aerator. Unscrew the aerator, rinse the screen, run the water for a few seconds and screw it back on.

Installing a two handle kitchen faucet comes down to a few careful moves: water off, old faucet out, hose guide and side spray in, faucet tightened straight, hot left and cold right. Flush the aerator, check every joint and you are done. Still choosing a model? Start with our best two handle kitchen faucets guide.