How to Change Your Kitchen Sink Faucet Hose

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Licensed plumber Greg Jeiranyan shares how to change the hose on your kitchen sink for a leak-proof fit

Co-authored by Greg Jeiranyan and Amy Bobinger, BA

Last Updated: December 2, 2025 Fact Checked

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Pull-Out Faucet Hose

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Supply Line Hose

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Video

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Expert Interview

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Things You'll Need

Over time, the hose connecting the water supply to your kitchen faucet may leak or wear out. If this happens, you'll need to replace it. But don’t call a plumber just yet—this is a fairly straightforward DIY project. We talked to licensed plumber Greg Jeiranyan to find out everything you need to know about replacing a pull-out faucet hose or hot or cold water supply line, so let’s get started!

How do you replace a kitchen sink hose?

Licensed plumber Greg Jeiranyan says that before you replace a faucet hose, you should turn off the hot and cold water at the shutoff valves. Then:

Remove the faucet hose from the water line.
Take the weight off the faucet hose.
Pull the faucet head and hose out through the faucet stem.
Remove the old hose from the faucet head.
Attach the new hose to the faucet head.
Feed the new hose back through the faucet stem.
Attach the new hose to the water line, reattach the weight, and check for leaks.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Replacing a Pull-Out Faucet Hose

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1
Turn off the hot and cold water to the sink. Jeiranyan advises turning off the water to the sink before attempting to replace the hose.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Greg Jeiranyan
Licensed Plumber

Expert Interview} Look for a knob or lever attached to the hot and cold water lines under the sink. Rotate each of these shutoff valves clockwise to turn off the water.
- Turn on the tap to drain any remaining water after you shut off the water. This will prevent leaks when you disconnect the faucet hose.
Meet the wikiHow Expert

Greg Jeiranyan is a licensed plumber with over 10 years of professional experience. His company, Plumbing Geeks, has served the greater Los Angeles area since 2021.
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Detach the hose from the water pipe. There are three main types of attachments for pull-out faucet hoses: threaded, quick-release, and collet. The way you detach the water hose will depend on which one you have.^{[2]
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- Threaded: If the faucet hose screws onto the water line, use an adjustable wrench to loosen the nut by turning it counterclockwise. Once the nut is loose, unscrew it by hand the rest of the way.
- Quick release: If you see a button where the hose and water supply connect, press that button to release the hose. You may need to unscrew the quick release assembly from the old hose and put it on the new hose.^{[3]
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- Collet: Hold the plastic ring in place and gently push the hose deeper into the connection to release it, then pull the hose out.
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Remove the weight from the hose. Most pull-out faucets have a weight attached to the hose that draws the hose back in when you replace the faucet into the holder. Before you can remove the hose, you'll have to remove the weight. Depending on the way your weight is attached, you may need to:
- Use a screwdriver to remove the two screws holding the sides of the weight together.
- Unclasp a clip so the weight folds open.
- Slide the clip off the free end of the hose.^{[4]
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Pull the hose out of the faucet and detach the faucet head. Once the weight has been removed, gently pull the faucet head and hose out through the faucet stem. Then, remove the hose from the faucet head to replace it.^{[5]
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- Unscrew the faucet head from the hose to remove it. You may need to use a wrench.^{[6]
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Attach the new hose to the faucet head. Use a clean towel or rag to clean and dry the threads and connections on the hose and faucet. Wrap the threads with plumbing tape to lubricate the connection and form a good seal. Insert the hose into the faucet head, hold the nut, and screw the faucet head on. Tighten the nut by turning it to the right (clockwise) by a quarter turn.^{[7]
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- Take care not to kink the hose when you replace it.
- To make sure that you get the same style and size of hose, take the old hose with you to the home or hardware store. If you want to buy the hose in advance but aren't sure what style you have, purchase a universal style that will come with multiple attachments and adaptors.
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Install the hose, faucet head, and weight. Thread the free end of the hose through the hole in the faucet stem. When the hose has been pulled through the hole the entire way, set the faucet head in its position in the faucet stem. Reattach the weight by sliding, clipping, or screwing it onto the new hose.^{[8]
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- Try to replace the weight about where you had it before—if it’s in the wrong spot, the faucet head may not retract into the stem when you’re finished using it.
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Attach the hose to the water pipe. For threaded hoses, butt the connections together and tighten the nut by screwing it to the right (clockwise). Then use a wrench to tighten it a quarter turn.^{[9]
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- For quick disconnect hoses, insert the male end into the port on the water hose until you hear a click.^{[10]
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- For collet hoses, hold the ring in place and push the hose into the connection.
Once the water is on, turn on the faucet to run the water. Look for leaks, and make sure the water is running through the hose and faucet properly.^{[11]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Replacing a Hot or Cold Supply Line Hose

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Turn off the supply valve to the hose you’re changing. Jeiranyan says to turn off the water on the hot or cold side, depending on the hose you’re replacing. “Each faucet has its own shutoff valve. Once you identify which side it’s on, shut off the valve.”^{[12]
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Expert Source

Greg Jeiranyan
Licensed Plumber

Expert Interview} To turn off the valve, rotate the knob or lever clockwise until it won’t turn anymore (but don’t overtighten it).
- If you’re replacing both supply hoses, turn off the hot and cold water.
- After you turn off the shut-off valves, turn on the hot and cold taps until the water runs dry. This will get standing water out of the hoses and pipes, which can help reduce leaks when you disconnect the hoses.^{[13]
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Detach the supply hose from the water supply. The supply line hose is the hose that connects the faucet to the main water supply. This could be a plastic hose, a coiled metal hose, or it could even be a solid metal tube. Jeiranyan suggests using pliers to loosen the lock nut attaching the hose to the water supply.^{[14]
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Greg Jeiranyan
Licensed Plumber

Expert Interview}
- There will be separate hoses for the hot and cold, so make sure you disconnect the one that you need to replace.
- It’s common for some water to leak out when the hoses are disconnected. Place a towel or bowl under the sink to catch drips.
- To loosen the nut, turn it to the left (counterclockwise).
- Once you’ve loosened the nut with the wrench, you can twist it off the rest of the way by hand.
- If you're not sure which hose is for which supply, the hot water is typically on the left, and the cold on the right.
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Detach the hose from the faucet. Follow the supply hose from the water supply up to where it’s attached to the faucet. When you find the lock nut, Jeiranyan says to use pliers to loosen it.^{[15]
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Expert Source

Greg Jeiranyan
Licensed Plumber

Expert Interview} When you’ve loosened the nut, you can twist it off the rest of the way by hand. Once the second nut is disconnected, you'll be able to remove the old hose.
- If the supply line connects to copper tubing, hold the tubing in 1 hand while loosening the nut with the other to prevent the copper from twisting or breaking.
- If the nut under the sink is hard to reach, you may need to use a basin wrench to remove it, rather than pliers. The handle of the wrench can pivot, so it lets you turn the wrench and loosen the nut from a more comfortable position.
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Purchase a new hose with the same measurements. It’s actually best to purchase a replacement hose after you’ve removed the original one. Jeiranyan suggests taking the original hose to the hardware store so you can buy a replacement that will be a perfect match.^{[16]
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Greg Jeiranyan
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Expert Interview}
- Choose a hose that’s the same length as the original. The diameter of the hose and fittings must also be the same. “The most common sizes for faucet hose fittings are 3 by 3 or 1/2 by 1/2,” says Jeiranyan.^{[17]
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- If you’re replacing more than 1 line, be sure to mark which one goes where on the valve and faucet connector.
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Dry and tape the threads. Use the rag to dry off the threaded pipe ends where the supply line hose attaches to the water supply and faucet. When the threads are clean and dry, wrap them with thread-sealing tape.^{[18]
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Research source} Make sure the tape doesn’t extend beyond the end of the pipe.
- Thread-sealing tape lubricates threads and helps form a stronger seal between joints. This will make your new hose easier to attach and will help prevent leaks.
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Attach the hose to the faucet. Jeiranyan says to attach the hose to the faucet side first: “Tighten it by hand first, then give it a quarter turn with the pliers to make sure it’s snug.”^{[19]
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Greg Jeiranyan
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Expert Interview}
- Be careful not to kink the hose.
- Do not overtighten the nut, as this can damage the threads.
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Attach the hose to the water supply. Once the faucet end has been connected, Jeiranyan says to attach the new hose to the water supply. Tighten the nut by hand (to the right), and then finish tightening it with the adjustable wrench.^{[20]
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Greg Jeiranyan
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Expert Interview}
- Do not turn the nut more than a quarter turn with the wrench, as too much tightening can cause damage.
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Turn on the water and test the hose. “Once the hose is connected and tightened with the pliers, turn on the water and make sure there are no leaks,” says Jeiranyan.^{[21]
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Expert Source

Greg Jeiranyan
Licensed Plumber

Expert Interview} After turning on the water, it may take a moment for the water to come out of the taps, and it may sputter for a minute.
- If you see any leaks, turn off the water again and double-check to be sure the connections are tightened securely.