Domakihub How to Install a Kitchen Tap Without Calling a Plumber
A practical step-by-step guide for homeowners, rental managers, and hotel maintenance teams.
Reviewed by Domakihub home & decor pros · 2026-06-23 · 5 min read
Replacing a dripping or outdated kitchen tap is one of the most satisfying DIY repairs you can do in a day — no specialist tools required. The video above from This Old House walks through the full process visually, while this guide breaks it into clear steps with practical notes for Greek homes, holiday rentals, and hotel kitchens. Whether you are dealing with a single-hole mixer or a traditional two-tap setup, the fundamentals are the same.
What to Know Before You Start
Kitchen taps in Greece are almost always mixer taps with a single spout and a flexible hose connection. Hot and cold water pipes are typically 1/2-inch (12 mm) BSP fittings, so standard European replacement taps will thread straight on. If your property is older, check for galvanised steel pipes — these can be corroded and may need separate attention before fitting a new tap.
If your property is a short-term rental or hotel room, schedule the work between guest stays and keep a temporary supply of bottled water available. The whole job typically takes 45 to 90 minutes for a straightforward swap.
Tools and Materials You Will Need
You will need an adjustable spanner or basin wrench (especially useful for reaching the lock nut under a deep sink), PTFE tape, a bucket or old towels, and a torch for working inside the cabinet. Pick up a new flexible braided hose set if the existing hoses look stiff or corroded — they are inexpensive and leaks from old hoses are a common call-out for plumbers in Greece.
Buy the replacement tap before you start and confirm it matches your sink's hole diameter. Most Greek kitchen sinks have a single 35 mm hole, which accepts the majority of modern mixer taps. If you have a two-hole sink, you will need a two-handle or bridge-style tap, or a cover plate.
How to Install a Kitchen Tap: 5 Steps
- 1
Shut Off the Water Supply
Open the cabinet under the sink and turn the isolation valves clockwise until they stop — usually a quarter turn on modern valves. If there are no isolation valves, close the main stopcock for the property. Open the tap to release pressure and drain the residual water in the pipes into your bucket. This step is essential and prevents a soaking when you disconnect the hoses.
- 2
Disconnect and Remove the Old Tap
Place a towel under the pipe connections and unscrew the flexible hoses from the supply valves below — use your adjustable spanner and keep the bucket handy as some water will drain out. Next, from under the sink, undo the large plastic or brass lock nut holding the tap body to the sink. A basin wrench makes this much easier in a tight space. Lift the old tap out from above and clean the hole area before fitting the new one.
- 3
Prepare the New Tap
Thread two or three layers of PTFE tape clockwise around the male threads of the tap's tail pipes. This creates a watertight seal when the hoses are connected. If the new tap comes with a rubber gasket or mounting plate, position it on the underside of the tap body so it sits flush against the sink surface. Feed the tap tails down through the sink hole from above.
- 4
Secure the Tap to the Sink
From underneath, slide on the washer and hand-tighten the lock nut. Align the tap so the spout faces straight forward, then use your basin wrench or spanner to tighten the nut firmly — snug but not overtightened, as cracking the sink surround is a risk with ceramic or composite sinks. Now connect the flexible hoses from the tap tails to the isolation valves below, again using PTFE tape on the threads and tightening with a spanner.
- 5
Test and Check for Leaks
Slowly open the isolation valves or the main stopcock. Let water run for 30 seconds to flush any debris from the pipes, then close the tap and inspect every connection carefully for drips. A dry paper towel held against each joint is the easiest way to detect a small weep. If you see a drip, simply tighten that connection a quarter turn. Once everything is dry, run both hot and cold settings and confirm the mixer blends correctly.
Rather have a pro handle it?
Get a vetted plumbing pro in your city — one number, booked in EN/EL/DE.
FAQ
- Do I need a plumber to replace a kitchen tap in Greece?
- Not for a straightforward like-for-like swap. Greek regulations require a licensed plumber only for new pipework or changes to the main water supply installation. Replacing a tap on existing fittings is legal DIY work for a homeowner or property manager.
- My new tap has 3/8-inch connections but the pipes are 1/2-inch. What do I do?
- This is common. Pick up a pair of 1/2-inch to 3/8-inch reducer adaptors from any Greek plumbing supply shop (υδραυλικά). They cost under two euros each and thread straight onto your isolation valves, letting you connect the tap without touching the existing pipework.
- The lock nut under the sink is impossible to reach. Any tips?
- A basin wrench (γαλλικό κλειδί τύπου μπανιέρας) is designed for exactly this. Its long handle and rotating jaw grip the nut from below even in the deepest cabinets. Most tool-hire shops in Greece stock them if you do not want to buy one.