How to Plumb an Outdoor Kitchen: Part 2

With the rough-in complete, it’s time to finish the outdoor kitchen plumbing. In part one, master plumber Ben Goheen ran the hot- and cold-water lines, installed the new drain line and set up the connections for the outdoor sink and hose bibb.

In part two, follow along as Ben completes the plumbing trim-out by installing the kitchen faucet, drain, and pipe assembly before making the final water-supply connections.

Gather Your Materials

Before getting started, unbox the faucet, soap dispenser and drain components. Make sure you have all the required gaskets, washers, nuts and other installation hardware.

Eastman Products:

• Trap Extension
• Trap Adapter
• P-Trap Kit

HoldRite Products (Featured):

• HoldRite Fixture Boxes

Additional Tools and Materials:

• Faucet  
• Soap dispenser  
• Basket strainer  
• Phillips head screwdriver
• Adjustable wrench
• Channel-lock pliers
• Bucket
• PVC pipe, primer, and cement

1. Prep the Sink and Install the Faucet

Start by checking that the sink or countertop has the correct number of openings for the faucet, soap dispenser and other accessories. To install the faucet, place the foam gasket on the top side of the sink to help protect and seal the mounting surface. Feed the sprayer hose and water-supply lines through the faucet opening.

From underneath the sink, install the gasket, flat washer and retaining nut. Tighten the retaining nut by hand, then use a Phillips head screwdriver to tighten the mounting screws until the faucet is secure.

Tip: Check the faucet from above before fully tightening it. Make sure it's straight and doesn't wiggle so you don't have to loosen the mounting hardware and reposition it later.

2. Install the Sprayer Weight

Once the faucet is secure, attach the retraction weight to the pull-down sprayer hose. The weight helps the hose retract back into position after the sprayer is used. Rather than positioning the weight directly in the center underneath the faucet, move it slightly to one side so the hose has a clear path to move.

Before moving on, pull the sprayer out a few times and allow it to retract. Make sure the hose and weight aren't catching on the drain, supply lines or anything else underneath the sink.

Tip: Check the area under the sink for anything that could obstruct the sprayer hose. A clear path helps the faucet retract smoothly once everything is connected.

3. Install the Soap Dispenser

Next, install the soap dispenser through the appropriate opening in the sink or countertop. Place the gasket in position, insert the dispenser from above and secure it from underneath with the supplied hardware. Once the dispenser is tight, attach the pump tube and soap bottle.

Before filling the bottle, test the dispenser from above to make sure the pump moves freely and the assembly is stable.

4. Install the Basket Strainer

With the faucet and soap dispenser installed, move on to the sink drain. Place the basket strainer into the sink opening with its supplied foam gasket. Underneath the sink, install the rubber gasket and retaining nut according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Hand-tighten the retaining nut first. Then, use channel-lock pliers to turn it approximately another quarter turn to create a secure seal without over-tightening the assembly. The basket strainer used in this installation relies on the supplied foam and rubber gaskets to create a watertight seal, so plumber's putty isn't needed.

Tip: More torque doesn't always mean a better seal. Over-tightening a basket strainer can compress or damage the gasket and contribute to leaks.

5. Assemble the Sink Drain

Next, connect the sink to the drain line installed during the rough-in. Use an Eastman trap adapter to transition from the existing wall pipe to the slip-joint PVC drain assembly. Measure and position the drain components before tightening everything so the piping lines up naturally without putting unnecessary stress on the connections.

As you assemble the slip-joint connections, pay close attention to the direction of each gasket. The narrow, beveled side should point into the fitting. Then, start the slip nuts by hand and make sure each connection is aligned correctly before tightening.

Tip: Dry-fit the drain components first. Getting the alignment right before tightening the slip nuts can make final assembly easier and help prevent leaks.

6. Connect the Hot- and Cold-Water Supply Lines

With the drain assembled, connect the faucet supply lines to the hot- and cold-water HoldRite fixture boxes installed during the rough-in. Make sure you're connecting each line to the correct water supply, then start each connection by hand. Once hand-tight, use an adjustable wrench to snug the connections slightly.

7. Turn On the Water and Test for Leaks

Once all the plumbing connections are complete, it's time to test your work. Slowly turn on the water and pressurize the system. Run both hot and cold water through the faucet while inspecting the supply connections underneath the sink. Pay special attention to the sprayer hose connection. A loose sprayer head or hose connection can create a slow drip that may go unnoticed inside the cabinet.

Next, fill the sink basin with water. This puts the basket strainer seal under a more realistic test than simply running water through the drain. Check underneath the sink for leaks around the basket strainer.

Release the water and let the full basin drain while checking every connection in the drain assembly. If you find a leak, identify the connection, shut off the water when necessary and correct the issue before testing the system again.

Tip: Test the system under different conditions. Running the faucet checks the water-supply connections, filling the basin tests the basket strainer and draining a full sink puts more water through the drain assembly at once.

8. Final Steps

With the faucet, soap dispenser, supply lines and drain installed and tested, the plumbing trim-out is complete.

Before wrapping up, inspect the area underneath the sink one more time. Make sure the water-supply connections are dry, the drain is working properly, the sprayer retracts freely and the shutoff points installed during the rough-in remain accessible.

With these final connections complete, the outdoor kitchen plumbing is ready for cooking, cleaning and entertaining. 

See More Installs