If you enjoy instant hot drinks and soups, you know instant hot water is a nice convenience. Sure, you can use a microwave oven for a cup of tea, but a hot water sink dispenser is much better. Ask anyone who has one at their sink and they’ll probably tell you it’s something they can’t live without. Since the missing ingredient for many foods—hot cereals and sauces—a sink dispenser makes food prep almost instant.
The tank supplying the hot water sits below the sink in the base cabinet, so you must give up some space to make room for the unit. Its spout is mounted in a precut hole on the top of the sink counter. If there’s a garbage disposer or dishwasher, they are connected to an electrical receptacle under the sink that you can use to power the dispenser.
Assuming there’s an electrical receptacle to tap into, a plumbing contractor will charge $575, including labor and material, to install a new dispenser. If you have some plumbing experience and tools, you can do the job for $325, the cost of the unit, and save 43 percent.
The first obstacle is removing all the items stored under the sink. The challenge is working on your back to reach all the connections, but a thick cushion or pillow wedged into the cabinet helps. You’ll need an electric drill and bits, a basin wrench, a saw, tubing cutter, a screwdriver, pliers, an adjustable wrench, and a carpenter’s level. A saddle valve or three-way valve angle stop comes in handy to tap into the pipe without having to cut it first.
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Pro Cost—DIY Cost—Pro time—DIY Time—DIY Savings—Percent Saved
$575—$325—3.0—3.5—$250—43 percent
