Should I do this DIY myself or get someone

[Bluewaterloo]

I need to replace a leaking kitchen tap. I tried to get a plumber twice over the past month but they were no shows.

I checked online on videos on how to shut off the water and disconnect the fittings and old tap.

And how to instal a new tap.

I bought a tap from Amazon and waiting for delivery. I will have to order some more tools.

I don't feel in any way confident doing this myself. Even with videos.

My only apprenshion is will the new fittings fit my current how and water pipe fittings. I do t know what fittings I have under the kitchen sink. Do you know female/male threads. This is the only thing that's holding me back.

I do t want to take out the old tap to discover that the new fittings won't go in.

Should it I continue calling plumbers or find a handyman or should I take a chance with this myself.

Taps aren't built like that anymore. More "progress", everything becoming more difficult and more expensive to repair.

I use a handyman for little jobs like that. Sometimes when I see what he did, I wish I'd done it myself but I like to keep him reasonably busy so he's available for me when I really need him.

You can still get taps with rubber washers, but they are not fashionable. I generally get Bristan pillar taps, which are very simple, although they tend to have replaceable cartridges now.

A pity, because with occasional new washers, and tightening the gland, I have seen traditional taps last a hundred years.

Ceramic taps, especially the ones with a joystick that goes up, down and side to side, wear out much more quickly and are more expensive to maintain.

I am obviously a dinosaur.

I did some DIY before but it's very limited.

My only plumbing knowledge is about rubber O rings. That's it. I know there are female and male threads but I done know what is what and where fits where.

I had a look at YouTube videos.
Then I looked under my sink again and again. It's a double cupboard sink and there's plenty of space in there. The sink and tap and underneath was very clever indeed. I know sometimes it can be right but there's plenty of space in there. We have a one hole tap and it's located to the upper side of the sink. The waste water pipes are located to the middle.

It seems to be all fairly straight forward.

My only concern in not having the strength to loosen bolts and damaging some of the joins in the process.

I feel somewhat confident that I might be able to do it.

I see the very knowledgeable PigletJohn has joined this thread. He says -
"Frankly, if you are a beginner of any sex, and have not started out with some easier plumbing, and worked your way up to it, I would not start with a sink tap. You will probably get it half-way apart, with water running down the wall, and be unable to get it back together".
If that happens, and we know you don't have stop valves for the kitchen sink feeds, then the only way to stop the flow will be to leave the stopcock(s) turned off, so no water anywhere else either.
I recently had to have a new bathroom sink tap replaced (the one supplied was for high pressure and my supply is low) and despite the fact that I do have stop valves on the feeds there, I.e., it's an altogether easier job than the one you are proposing to tackle, I still had a proper plumber do it. Job done in 5 minutes, no mess anywhere so I'd count it as money well spent.
I appreciate the difficulties with your Mum, but she's going to be an awful lot more difficult when she has to paddle in her kitchen......

Problem is you don’t know what you don’t know.

The consequences of getting this wrong / it getting out of hand are everywhere getting very wet and you ending up calling out an emergency plumber.

In my local B&Q, then it gives you the names of people who will come and do fittings for things like sinks or whatever. Do you know if there's anything like that near you?

So, OP, did you do it yourself after all, and was it a success?

I would give it a go - worst case is you have to put the old tap back in and call a plumber again. Taps can be awkward to access so allow plenty of time for your adventure. Top tips - do it on a day local plumbers merchants and DIY shops are open in case you need an unexpected part; and make sure you use PTFE tape on the joints or they may weep.... GL