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How to Remove a Corroded Bathroom Sink Drain Pipe From the Wall

Kenneth Crawford

Metal drain pipes under the sink are made from a thin, inexpensive metal. Over time, water that sits in the bottom of the wall pipe and P-trap can begin to deteriorate the integrity of the metal, causing rust and corrosion. The wall pipe inserts into the house plumbing at the wall and connects to the back of the P-trap. Removing a corroded bathroom sink drain pipe from the wall may require cutting it away from the P-trap.

Replace the drain pipe beneath your bathroom sink if it's corroded.
  1. Place a bucket under the curve portion of the sink drain pipe system. The curve portion is the P-trap.

  2. Loosen the nut securing the top of the P-trap to the bathroom sink drain pipe coming from the bottom of the sink with a pair of slip joint pliers. Once you have the nut loose, unthread it by hand and slide it down.

  3. Turn the nut connecting the P-trap to the drain pipe coming from the wall counterclockwise with the channel lock pliers until you can turn it by hand. If the wall pipe is corroded at this connection and the nut will not turn freely, cut the wall pipe with a hacksaw behind this connecting nut.

  4. Pull the P-trap out of the way and empty the water from the P-trap into the bucket. If it was necessary to cut the wall pipe at this point, the P-trap requires replacement as well as the wall pipe.

  5. Place the jaws of the slip joint pliers over the nut connecting the wall pipe to the house plumbing at the wall. Turn the nut counterclockwise to remove the nut. Pull the wall pipe out of the house plumbing.