How to Install a Kitchen Sink Drain Basket

A kitchen sink's drain basket acts as a filter. The basket allows water to pass through the bottom of the sink into the sink's drain pipe while preventing large particles from entering the pipe. Without a drain basket, large particles would quickly clog the drain pipe, which could require an expensive repair. Follow the steps below to install a kitchen sink drain basket.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Plastic putty knife. Water pump pliers. Basket strainer wrench. Plumber's putty.

1. Scrap away any foreign substances surrounding the basket's hole at the bottom of the sink with a plastic putty knife.

2. Remove the slip nut and tailpiece washer from the basket. The slip nut is the circular metal piece located at the bottom of the basket. If necessary, use water pump pliers to grasp the nut and to turn it in a counterclockwise direction. Once the slip nut is removed, the tailpiece washer slides off of the basket.

3. Remove the drain locking ring and drain gasket. The drain locking ring is a large metal piece on the bottom of the basket just above where the slip nut was located. Note the ridges which surround the locking ring. Use a basket strainer wrench to grab onto the ridges, then turn the ring in a counterclockwise direction to remove the ring. Once the ring has been removed, the drain gasket can be slid off of the basket.

4. Coat the lip of the basket where the basket rests against the bottom of the sink with plumber's putty.

5. Insert the basket into the bottom of the sink.

6. Place the drain gasket onto the drain locking ring, then screw the locking ring on to the underside of the basket. Tighten the ring with the basket strainer wrench by turning the ring in a clockwise direction.

7. Insert the tailpiece washer into the slip nut, then screw the slip nut onto the underside of the basket.

8. Tighten the slip nut with water pump pliers to complete the installation.