How to Fix Bathroom Pedestal Sink Pipes

Bathroom pedestal sinks are designed to hide the water and drain lines. The pedestal is hollow in the back, which allows the lines to descend straight down or to take a right-angle turn to the wall behind it. Since the cost of replacing the pipes is minimal, doing so can be less expensive than trying to stop a leak.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Towel
• 3/8 or 7/16-inch open-end wrench
• Water supply lines
• Teflon tape
• Medium-size bowl
• PVC drain for bathroom sink
• Sandpaper

Water Pipes

1. Turn the water supply valves off. Place a towel on the floor underneath the valves to catch the water that will escape from the sink's water pipes when they are disconnected. If there are no valves at the wall for the water supply lines, you will need to turn off the main water supply . This is usually located at the water meter.

2. Loosen the nuts at the valves (if present) with the wrench to release the water pressure. If the water continues to flow after a few seconds, check the valve to be certain it is turned off completely. Turn it all the way on and then off again. There could be debris in the line that caught in the valve when it was turned off. After the pressure is released, remove the nut (joint for rigid pipes). Use pliers or a pipe wrench only if you have rigid pipes. Disconnect rigid pipes at a joint closest to the wall or floor and work your way to the faucet.

3. Follow the water lines (or pipes) up to the bottom side of the faucets on the sink. Locate the nuts that secure the water lines to the faucets and remove them with the proper wrench. Install the new water lines or pipes in the same manner as the old ones were installed. Be sure to wrap Teflon tape on the threads of the new connections. Wrap the threads in a clockwise direction; otherwise, tightening the nut will remove it.

Drain Pipe

4. Locate the P-trap under the sink. Place a medium-size bowl under the P-trap to catch the water when the trap is loosened.

5. Loosen the nuts on both ends of the P-trap. When they are loose enough, pull the trap loose and let the water spill into the bowl. Remove the bowl and empty it into the toilet.

6. Follow the drain pipe up to the bottom of the sink bowl. This pipe is called the tailpiece. The nut attaching it to the sink bowl may be larger than the rest, depending on the type of drain basket installed in the sink. If the nut is PVC, do not use pliers or a pipe wrench because that can break it. If it is difficult to remove by hand, place a towel around it to enable you to grip the nut well enough to remove it.

7. Follow the pipe from where the P-trap was removed to the main drain pipe in the floor or wall. Depending on the type of pipes installed, this pipe could be PVC, galvanized, or iron. In any case, there will be an adapter that enables the drain line from the sink to connect to it. Remove the nut that secures the line to the P-trap.

8. Replace the old drain lines beginning at the sink. If the new pipes need to be cut, use the old pipes for measurements. PVC pipe can be cut with a hacksaw, jigsaw, or skillsaw. After cutting the pipes, clean the cut with sandpaper to ensure a leak-proof connection.

Tips & Warnings

• Replace water pipes with supply lines that have rubber seals built into the nut. Replace the drain line with PVC drain pipes specifically made for the sink.
• Do not use pliers to tighten the PVC nuts. Do not use PVC glue on drain pipes unless using pipes that require it.

References

• Home Repair Bathroom Sink - Down the Drain
• How Plumbers Replace Bathroom and Kitchen Sink Faucets
• Replacing a P-Trap

Resources

• How to Install a Pedestal Sink