How to Replace a Kitchen Drain System

Part of the kitchen remodeling project involves replacing the kitchen sink. After the sink has been installed, it is a matter of replacing the old drain system with a new one. The are plenty of PVC kits available at the hardware store. Make sure that you purchase one that is set up for your sink. There are double sink drains and single sink drains. Learning how to replace a kitchen drain system will have your sink remodel completed in just a few hours.

Things You'll Need

• Drain Kit
• Pipe wrench
• Plumbers tape
• Hacksaw

Instructions

1. Remove the existing drain system from the main drain pipe coming from the wall. Use a pipe wrench to rotate the slip nut counterclockwise. After the nut is loosened, the drain assembly can be pulled out of the main drain.

2. Wrap the smaller portion of threads on the sink drain with plumbers tape. On single sinks, attach the straight tailpipe of the drain kit to the sink drain using a slip nut and thread it onto the drain. Do not tighten the nut completely yet. Double sink systems will have two separate tailpipes that attach to the drain with a t-section that will need to join the tailpipes together.

3. Insert the sink drain pipe that attaches to the main drain and use a slip nut to secure it to the main drain. Now set the sink trap, or p-trap, into position and see if everything is going to fit. If necessary, the tailpipe system can be cut with a hacksaw to ensure a good fit.

4. Slide slip nuts onto each end of the sink trap with the threads pointing out. Insert washers into each of the slip nuts as well.

5. Connect the sink trap to the tailpipe and the drain pipe by screwing the slip nuts onto the threads of each. Tighten all the slip nuts completely starting from the sink drain and working down to the main drain using a pipe wrench. Do not over tighten, as this will strip the PVC threads.

References

• Replace Drain Traps
• Install Sink Drains