How to Fix a Leaky Kitchen Sink
If you open the cabinet below your sink and notice standing water, it may be time to fix a leak. First, find out where the sink is leaking. Take a towel and dry off all the pipes, water connections and under the sink drain. Plug the drain and fill the sink with water about halfway. Unplug the drain and look under the sink to pinpoint the origin of the leak. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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1
Place a bucket under the sink trap. Use a pipe wrench to disconnect the drain pipe from the sink drain. Use a pipe wrench to remove the retaining nut that holds the sink drain to the sink.
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2
Insert a putty knife between the sink flange and the sink to break the putty seal. Lift the drain out of the sink and clean any residual putty from the sink drain hole.
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3
Roll a small bead of plumber's putty into a rope and apply it underneath the flange of the new sink drain. Insert the drain into the hole in the sink and press it down.
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4
Reinstall the retaining nut to the sink drain underneath the sink and tighten it with a pipe wrench.
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5
Wrap plumber's tape around the sink drain threads and reattach the drain pipe to the sink.
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6
Locate the source of the leak in the drain pipe. Most often it will be in the connection of the sink trap to the drain pipe coming from the wall.
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Remove the slip nuts from the sink trap by rotating them counter clockwise with a pipe wrench.
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8
Remove the sink trap and inspect it for corrosion. Also inspect the tail pipe coming from the sink and the drain pipe from the wall. Replace any pipe that is corroded.
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9
Wrap the threads of the sink trap with plumber's tape and reattach to the sink drain system using the slip nuts.
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10
Use a screwdriver to tighten the hose that is connected to the garbage disposal from the dishwasher.
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11
Inspect the connection between the disposal and the sink drain. Tighten the collar if it is loose.
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12
Replace the garbage disposal if the unit itself is leaking.
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