How to Repair a Sink P Trap
If you have had enough of that dripping noise that your sink makes as the water collects into a container below it, then it may be time to replace the pipe. That pipe that runs from your sink's drain to the drain pipe in your wall is known as a P-trap. It is called that because of its shape. When P-traps start to leak it is easier to replace them than repair them. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Leather work gloves
- New P-trap kit
- Plumber's tape
- Large adjustable wrench
Instructions
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Replace your Sink P-Trap
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1
Turn off the water supply to your sink and run the faucet until the water is completely drained. Even though you are replacing a drain pipe, you want to turn the water off just in case you bump the faucet or someone turns it on without thinking.
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2
Put on your leather work gloves and unscrew the connections at both ends of the P-trap. The leather gloves offer better grip even if they get wet. If the connection is old, especially if it is metal, then you may need to use the adjustable wrench to loosen it first. Water will spill out of the P-trap and possibly the sink drain so do not panic.
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3
Remove the old rubber washers from the drain pipe on the sink and the drain pipe in the wall.
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4
Open your P-trap replacement kit. Put the new rubber washers where the old ones used to be.
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5
Wrap the ends of the drain pipes in plumber's tape. One layer of tape should go right where the P-trap pipe will be installed. In some cases you may have threads on your drain pipes where the P-trap is supposed to go. Wrap those threads in one layer of plumber's tape.
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6
Set the P-trap in place and secure it by screwing down the caps. If you do not have threads on your drain pipes then the pipes should go at least 1/2 inch into the P-trap pipe for a successful installation.
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7
Turn on the water supply and then turn on the faucet to check your new P-trap.
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8
If your new P-trap leaks at the connections, turn off the water at the source and start over from step one until the leaking stops.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Most P-trap kits are universal. If the hard pipe does not fit your sink, then try an adjustable P-trap kit.
