How to Tighten the Brass Fittings Under a Sink Attached to the Drain

Brass fittings provide a water-tight connection for your sink pipes.

Brass fittings under your kitchen or bathroom sink connect the pipes together to deliver water through the faucet or down the drain without leaking. The threaded fittings twist onto the pipes with a long-handled adjustable wrench. You won't need to tighten the brass fittings as far as they can possibly turn, since over-tightening can strip the threads and actually cause leaks rather than prevent them.

Things You'll Need

• Bucket
• Long-handled adjustable wrench

Instructions

1. Place a bucket below the drain pipe to catch any water while you work.

2. Adjust the thumbwheel on the wrench near the two serrated jaws to make a firm connection on the brass fitting you need to tighten.

3. Slip the wrench jaws completely over the brass fitting so the jaws rest on two flat edges directly opposite each other on the fitting.

4. Pull the wrench handle to the right to tighten the fitting. Pull until you feel firm resistance, then run water into the sink to test the connection. If there are no leaks, you're done. If water oozes around the brass fitting below the drain pipe, tighten another 1/4 turn and test again until the leak stops.

References

• 411Plumb: How to Fix a Leaking Sink Drain