How to Assemble a Drain for a Bathroom Sink
Assembling a drain for a bathroom sink can be done by the home plumber or DIYer. The two main pipes of a drain assembly are the tailpiece and the P-trap. The tailpiece fits into the drain flange in the bottom of the sink, while the P-trap connects the tailpiece to the sewer inlet. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Bathroom cleaner
- Rag/towel
- Drain flange
- Plumber's putty
- Tailpiece
- Jamb nut
- Jamb nut washers
- Pipe thread compound
- P-trap
Instructions
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1
Spray the bottom of the sink with bathroom cleaner. Wipe up any mold, mildew or debris in the sink, paying special attention to the drain opening in the middle of the sink.
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2
Apply pipe thread compound to the threads on the tailpiece. Screw this into the underside of the drain flange.
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3
Roll out a thin bead of plumber's putty, about 1/4 inch wide and 3 inches long. Press this into place around the inside of the sink opening in the drain.
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4
Insert the flange and tailpiece into the sink. Turn the flange with your hand to help distribute the caulk in the bottom of the sink.
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5
Move underneath the sink to where you can see the tailpiece sticking out of the bottom of the sink. Apply pipe thread compound to the threads on the bottom of the sink. Place the jamb nut washer into the jamb nut. Slide the jamb nut over the end of the tailpiece. Tighten on the underside of the sink with a wrench.
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6
Apply pipe thread compound to the threads at the base of the tailpiece and to the threads on the sewer inlet pipe.
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7
Insert one end of a P-trap into the end of the tailpiece. Slide the coupling over the end and tighten. Slide the opposite end of the P-trap into the sewer inlet pipe. Tighten the coupling on this end as well.
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8
Run water in the bathroom sink. Check the pipes for leaks. Tighten any couplings if you see a leak.
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Tips & Warnings
PVC bathroom drain pipes should only be tightened by hand. Overtightening PVC can make them leak.
References
- Photo Credit Andy Reynolds/Lifesize/Getty Images
