Using the right sink drain size ensures your plumbing functions properly. This is a crucial detail that affects everything from the installation of new accessories to upgrading your sink.
Getting the correct measurement of your drain is simple, but it does require a tape measure and a notebook or pen to record your results. It also requires following any specific instructions for your piping material. Contact Sink Drain Replacement Olmsted Falls for professional help.
You can install a new drain in your sink yourself, or call in a professional plumber. This is a fairly simple project that can be completed in less than half an hour. It’s best to start by testing the new drain, then emptying the sink basin to make sure the pipe joints are tight and there are no leaks. Then follow the directions provided with your new drain to remove the old one and put in the new one.
Start by getting a container under the sink to catch any water that will be spilling out of the P-trap. It’s also a good idea to wipe away any traces of plumber’s putty around the drain opening and sink mounting flange.
Look under the sink for a flat metal rod that connects the pop-up lift rod to the pivot rod, or clevis rod, which is attached to the sink drain. You may have to unscrew the clevis rod from the sink drain with pliers, which will allow you to pull out the old drain plug and strainer assembly.
Once the old drain is removed, wipe away any remaining plumber’s putty from around the drain hole and sink mounting flange. Clean the drain flange surface with a wet cloth to remove any dirt and debris. If you’re installing a garbage disposal with this drain, be sure to get the stopper and support flange assembled and ready as directed by the manufacturer.
Unless your new drain comes pre-assembled with a friction ring and gasket, you’ll need to remove the old ones from the brass tailpiece. Place the new gasket onto the brass tailpiece, then place the new friction ring over the gasket. Then, screw on the new drain tailpiece and tighten by hand at first to ensure a secure seal. Then, tighten the drain nut with a wrench until it’s as tight as possible without breaking or damaging the new drain.
Finally, place a rubber washer over the nut at the end of the drainpipe. Then, place the new drainpipe into the hole in the wall and slide on a sanitary tee fitting, which will join the drainpipe to the waste pipe. Connect the sanitary tee fitting to the new drainpipe with a wrench, then tighten the nut. Be careful not to over-tighten or the pipes could crack and break.
Parts
If your sink drain is clogged with debris or has a rusted pivot rod end, it’s time to replace the assembly. You’ll also need the proper plumbing parts for the job, including a new drain trap, a tee fitting with a side outlet and a continuous waste pipe. To install the trap, you’ll need to cut and dry-fit lengths of PVC pipe to fine-tune their lengths and alignment. If you have trouble, ask a plumber in Chino for help.
To start, shut off the water supply to your home’s main line. Turning off the water supply before you work on anything under your sink can prevent flooding and save time and money during your project.
Next, remove the old drain assembly by unscrewing the drain stopper’s nut and pulling up on the sink mounting flange. You should then pull the drain up and out of the drain hole, and wipe down the entire surface with a damp cloth to ensure a clean, waterproof seal.
Then, measure the distance from the bottom of the sink-drain tailpiece to the rim of the waste pipe opening in the wall. This measurement will determine the height of the P-trap, or trap bend, and the drain elbow that connects to the P-trap. A good rule of thumb is to set the p-trap so it’s about 1/4 inch per foot lower than the drain outlet in the wall.
Once you’ve measured and purchased the necessary lengths of PVC, assemble and dry-fit the pieces to ensure their lengths and alignment are correct. Using a utility knife, cut the PVC pipe to the needed lengths, then apply PVC primer to both ends of each piece that will be joined. After priming, apply PVC cement and immediately push the ends together, holding for 30 seconds. Then, slide on the P-trap tailpiece, drain elbow and waste pipe, tightening by hand until snug.
Slip on a slip joint nut to the top of the waste drain, and then another on the bottom of the trap bend. These slip joints have tapered sides that fit into each other to create a tight, leak-free connection. Make sure the nut is loose enough that you can rotate it to adjust the height of the P-trap and ensure the continuous waste pipe slopes down at a slight angle toward the drain outlet in the wall.
Leak Detection
If you have been experiencing a leak in your sink drain, there are some things you can do to help pinpoint where the problem lies. For starters, place some paper towels around the area where the water is leaking. If the paper towel gets wet, that is where the source of the leak is located. This method can also be used to find the source of leaks in other areas of your home.
Another good way to check for a leak is to run a water test. This involves running water throughout the entire sink basin and checking for any dampness or standing water below it. This can reveal any issues with the faucet, sink drain, or pipe connections. Generally, most leaks occur from loose fittings or connections. To fix this, tighten the slip-nuts on the drain pipes using a wrench or pliers. If the problems are caused by spraying or dripping from the shut-off valves, you can often tighten the compression nuts in cramped spaces behind the wall using adjustable or locking pliers.
You can also try using plumber’s putty to seal the drain opening. First, you will need to remove the old drain tailpiece by loosening the nut on the underside of the sink with large Pliers. You will then need to insert the new drain tailpiece, ensuring that the linkage hole faces toward the back of the sink and not the wall. You will then need to tighten the nut on the tailpiece with channel-type pliers, making sure not to over tighten it. After the nut is tight, you will need to wipe off any extra plumber’s putty and store it in a container for future use.
If you are unable to locate the source of the leak, it is a good idea to contact a licensed plumber for professional Drain Pipe Replacement. A skilled plumber can quickly diagnose the problem and provide the necessary repair. It is important to catch leaks as soon as possible so that they do not worsen over time, leading to more costly repairs in the future. Signs of a leaking sink drain include mildew or mold on walls, inexplicable increases in your water bill, and high water usage.
Repair
When you’ve inspected and cleaned all the parts, it’s time to start reassembling them. Before you do, though, run water into the sink to make sure there are no leaks from the drain, P-trap or clevis rod, and also to check that the stopper is working properly.
If there are any leaks or you suspect the drain is leaking, you can use some plumber’s putty to seal the joint and fix the problem. Roll out a ring of the putty and push it around the drain opening, then push the new drain into place over the top. If you’re using a universal drain, be careful to double-check that the size and style match your existing pipes before you buy a new one.
The next step is to connect the drain trap to the stopper tailpiece, which is the straight pipe that goes from the sink to the drain line. To do this, loosen the first Slip Nut (a ring that keeps the Tailpiece tightened to the Drain) on the underside of the drain with large Pliers and then separate the Tailpiece from the Drain. If you’re using a P-trap, you’ll also need to loosen the Tailpiece Nut with a Pipe Wrench and remove it from the sink drain.
Once you have the proper parts for your sink drain, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to reassemble them. It’s important that the flange collar and drain flange are snugly in place, and that the stopper is seated properly in the clevis rod. If there isn’t enough room to fit the assembly in the sink, use a tubing cutter to cut the tailpiece to the correct length and apply pipe dope.
Once the pieces are reassembled, use a wrench to tighten the drain nut to the stopper tailpiece. While you’re doing this, use a pair of Channel Lock Pliers to tighten the clevis screw, then use a screwdriver to loosen the retaining nut and pull out the horizontal pivot rod. Slide the clevis back in place and tighten it again, then test that the clevis, vertical pivot rod, and the stopper are all functioning correctly by pulling up on the stopper lever.