Tips for How to Fix a Leaky Sink Trap
Without your plumbing’s P-trap, your drains and sewer would be absolutely foul. The amount of stuff that would go through your drains would allow odors and combustible gases to remain in your kitchens and bathrooms. If you aren’t sure what a P-trap is, it’s the U-shaped pipe under the sink, bathtub, shower, etc. P-traps must be cleaned on a regular basis. If you have a leaky sink trap, you’ll need to contact a 24/7 emergency plumber before your plumbing problem worsens. You can also read the article below for tips on tips for how to fix a leaky sink trap.
How to Detect a Leaky Sink Trap
Since this leak only occurs when water drains from the sink, you may not notice it until water begins to pool on the bottom of the kitchen cabinet. First, check the P-trap by filling the sink, opening the stopper, and watching the trap as the water drains if the bottom of the cabinet.
Water tends to run along the pipe and drip from the lowest position when it leaks from one of the connections. Start by wrapping your fingers around the pipe just under each connection and look for water pooling around your fingers to determine which connection is leaking. You’ll know what to do next once you figure out which link is leaking.
Tightening a Loose P-Trap Connection
If a P-trap compression collar leaks, it may just need to be tightened with some pliers. Pro tip: don’t over-tighten it, or you’ll end up stripping the nut. Also, make sure that everything is aligned properly before tightening anything. If you need assistance with any residential plumbing services, contact Tureks Plumbing Services in Appleton, WI.
Disassemble the Trap to Stop a Leak
If tightening the connection does not stop the leak, try disassembling and reassembling the connection. When you disassemble it, you’ll most likely discover why it’s leaking. It could be because the pipe leading into the collar isn’t straight, the sink trap isn’t entirely installed, or the pipe leading into the collar is too short.
The washer connection is a plastic ring that slides along the end of the connection and has a taper that fits securely within the female end. If this is installed at an angle or is installed upside down, simply reinstall it correctly, and the leak will be stopped. Our friends at McQuillan Bros, a company that offers plumbing repairs in the Twin Cities, MN, recommend replacing the washer with a new one if it is damaged or nicked.
The sink drain doesn’t always line up exactly with the waste outlet in the arm, and the P-trap connections aren’t always straight. If tightening these crooked connections doesn’t stop leaks, you may have to deconstruct the trap and rebuild it with extra lengths of tubing to make the connections straight.
If you need help fixing a leaky sink pipe, please contact Tureks Plumbing! We serve the Fox Valley cities: Appleton, Kaukauna, Menasha, Neenah, Oshkosh, and more! Our plumbers look forward to working with you.