Categories: Kitchens

How to Fix or Replace a Leaky Sink Trap

Published by
James marcus

Step-by-step advice on how to stop a drip from the drainpipe under your sink. Includes easy fixes or complete replacement.

Is the U-shaped drain pipe beneath your sink leaking? If that pipe, called a “trap” or “P-trap,” is leaking, either fix it or replace it with an inexpensive new one before water damages the area under the sink.

Turn coupling nuts clockwise to tighten. Unscrew them to remove trap for cleaning. Capture drain water with a bucket. Don Vandervort, HomeTips © 1997 to 2023 | HomeTips

Look for where the drip is originating. In many cases, drips come from loose fittings, especially the coupling nuts that connect the pipe sections together (see illustration below). You can often stop a drip by simply tightening the coupling nuts. A helpful tool for this is a large pair of slip-joint pliers (also referred to as “tongue-and-groove pliers” or by the trade name Channellock® pliers).

Tongue-and-Groove Pliers Channellock

How to tighten the coupling nuts

  1. Open the jaws of the pliers wide enough to grip the coupling nut.
  2. Tighten the nut by gently turning it clockwise until it’s snug. Apply strong pressure but don’t strip the threads by over-tightening. On a metal trap, tighten the coupling nuts hand tight plus about a half turn, using slip-joint pliers to grip the nut. On a plastic trap, just hand tighten, and, if needed, give the nut about a quarter of a turn with slip-joint pliers.

How to clean out the sink trap

If that doesn’t stop the leak, you may need to clean-out or replace the leaky sink trap.

  1. Place a bucket beneath the trap.
  2. Using slip-joint pliers, disconnect the coupling nuts that hold the trap to the tailpiece and drainpipe, turning them counterclockwise.
  3. Be ready for water to briefly pour out of the disconnected pipe.
  4. Once you have taken the trap apart, clean it out with a straightened wire coat hanger or take it outside and rinse it out with a garden hose.
  5. Replace any corroded parts.
  6. When reassembling it, first tighten the coupling nuts by hand and then tighten them with the slip-joint pliers, but don’t over-tighten.
  7. Run the water and look for leaks. If you spot leaks, tighten the nuts a little more. If everything appears to be sound, place a newspaper under the sink and check the paper for signs of any dripping the next day.
Kitchen Sink Drain Diagram

To replace parts or the entire the sink trap

If that doesn’t work, loosen the coupling nuts and remove the entire trap.

    1. Check the large rubber slip washers or cone-shaped plastic washers that provide the watertight seal at each joint between the trap’s pipes. Rubber washers may leak as the rubber hardens over time. If they’re hard or deteriorated, replace them. Plastic-pipe traps are more likely to leak when the pipes or washers become misaligned, so check for alignment.
    2. Check the pipes for rust or corrosion. If s pipe is corroded or cracked, take it with you to the hardware store to buy an appropriate replacement. Replace the entire trap.

You can choose between chrome metal and PVC traps. PVC traps are inexpensive, durable, easy to work with, and don’t corrode the way chromed brass drainpipes do.

James marcus

Garden Courte is a blog written by [James Marcus], a passionate gardener and writer. She has been gardening for over 20 years and has a deep understanding of plants and how to care for them. In her blog, she shares her knowledge and experience with others, providing tips and advice on gardening, plant care, and more.

Share
Published by
James marcus

Recent Posts

DIY Turmeric Scrub for Hyperpigmentation

For all my beauties with dark inner thighs, armpits, bikini area and spots, etc, this…

1 year ago

Top 15 Cook Interview Questions and Answers

Are you a passionate cook aspiring to embark on a rewarding culinary journey? Whether you're…

1 year ago

What Color Walls Go With Grey Kitchen Cabinets [Schemes]

Discover the perfect wall colors to complement your grey kitchen cabinets, creating a harmonious and…

1 year ago

10×10 Kitchen Remodel Cost: Everything You Need to Know

Generally, a 10×10 kitchen remodel ranges from $15,000 to $45,000, but several factors could cause…

1 year ago

How Much Do Quartz Countertops Cost?

Sleek and durable, quartz countertops are the latest trend in kitchen and bathroom renovation. Comparable…

1 year ago

Australian IKEA Kitchen Design & Installation Costs

IKEA kitchens are designed to be as simple as possible to assemble and install yourself.…

1 year ago