A leaking kitchen sink can cause great harm if not attended to with the required urgency. It is used to flush out waste water from the kitchen into the drain and eventually to the septic tank. When this waste water leaks onto your floor or storage space, it promotes growth of mold that is toxic and harmful, especially if it comes into contact with food. It is therefore crucial that you repair such leaks as soon as they are detected. Here are the steps followed in repairing a leaking kitchen sink drain pipe.
Turn off all incoming water
You must begin by turning off all incoming water supply using the valves. In this case, it is not necessary to shut it at the main water supply. Most valves are located under or adjacent to the sink on the wall. If there are two—i.e. for hot and cold water—twist each in a clockwise direction until you feel maximum resistance. Confirm that the water supply is off by turning on the faucet to a maximum level and ensuring that the water is not running. From here, you may proceed to assess the sink, starting from the basin and moving towards the drain plumbing, to diagnose the extent of fault in the drain pipe.
Disassemble the sink
In this case, the sink plumbing is probably the source of the leak. You will therefore proceed to disassemble the sink plumbing piece by piece to enable you to assess the damage on the faulty component. Begin by taking out the drain pipe. Loosen all other nuts and disconnect the other two pipes. By now, you should be able to clearly see any cracks, breakage or points of failure on the drain pipe.
Purchase replacements for the faulty parts
You will purchase an entirely new kitchen PVC sink plumbing set from your local hardware store. Ensure that you select the correct sizes for your sink size and model. Along with this, you will need piping tape and a pair of pliers.
Replace the faulty parts with the new ones
Next, you will reassemble your plumbing, replacing the old drain pipe with the new one. However, at this point if you feel uncertain of any component, you may proceed to replace the other parts of the plumbing system to increase its service. Use piping tape to seal off any air spaces when putting back the connection nuts. Ensure that you first twist them to their maximum closing level using your hands. When this is completed, tighten them using a pair of pliers until they cannot move any further.
You can now turn back on the water supply and enjoy your repaired kitchen sink. If this process doesn't fix the leak, there may be a more serious problem. You should contact a plumber, such as Richmond Plumbing & Roofing, to inspect and repair your sink.
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