An Introduction to Kitchen Sink Plumbing

The majority of contemporary kitchen sinks are made of stainless or enabled steel. Two receptacles typically discharge into a trap that prevents sewer gas from entering the home. A trap arm connects the trap to the wall-mounted drainpipe.

Under a solitary sink is a one-piece fixed or pivot trap composed of a trap arm and a trap. If you have a dishwasher, one of its discharge hoses will be connected to an air gap, a straightforward device that prevents backsiphoning. The second discharge hose will connect to either the garbage disposal or sink tailpiece, depending on whether or not you have a garbage disposal. This advice comes from a professional plumber in Melbourne, FL

Typical Kitchen Sink Plumbing Issues

The three most common problems (or projects) with kitchen sinks are obstructed drains, leaking supply pipelines, and the need to remove or replace the sink trap. The good news is that these can all be dealt with using standard plumbing instruments.

1. Obstructed Drains

First, you can prevent blockages by positioning strainer receptacles over drain openings and avoiding pouring oil, coffee grounds, and other sticky substances down drains. If a sink backs up, a plunger or auger will remove the majority of obstructions. There are also natural treatments available. (See Resources Related Below).

We strongly discourage the use of abrasive, toxic chemical drain cleansers. They are ineffective, hazardous to the skin and eyes, and can cause additional harm to the kitchen sink infrastructure. If you must use one, exercise extreme caution. Gloves and safety eyewear should be worn, and they should only be used in enamel or stainless steel sinks. They will cause cosmetic damage.

In addition, severe clogs can be removed by removing the trap beneath the sink or by inspecting the drainpipe behind the wall.

Fix an obstructed waste disposal and kitchen sink plumbing.

Putting the incorrect objects and foods down a kitchen toilet is a common cause of clogs. Typically, these items are too sticky (like grease/oil) or too firm (like nuts) to pass through the sewer or waste disposal, resulting in clogs.

2. Leaks

A loose slip nut on the drain assembly may be all that is required to halt a seep under the sink. If this does not work, remove the portion of the trap closest to the breach and replace the washer beneath the slip nut.

Maintain an assortment of washers in stock. When disassembling a trap, it is prudent to replace all washers. Many spills are caused by a deteriorated washer, which is inexpensive and simple to replace.

How to discover a water leak – water detection – a woman inspecting a water leak that has caused water damage to the kitchen sink’s infrastructure

Use the kitchen sink plumbing troubleshooting guide and the section titled Related Resources (both located below) to learn about common malfunctions and their solutions.

3. Removing Trap

When you remove the trap bend (the P- or U-shaped portion) or the trap arm (the portion that attaches to the wall), you may determine that the piece is too corroded to reinstall.

Don’t fret. You can simply replace the damaged trap component with an equivalent made of metal or PVC plastic. Plastic is ideal for do-it-yourself engineers because it is light and simple to work with. Heck, even licensed electricians utilize PVC.