People often take their kitchen sink for granted. But imagine life without functional kitchen sink plumbing. When you’re cooking, there’s no convenient way to wash your hands or do your dishes. As you clean, there’s no place to rinse off your sponge or get a bucket of water. Your Dundalk kitchen plumbing is essential, but it’s not without fault. Learn everything you should know about your kitchen’s sink plumbing, and you might appreciate it just a little more.
How the Pipes Connect and Install
The pipes under your sink are more complex than you might think. Because of this, installing a sink and the plumbing for it is a job best left for a plumber. Here’s what needs to happen for the installation to be a success:
Check the Drain Height
For the drain to fit the pipe, you may need to lower the drain height. Before you do anything, you should consider where the drain and the pipes connect.
Leave Room for the Drain
There also needs to be room for the pope and the drain to connect. If there isn’t enough space for the drain, clogs will happen on a regular basis. You can prevent this from happening by ensuring your fittings are flexible enough for the drain to connect with.
Consider a Garbage Disposal
To make your life much easier and prevent clogs, you may want to install a garbage disposal. The disposal connects with pipes under your sink. When you put debris and water in the sink and run the disposal, it breaks down food and passes it out as liquid. Instead of sending large particles down your pipes and clogging up the system, your garbage disposal allows liquid to flow through.
Replacing a garbage disposal is easy, as long as you replace it with the same model. If you plan on installing a new disposal or replacing an existing model with a different one, you need to consider the placement of the pipes.
One of the most challenging aspects of a garbage disposal installation is electricity. You’re dealing with water and electricity, which makes a lethal combination. If you’re not comfortable working with electricity, don’t install a garbage disposal on your own. A plumber knows how to handle the installation safely.
Understanding the Maze
Under your kitchen sink, there’s a maze of pipes. There are gaskets, washers, and slip nuts. If you want a simple appreciation for what’s under your sink, take a look. Connected to the strainer is a tailpiece. That tailpiece connects with a trap adapter, a P-trap, and other PVC pipes.
Water supply lines connect to your sink. If you happen to notice a leak coming from these lines, find your water shut-off valve and turn it. Any water leaking from the pipes under your strainer is an indication of a loose connection or broken pipe. Either way, you shouldn’t hesitate to call an emergency plumbing service near me.
What to Look for in a New Kitchen Sink Plumbing Kit
If you’re an avid DIYer and need a new kitchen sink, you can buy a kitchen plumbing kit. But there are a variety of options, and choosing the right one can be overwhelming. The first detail to consider is the sink material. For ease of cleaning, you can opt to get a porcelain sink. But steel-based sinks have an appealing look.
As far as the size goes, you need to pick a sink size that’s appropriate for your counter. You also need to consider the pipes underneath your sink. If you choose an advanced kit that takes up more room than you have, the installation will be a nightmare.
There’s a lot that can go wrong with your kitchen sink installation. To prevent major mishaps, it’s best to hire a plumber for the job. They will find out what you want from your sink and find the right components for the job and for your space.
Using the Right Tools for the Job
When it comes to any type of plumbing, the right tools are a must. One thing you need in your toolbox is plumbers putty. When you’re working with plumbing under your kitchen sink, you need putty to connect the strainer and the sink. The putty goes along the underside of the basket rim to keep it in place.
Before you use the putty, you should soften it in your hands. Make a rope out of it and wrap it around the basket or any other part that needs putty. After you attach the pieces together, wipe extra putty off with a screwdriver or putty knife.
Special Pliers
If there’s one thing a plumber has an abundance of, it’s pliers. The various nuts under your sink require an array of pliers. For instance, the nut on the basket threads requires tightening by tongue and groove pliers. The tailpiece under the basket strainer demands channel-lock pliers.
At times, there are ways you can work on your plumbing without specialty pliers or other tools. However, the work could take you much longer than it would with the right tools. There’s also a danger of damaging the pipes.
When Should You Call a Plumber?
Out of everything you should know about your sink plumbing, the most important detail is to know when it’s time to call a plumber in Dundalk. In reality, every issue with your plumbing is one that merits a plumber’s attention. All plumbing repairs and installation are complicated and require an experienced hand.
If you notice any issues or changes with your plumbing, it’s time to call an expert. Does it take too long for your water to heat up? Is there a small but steady leak from your kitchen faucet? Does your water look rusty? When you suspect a problem, call for help.
Here at Reliability Home Services, we have years of experience with kitchen sink plumbing. Whether you need to install a new sink or you need a repair, we want to assist you. Our experienced team is ready to give your kitchen sink the attention it needs.
