Having a leak in the kitchen sink is more than frustrating; it’s near debilitating. From washing hands to doing dishes, there’s a lot you can’t do with a leak in the kitchen sink.
Why Is My Sink Leaking?
Here are the top five reasons why sinks start to leak:
1. A drain leak
If your drain is leaking, your kitchen sink is definitely leaking. The plumber’s putty used to seal your drain might have been too thin, or it might have dried out over time.
To find the leak, plug your sink and fill it all the way up. Unplug it, then check underneath with a flashlight to find the source of the issue. You might be able to solve the problem by tightening the nuts where two pipes meet or repacking the drain with new plumber’s putty.
2. A faucet leak
If water is puddling at the top of the sink when you turn on the faucet, you most likely have a faucet leak. You might also see water pooling underneath the sink.
If you have a faucet leak, failed washers or worn-out gaskets might be to blame. All you have to do is replace them!
3. A loose water supply connection
If you have a constant leak under your sink, there might be a problem with your sink’s water supply line. A sink will most often consist of two water supply connections, and in each connection, there are opportunities for leaks.
Leaks here might be caused by corrosion or a failed gasket in the connector—so in most cases, a replacement gasket is a good enough fix. Or you might just have to tighten the connection.
4. A clogged P-trap
A P-trap is the curved section of a pipe that is found under the sink. Its purpose is to stop foul smells from wafting up through the drains, and for that reason, it’s typically placed out of sight. This makes it hard to detect a leak, though.
Debris, small pieces of food, and other gunk may collect in the P-trap, which blocks the water from properly draining—and this could cause a leak. The leak also might be because of corrosion if there are metal parts involved. If corrosion is to blame, you might need to replace the P-trap entirely.
5. A damaged O-ring
There’s a stem screw that holds the faucet handle in place, and there’s a small disc attached to it called the O-ring. This is one of the most common places for a leak to occur because the O-ring wears out or loosens over time, which then causes the faucet to leak near the handle. If your O-ring is damaged, all you’ve got to do is replace it.
Maintaining Your Sink
As you can see, sink problems are far from rocket science—but they can be tricky in their own right. If you’ve got an especially complex leak on your hands (or simply one you don’t want to deal with on your own), don’t hesitate to request service from us here at One Man & A Toolbox.