How To Fix A Leaking Bathroom Sink Drain Pipe

The bathroom sink is probably the most used sink in your home. How many times per day do you stand before it, washing hands, brushing teeth, shaving and other activities which must occur as a daily routine. You really have no idea how much of a convenience the bathroom sink is, and how much you actually use it until something goes wrong with it.

Usually the two most common problems you will have with your bathroom sink are clogs and drain pipe leaks. Luckily, both of these problems are fairly easy to fix, and do not require you to hire someone else to take care of it for you. In this article we will focus on the leaky drain pipe.

As far as plumbing work goes, a leaky bathroom sink drain pipe is one of the easiest plumbing repairs you will ever make. It takes no technical knowledge whatsoever, and everything you need to fix it with usually comes in a kit. The tools required to complete the repair consists of adjustable pliers and a roll of Teflon sealant tape.

While you are under the sink you will see that there are two pipes coming in which supply hot and cold water. There should be water shut off valves on both of these supply lines that you can use to shut off the eater before you begin. This is just so no one turns the water on while the pipes are disconnected. You certainly don’t want to mop up someone else’s mistake, now do you?

The tools required to complete the repair consists of adjustable pliers and a roll of Teflon sealant tape.

Remove the leaking pipes so you can take them with you to the hardware store and get the correct replacement parts. You may want to try using your hands first, and then use the pliers if they are too tight to remove by hand.

Begin the disassembly by taking off the nut which connects the sink and the drain pipe. If your sink has one of those pop up sink stoppers, you will need to disconnect it as well. Next you will need to loosen the pipe which goes into the wall. Be careful here, there will be water still in the drain trap.

Now compare the new pipes you purchased with the old pipes. Cut off any excess if need be. Use a regular hacksaw to make any needed length adjustments. Assemble the parts of the pipes together and apply the Teflon tape to all the threads of the pipes.

Now back track the steps you took to take the pipe assembly off of the sink. Connect first to the wall then to the bottom of the sink. If you have one, don’t forget to reconnect the pop up stopper.

Turn the water supply back on and test your sink by running the water into the sink. Look for leaks under the sink around the pipes. If you see no leaks, you are done. If you see a leak, use the pliers to gently tighten the pipes and wipe them dry with a towel. Retest the sink again.

Fixing a leaky bathroom drain pipe is a simple job that can be completed by almost anyone, so if you happens to see drips under your sink, save some cash by fixing it yourself!