Guest Author - Dale Yelich

Now is a good time to check out those drain pipes under your sinks. Some of you out there probably have buckets underneath already, to catch the little dripping that always seems to happen whenever you drain the sink from either dishwater or using the bathroom for shaving. Trust me on this, if it is leaking even drops now, one of these days it will get to the point of literally running out and inside your cabinet. So, I’ll talk you through the easy way to put in new drain pipes.

There are two types of drain pipes out there. Either a chrome plated type or a PVC type. The PVC might be a bit more expensive, but in the long run, it’s the right choice.

Under you sink, the drain system will look like a giant ‘S’ shape that attaches from the sink to a drain pipe in the wall. If it is a PVC drain already, chances are that one of the links have loosened up, and just may need to be tightened. So, run a sink full of water down the drain, find where the connection is that it is leaking from, and tighten the plastic nut at the point of the leak. Most of these PVC nuts are hand tightening and they should seal.

Now, if you have a chrome plated type of pipe system, it will probably have to be replaced. Unlike PVC, that chrome piping will eventually deteriorate and rust through, either at a joint, or at the actual bend in the ‘S’ itself. You’ll need to install a new system, but it’s pretty easy.

Most drain systems are packaged as a whole unit. You can walk into your favorite hardware store and buy a packaged drain system that will fit virtually any application under sinks. From sink basket to wall drain pipe, the measurements are pretty standardized, so pick up a PVC drain system and get back to your sink.

You may need a wrench to take off the original system, but from there everything should be hand tightened. The drain system should be loosely assembled completely first, and then just match the fitting up under the sink. By having it all loose, you should be able to turn and twist fittings as needed to make everything line up. It’s actually fairly easy, if a bit time consuming, and once everything is in place, tighten up the joints.

The next step is where you’ll know you’ve earned your keep for the day. Fill the sink up with water, and then let it go down the drain. There shouldn’t be any leaks, but if there are, they will be right at the joints, and these you can tighten a bit, and all leaking will be gone!

And there you have another little maintenance project to stave off those dog days of summer.