Why Is My Bathroom Sink Leaking Underneath

Why Is My Bathroom Sink Leaking Underneath

A leaky sink can be very hard to notice, especially in the bathroom, because most people barely look under this area on a regular basis. This can be a very damaging type of leak because the water usually has nowhere to go but onto your bathroom floor. If left unrecognized, a leaky bathroom sink can cause significant damage to the floor or vanity, where it could seep through and cause significant damage. To avoid this, you need to learn how to fix a leaky bathroom, and this is exactly what this article is going to explain.

Identifying the Source of Leak

The first thing that you need to do before fixing a leaky bathroom sink is identifying where the leak is coming from. To do this, start by emptying the sink and drying everything off. Run some water through the sink to see the source of the leak. Water supply, p-trap, and sink drain connection issues are the main causes of bathroom sink leaks, so be sure to check these places. Nevertheless, the leaks can be very small so if you are unable to see the source, lay paper towels around the sink drain or water supply lines. Check back in a few hours for water marks on the towels. You need to do a close inspection to identify the real source of the leak.

Although less likely, a worn out faucet could also cause leakage. If your faucet is old, it is possible that the tailpieces are corroded, making tight connections impossible. Nevertheless, not all the leaking in your bathroom sink comes from the faucet. The fittings or sink drain openings could also be leaking. If this is the case, you just need to tighten the drain connections. If it is the drain strainer and tailpiece units that are worn out, then consider replacing the sink drain fitting. At most times, you just need to tighten the fittings to fix the leak.

Fixing a Leaky a Bathroom Sink

As aforementioned, there are three main sources of bathroom sink leaks – a bad drainpipe, a leaky sink drain flange, and loose pipe connections. This part of the article talks about fixing these three major problems.

Fixing a Bad Drain Pipe

If you are dealing with bad drainpipes, then you will need to replace them altogether. The first step you need to take to replace bad drainpipes is shut off the water to your house. Then, disconnect the drainpipe from the sink by first removing the slip nut that connects the wall drainpipe to the sink trap. Also, consider removing the drain assembly from the sink cabinet. Since you will be getting a new assembly, make sure that you have the right measurements. You will need to reconnect the newly purchased drainpipe system in the same way you removed the old one.

Fixing a Leaky Sink Drain Flange

The first thing you need to do to fix this issue is shut off the water to your house. Next, loosen up the slip nut attached to the sink trap using channel lock pliers. Do the same to disconnect the sink trap from the sink drain. Afterward, remove the sink trap from the sink pipe. You will also need to remove the slip nut connecting the sink drain to the drainpipe. However, this is not necessary if your sink drain came with a stopper. If this is the case, then disconnect the stopper from the pull stem by turning the screw that connects the pull stem to the stopper. Next, remove the retaining nut that secures the sink drain using a pipe wrench. Remove the sink drain and inspect it for any leaking issues. Consider cleaning it, and if the flange is damaged, replace it. When done, you will need to reconnect the whole system as it was before.

Fixing Loose Pipe Connections

If you think there are loose connections that are causing leakage in your bathroom, then you have to tighten them using a pipe wrench or channel lock pliers.

If you normally see water under your bathroom sink, there are high chances that you have a leak. The first thing you need to do to fix a leak is identify where it is coming from. The main causes of bathroom sink leaks are lose pipe connections, a bad drainpipe, or a leaky drain flange. Once you have an understanding of the source of the leak, you can be able to take the right action to fix it. You can either repair or replace the defective part.

Why Is My Bathroom Sink Leaking Underneath

Source: https://bathplanetnewjersey.com/how-to-fix-a-leaky-bathroom-sink/

SHARE