A bathroom sink drain connects to a curved piece of drain pipe called a p-trap. The p-trap in turn connects to a straight pipe that attaches to the drain stack at the wall. It is important to install the sections of drain properly to avoid leaks that could damage cabinetry and flooring. Whether you are replacing old pipes or have just installed the sink, you can complete the job with a moderate amount of time and effort.
Instructions
1. Remove the old p-trap and straight pipe, if they exist, by removing the large nuts that connect them to the drain stub and stack pipe respectively. Use a pair of slip-joint pliers to turn the nuts counterclockwise to loosen them and disconnect the pipes.
2. Clean the ends of the stub and the drain stack protruding from the wall. Use mineral spirits and an old rag to clean the ends of the pipes. Remove the old gasket and nut from the sink drain stub and replace them with new ones. Place the nut on the end of the pipe with the threads pointing outward and then install the gasket with the flanged part facing the end of the stub.
3. Connect the top of the p-trap to the drain stub and tighten the nut by hand. Turn the nut a quarter of a turn past hand tight using a pair of slip-joint pliers.
4. Place the straight pipe between the other end of the p-trap and the stack drain to check the fit. Use a hacksaw to cut the pipe if it is too long. Install a nut and a gasket onto each end of the straight pipe using the same process as you used in the previous step.
5. Install the straight pipe between the end of the p-trap and drain stack pipe and secure it by tightening the nuts.
Tags: straight pipe, drain stub, drain stack, sink drain, pair slip-joint, pair slip-joint pliers