Replace a seal on a p-trap drain in the bathroom to prevent leaks.
Water in the cabinets under your bathroom sink is a sure sign of drainage problems. The pipes beneath the sink carry its used water into your home's sewer system. After it leaves the sink, the water passes through a straight piece of pipe called the tailpiece and makes its way to the curved p-trap at the bottom of the drainage system. Some p-traps have seals on them to help keep the connections watertight, but they can disintegrate over time. Before calling the plumber, try replacing the seal on the bathroom sink p-trap yourself.
Instructions
1. Clear out the area beneath the bathroom sink. If it is above a bathroom cabinet, for example, remove anything that might be stored underneath, such as towels or beauty supplies.
2. Place a bucket or similarly sized container underneath the p-trap in the sink. This is the curved portion of the pipe located at the lowest part of the drain pipe system.
3. Unscrew the couplings on either end of the p-trap with a pair of pliers. If this is PVC pipe, take care not to squeeze too hard with the pliers or you could crack the pipe or couplings.
4. Pull the p-trap out of the plumbing. Invert it over the bucket or container and empty out all the water inside.
5. Remove the sewer inlet pipe, if needed, to replace the seal on that side of the p-trap. These inlet pipes are usually also held in place with compression fittings. Turn the coupling counterclockwise until the inlet pipe slides out of the sewer pipe.
6. Slide the seals off the end of the p-trap and the sewer inlet pipe. Replace with new ones. Apply a few dabs of silicone grease to keep the connection watertight. Slip the coupling back over the end of the p-trap and the sewer inlet pipe, if needed.
7. Insert the sewer back into place in the sewer inlet. Tighten the coupling. Wrap the threads on the sewer inlet pipe and the p-trap with plumber's tape.
8. Insert the p-trap back into place between the sewer inlet and the tailpiece. Slip the couplings in place and tighten.
9. Run water in the bathroom sink. Check the new pipe seals while the water is running. Tighten any of the couplings, if needed.
Tags: sewer inlet, inlet pipe, sewer inlet pipe, bathroom sink, back into