So, you want to fix your sink drain? Or want to be familiar with them. Then this is your chance as I share with you the ten most important kitchen sink drain parts that every homeowner must know to fix any problems at home.
For your information, most of the kitchen sink receives hot and cold water from the respective pipes. After you have used the water, it drains out from the bottom of the sink, using many small parts that are needed to do the work seamlessly. That is the whole system of your sink drain.
Kitchen Sink Drain Parts (with Diagram)
In each sink drain part I explain, I will also share what you should do to avoid future problems and use it smoothly for years. So here are your kitchen sink drain parts.
Table of Contents
1. The Kitchen Sink Strainer and Sealant
The sink strainer is the most troublesome component of a sink drain. If you install it incorrectly, you will always have water leaks. The sink strainer is the finished part of the bottom of the sink allowing water to flow out of the sink.
All the plumbers use a sealant between the sink strainer and the sink to attach them together. Over time that sealant starts to erode, and you will notice your sink leaking water from the bottom.
To fix this issue, open them up, clean the sealant, put a fresh layer of the sealant on them, and attach them tightly. Let it dry, and you will have no leaks in your kitchen sink drain.
2. The P-trap of Your Kitchen Sink
The next sink drain part is the P-trap. It is a U-shaped metal piece of the drainpipe. This P-trap prevents the drain pipe from clogging by trapping drain clogs and also preventing sewage smells from coming up to your kitchen through the drain.
When you have any clogging problem or low water pressure in your sink, just remove that P-trap and clean it off. That will solve most of your problems. You can do it just by using a wrench and unscrewing the nuts in the P-trap.
3. Tailpiece Pipe and Lock Nut
A tailpiece is a vertical pipe that connects the P-trap to the sink strainer using a lock-nut. The length of the tailpiece pipe is not a fixed measurement. Cut the pipe according to your plumbing needs.
In the P-trap, you will notice that it has a short arm and a long arm. The long arm is connected to the tailpiece pipe and the short arm to the drainpipe. If you interchange them, your drain will not be as you expected. So be careful while working with this pipe.
4. The Waste Arm (Sink Drain Diagram)
If your kitchen sink has a tee, it has a waste arm. The waste arm is a pipe that connects the tailpiece and the tee. The tee ensures that the sink faucet and dishwasher have a sufficient water supply. It combines the drain water from the sink and discharges it into the trap.
5. Water Supply Hoses Under the Sink
It is also one of the primary kitchen sink drain parts. It has two flexible water supply hoses for supplying cold and hot water to the faucet.
If you ever see low water pressure in your kitchen tap, check the aerator, if it is clogged, and then check the water hoses to see if it is warped. Fix it and your low water pressure will be solved.
6. Water Shut Off Valves
As the name suggests, shut-off valves allow you to turn off the water to the sink and do repairs instead of turning off the water to the whole house. It is an oval-shaped piece where water supply hoses are connected.
From time to time, these valves can leak. Get a wrench and the nut to see if the leak still persists. If it is, then you need to replace the valve all together as it is damaged.
7. Sink Extension Tube
If you ever need to extend any short tubing under your sink, then this tube can help you out, especially if you have a double sink that is connected together.
8. The Coupler of the Sink
A coupler is a small pipe that connects two drain pipes together. If you ever mistakenly cut a pipe short, this coupler will help you to fix it. It is a handy plumbing solution that most plumbers use.
9. The Sink Elbow
The elbow is used when there is an odd installation that the plumber needs to fix. They fix that area using the elbow pipe. If your sink installation is normal, you may not have this kitchen sink drain part in your sink.
10. Washers and Lock Nut
The washer and lock-nut are used to hold the sink strainer tightly in a place where it should be. There are two washers used here. One is the rubber washer, and the second is the friction washer. If you fail to install the washers properly, they may cause a water leak problem.
Last Words
So these are the most important kitchen sink drain parts that every homeowner should know if they want to fix any small kitchen sink problem at home. But be careful while doing anything as you should not break any parts of it that may cost you extra. I wish you the best of luck
Sink Drain Parts FAQs
How to fix the kitchen sink drain leak?
To fix the kitchen sink drain leak, open the sink strainer and clean the sealant, then put a fresh layer of the sealant, attach them tightly, and let it dry.
How to fix the kitchen sink drain?
Remove that P-trap by unscrewing the nut attached to it that looks like a metal rod under your sink and clean it off, and the drain will again work normally.
What are the main kitchen sink drain parts?
The kitchen sink drain parts are the sink strainer, P-tap, tailpiece pipe, waste arm, water supply hoses, shut-off valve, extension tube, coupler, sink elbow, and lock nuts.
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