DIY Plumbing Techniques For Changing a Sink Trap
When it comes to DIY plumbing projects, replacing or repairing a leaky sink trap is a very common repair job. Performing the repairs yourself is a great way to save money and offers an alternative to calling a professional. In order to complete a job of this type correctly and quickly, a few tools will be required including Teflon tape, a pipe wrench and a bucket.
Prior to working on anything that requires working with water pipes, the main source of water needs to be shut down. Luckily in a project such as this the shut down valves are conveniently located directly under the sink. Turning them counterclockwise will shut them down and remove the possibility of water coming in when not expected.
After turning off the water turn the faucet on and make sure the source is shut down. When the water is shut down, take a bucket and place it under the trap assembly so it can catch excess water. In order to loosen the connection nuts a wrench will be required, the wrench used is called a pipe wrench and is specifically designed for these types of projects.
Take the pipe wrench and use the adjustment wheel to open the teeth to the desired size, next place the wrench upon the flattened edges of the nut ensuring a good grip is provided for loosening. Next pull the wrench to the left and break the connection loose, once done use hand power to loosen it the rest of the way. Upon removing the upper connection nut, do the same to the lower nut.
With the two connection nuts removed it is time to remove the trap assembly by gently tugging the top first and then the bottom. Be sure to watch out for any water that might be trapped in the pipe assembly. Upon removal the trap can be then cleaned out using a secondary water source such as a garden hose.
Take the cleaned assembly back to the work area and take a moment to inspect the seals or o-rings that are located within the connectors. If they are damaged in any way like a piece is missing or warped etc. They will need to be replaced. To do this use a screw driver and pry them out, with the seals in hand travel to a local hardware store and locate the replacements.
In some cases the seals are not the problem, so also check the trap itself and make sure there are no cracks or breaks. When the new parts have been purchased, go back to the work area and clean the threads for the connection nuts. This will ensure a clean area for attaching the Teflon tape that will be used to create an additional seal.
Replace the trap and hand tighten the connection nuts, once snug use the wrench and turn the nuts one or two more turns to ensure they are tight. With everything in place turn the water back on and check for any leaks, if there are none the job is done. Having the ability to perform DIY plumbing projects is a nice skill to have and doing them safely will only make the finished project all that more rewarding.
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