Chloe Zhang
Connecting plastic pipes under your sink is a relatively straightforward task that can be completed with a few tools and materials. The process involves working with the P-trap, a curved portion of the pipe that traps water and acts as a sealing barrier against sewer gases. Before beginning, ensure you have the necessary tools, such as a 4-in-1 screwdriver, a hacksaw, pliers, and channel-type pliers or slip joint pliers. The first step is to remove the old drain assembly, including the P-trap, by unscrewing the slip nuts and pipes. When installing the new P-trap, ensure it is made of the same material as the previous one, and be mindful of creating a slight downward angle toward the drain outlet to ensure proper water flow. Reinstall the P-trap assembly, tighten the slip nuts with channel-type pliers, and test for leaks. If leaks are present, tighten the connections further, being careful not to overtighten and crack the plastic.
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What You'll Learn
Replacing old pipes
If you're replacing old pipes under your sink, you'll first need to remove the old drain assembly from the top down. Use a pair of pliers to unscrew any stubborn slip nuts. Remember that the drain trap will have some water in it, so have a bucket or bag ready to catch it.
Once you've unscrewed the slip nuts, drop the pipe assembly down and remove it. You can then install a new strainer assembly, placing plumber's putty between the flange of the strainer and the top of your sink around the perimeter of the hole. Position the rubber and cardboard washers, the new locknut, and plumber's putty, then drop the strainer in from above the sink. Screw the locknut into place, cleaning up any excess putty that may squeeze out.
Attach the tailpiece to the basket strainer with the tailpiece washer between the bottom of the strainer and the tailpiece pipe. You will need to remove it later to cut it, so don't tighten it fully yet.
If you're connecting a new sink, you may need to perform some alterations to the branch drainpipe fitting entering the wall. If your new sink has a different depth to the old one, you may need to lower the sanitary tee connecting to the drain pipe in the wall. This may involve cutting away the back of the cabinet and the wall surface.
If you're connecting a new P-trap, use the same type of trap as the one you removed. Traps are made from polypropylene (white or black), ABS (black), PVC (white), or brass (chrome-plated or natural-coloured). They come in 1-1/4 inch (standard bathroom sink) or 1-1/2 inch (standard kitchen sink) inside diameter sizes.
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Adjusting the trap
The P-trap is the curved portion of the pipe under the sink. It is called a P-trap because the bend makes it look like the letter P turned on its side. The bend in the pipe traps some water, which acts as a sealing barrier between your home and the sewer gases.
To adjust the P-trap, first, slide the trap arm into the drain opening in the wall. Then, fit the trap bend over the end of the trap arm and onto the sink tailpiece. If a tailpiece extension is used, position it at this time. Next, slide the slip nuts against the fittings and loosely thread them onto the threaded hubs.
Adjust the trap bend and trap arm so that the pieces are properly aligned and the trap arm slopes down slightly towards the wall. A 1/4-inch-per-foot downward slope is the recommended pitch. Hand-tighten the slip nuts. If they are plastic nuts, you should be able to get them as tight as needed by hand; if they are metal, tighten them a bit further with pliers.
Now, turn the sink faucet on full volume and let the water run down the drain while you check the slip nut connections for leaks. If any joint leaks, tighten the slip nut gently with pliers until the leaking stops. Make small movements to avoid overtightening.
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Using the right tools
Connecting plastic pipes under your sink requires some basic tools, most of which you can find at your local hardware store. The tools you will need include:
- A "4-in-1" screwdriver
- A hacksaw
- A level
- Pliers
- "Slip joint" pliers
- A tape measure
Other tools may be required depending on the specific project and any problems encountered. For example, if you are connecting a new pipe to an old metal pipe, you will need a plastic trap adapter, a rubber transition coupler, an additional section of plastic pipe, and cement.
If you are cutting pipes, a PVC tubing cutter or a hacksaw can be used. To tighten slip nuts, use channel-type pliers, also known as slip joint pliers, and be careful not to overtighten, as this can crack the plastic threads.
When working with putty, such as when installing a new strainer assembly, use a putty knife to apply the putty.
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Tightening the connections
When tightening the connections of plastic pipes under the sink, you will be dealing with slip nuts, washers, and sometimes even a locknut. The slip nuts and washers are used to connect the curved end of the continuous waste pipe to the garbage disposal's drain outlet. The slip nuts should be tightened with channel-type pliers, but be careful not to overtighten as this can damage the plastic threads.
If you are dealing with a leak, you can try tightening the locknut or slip nuts. If the leak is due to stripped nuts, then you may need to replace the washers. If the washers are too stiff or distorted, you may need to replace the entire drain assembly, especially if your pipes are old. Plastic pipes are inexpensive and easy to install, so this is often the most reliable fix.
When installing a new drain assembly, you will need to use a new dose of plumber's putty to create a seal around the basket strainer. The putty is applied between the flange of the strainer and the top of your sink around the perimeter of the hole. You will also use rubber and cardboard washers, as well as a new locknut, to install the new strainer assembly. Drop the strainer in from above the sink, then screw the locknut into place.
If you are connecting a new pipe, you will need to cut the pipe to length with a PVC tubing cutter or a hacksaw. Then, temporarily connect the curved end of the pipe to the drain outlet using a slip nut and washer. Make sure the pipe has a slight downward pitch toward the tee fitting, then tighten the slip nut with channel-type pliers. Again, be careful not to overtighten.
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Lowering the sanitary tee
To lower the sanitary tee, you will need to cut the wall and drop the wall pipe down by a few inches. However, before making any cuts, it is important to test-fit the other parts of the drain to ensure that the sanitary tee is at the correct height.
Once you have determined the correct height for the sanitary tee, you can cut the wall pipe to length using a PVC tubing cutter or a hacksaw. Reinstall the wall pipe, leaving the connections hand-tight to allow for adjustments.
If you are using a Fernco coupling to connect the pipes, slide the Fernco down over the stub of the pipe out of the top of the sanitary tee. Tighten the hose clamps to secure it in place.
It is important to note that sanitary tees should not be placed with the backside up and the side open, as this will cause waste to splash upstream and eventually lead to blockages.
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Frequently asked questions
You can connect plastic pipes under your sink by following these general steps:
- Remove the old drain assembly.
- Install a new P-trap.
- Reinstall the tailpiece and continuous waste pipe.
- Adjust the trap pieces to create the most direct path from the sink to the drain outlet.
- Tighten all slip nuts with channel-type pliers, being careful not to overtighten.
You will likely need a "4-in-1" screwdriver, a hacksaw, a level, pliers, "slip-joint" pliers, and a tape measure.
A P-trap is the strongly curved portion of piping under the sink that traps leftover water and acts as a sealing barrier between your home and sewer gases.
You may need to replace the pipes under your sink if you notice leaks or clogs. If the pipes are old, it is often more reliable to install a new drain assembly.
Sink traps are commonly made from polypropylene (white or black), ABS (black), PVC (white), or brass (chrome-plated or natural-colored).
