| Featured Image: @palmgrovefarmhouse_KS1271ALBS | Every day, homeowners turn on their kitchen faucets to quickly access clean water for drinking, cooking and cleaning. In an ideal situation, the water flows freely, unused water drains down the sink, and nothing more happens. |
But in a less than ideal scenario, a kitchen faucet might begin to leak. Once leaks start occurring, it is time to take a look into what has gone wrong.
In some cases, a fix might involve purchasing a new kitchen faucet, but in other situations, a quick repair is enough.
Check out the following guide to determine if it is time to purchase a new part through Kingston Brass’ extensive online catalog or if a repair is in line.
One reason that water might be leaking under a kitchen sink is due to loose water supply connections. Over time, water supply lines can loosen, and even with a small amount of loosening, water can quickly leak.
To determine if the water supply connections are the cause of a kitchen sink leak, turn off the water to the sink. Dry the entire area thoroughly.
Next, turn back on the water and observe the supply line connections. If the leak is extremely small, it might be necessary to wrap a paper towel around the connection to see if any water is absorbed over time.
For a loose water supply connection, the fix is simple. Retighten the connection being careful not to overtighten, which can damage the threading. After retightening, test again.
In some cases, an under-the-sink leak is due to a loose sink drain connection. Similar to the walkthrough above, start by turning off the water and drying down the entire area.
Next, pour a little water down the drain and look for a leak around the drain connection. If the leak is minimal, use the paper towel trick from above to detect any moisture leaking.
If the sink drain connection is at fault, it might be time to replace the drain. Over time, sink drains can corrode and deteriorate, leading to a poor fit.
Underneath a kitchen sink is a P-trap. The P-trap is a U-shaped pipe that connects the sink drain pipe to the straight pipe going into the wall. This incredibly important plumbing piece holds a small amount of water in it at all times, ensuring that sewer gases do not back up into the home through the drain.
However, if the P-trap connection to either the sink drain pipe or the outlet pipe becomes loose, leaks can occur.
Test the P-trap connection in the same way as the water supply and sink drain connection. With the area dry, pour some water down the sink and look for a leak around the P-trap. Use the paper towel method as needed.
If the P-trap is loose, try retightening it. If the pipe has corroded, it might be necessary to replace the P-trap.
If a sink drain or P-trap is the cause for a kitchen leak, Kingston Brass offers premium replacement parts. Choose from a variety of finishes and styles when shopping their extensive collection of sink drains and P-traps.
