A Leak Under The Kitchen Sink

I had this repaired years ago and never thought it was going to leak again. I watched the plumber and felt I could do that myself, well it's not going so well. So my go-to hardware store Ace/Handyman helped me figure out what I need to fix it but Ace doesn't stock parts for customizing repairs. Off to Lowe's I go.

 

Good luck with that....I'm so fumble I won't even attempt that kind of stuff any more

 

I hope it's something easy, Von. Good luck.

Got one here also. In a 2nd bathroom at the mobile home. It's that slip joint again. Keep forgetting about it.

 

What's a slip joint?

 

The pipe that comes directly down from the drain, before it gets to the J-shaped trap thing. That pipe just sits there inside another pipe. No threads. Just a hard plastic sleeve/washer. I don't understand why they make it like that. It tends to leak.

 

Yep, this is what I'm dealing with. I also wondered why there isn't a thread on that one. When I took it off I noticed the plumber had put that tape around it. I took it off and after I put it back on without the tape (didn't have any around) the leak is worse.

 

Perhaps this will help:

 

Maybe it needs a new sleeve/washer.

It seems to me if the slip joint is higher than the wall tube (B, also a slip joint) it wouldn't leak. Only if you had so much water draining out all at once, the water backed up above the joint. If the J-trap were clogged up a little, that could happen, I'd guess.

 

Did you notice the two water drips around the wall pipe, just before the video finished.

 

Usually a lot of water use in the kitchen throughout the day.

 

I saw that too.

 

How is your back, is it sore yet? It could be tomorrow. Under the sink is not a job done without pain by a senior. I know by experience. The part where the water exits the sink into the pipe is called a basket I believe, and mine leaks a little, so I just catch it in a gallon jug cut in half. The leak is not under pressure, so I'll wait until I need a plumber for something else to get it replaced.

 

My back has been fine but my knees on the other hand were sore until I found a cushion.

 

The problem I have had is it is difficult to get the trap lined up and a slight angle on the slip joint will cause a leak. My kitchen sink was fine for a while then started leaking. The cause was the food grinder vibrations loosening the trap. I put Rectorseal 5 on the slip joint so no more leaking now for over two years. If it has to be removed it will have to be sawed off. Rectorseal 5 is a necessity for the DIY person.

 

That stuff that looks like tape is not actually tape. I have seen my son (The Plumber) use it on pipes. It's some kind of sealer to prevent leaks. You should be able to buy it at Lowes or even Walmart.