Have you noticed your sink gurgling when the dishwasher is running or when a toilet somewhere in the house flushes? If so, you may have a clog or something else going on with the plumbing under your sink or elsewhere in the house. Have you ever wondered how to replace a sink trap? Well, you’re in the right place because today, we’re going to tell you all you need to know to tackle this project yourself.
If you’re a relatively handy person, you probably don’t need to hire a professional. Oftentimes, problems like this are more of a simple fix than you would think. So, let us walk you through the steps of replacing a sink trap.
DIY Plumbing Tips
A sink trap is that U or S-shaped pipe you see underneath your sink. The drain trap is designed to catch water and keep it there. Why do you want there to be water left in the trap? Well, when a drain trap is dry, this allows gas from your sewer or septic tank to rise up through the pipes. You can even see that your toilet has a built-in trap as well.
This trap creates a block that stops that from happening. In fact, another way to know when you need to replace your sink trap is if you are smelling foul things coming from the sink, it may be an issue with your trap. Before you jump to replacing it, though, make sure the trap is wet first. If you run the water and the smell goes away, it probably dried up before.
How to Know When To Replace a Sink Trap
Aside from the obvious sign of stinky smells, how do you know when to replace a sink trap? Well, if you notice your sink is clogged and you’ve tried unclogging it with a snake or plunger, you may need a new trap. If you have a metal sink trap and see there’s heavy corrosion on the trap, leaking, or holes, you definitely need to replace it.
How to Replace a Sink Trap
First, you need to remove the old drain line. Start at the top, and work your way down. For the most part, you should be able to unscrew the nuts by hand. If there are some tricky nuts, use some adjustable pliers to loosen them up.
When you get to the trap, the U-shaped pipe, make sure to have a bucket ready to catch any water. Keep the old trap so you can ensure you get the proper size when you go to the hardware or plumbing supply store.
Once you have the new trap, attach it to the drain stub-out in the wall. Use the slip nut and washer that should’ve come with the new trap. Keep the beveled side of the washer facing the stub-out when you’re hooking up the new trap. If you need to shorten the trap, you can use a hacksaw.
Finally, all you need to do is turn on the water and make sure there are no leaks or issues anymore. If you still are experience problems, you should consider calling a professional plumber.
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