Luckily for most people, you don’t have to think of the plumbing or mechanics behind how your sink works every day. You turn it on, get water out of it, turn it off, and go about your day.
When the reliability of your sink is in question and it is not working how it is supposed to, it can be helpful to understand the basic functions of your sink and where something may be going wrong. Read more about the basic parts, purposes, and function of your sink to avoid issues and fix them when you can!
Your sink and drain are made up of multiple parts: the sink basin, drain, locknut, tailpiece, and trap. These all work together to make sure you can get used water or wastewater out of your sink basin and back into your plumbing system.
One of the most crucial parts of your sink’s make-up is the trap, or sometimes referred to as a J- or P-trap. This U-shaped curved pipe is designed to keep a small amount of water in the system after your sink drains to prevent sewer gas and odors from sneaking back up your drain pipes. All the drains in your home will have this same piping system – even your toilet!
Many times, if you or your family have been away from home for long periods of time or if you have not used your sink in a while, the water that was in the P-trap might evaporate and dry up. This can cause an unsavory sewer smell to rise through your drain. Simply run the water in your sink for a few minutes to refill the P-trap and prevent those smells from escaping.
If something unintended gets washed away down your drain, (a ring, earrings, or other heavy object) many times these will get stuck in the P-trap and not be swept away to your plumbing system and can be saved.
Leaks can occur in your sink’s drain system if parts have loosened and will just need a simple tighten up. Many people can do this on their own with the right tools.
If your sink issue is severe, we always recommend calling a professional to help rather than trying to find DIY fixes. These repairs can sometimes end up causing even more damage, which means more work and a bigger bill for you in the end.
Call us today for any of your sink repair or plumbing needs. A member of our team can help assess the situation and find the best solution for your family