Replacing A Sink Drain: Part I
If you're bathroom sink is draining slowly, you might be tempted to pour some drain cleaner down it in an attempt to speed things up. Let me offer another solution, that might prove more long term, and definately less toxic!
It's easier than you think to do some light plumbing work like what we'll discuss in this series of articles. All you really need for this task is a small bucket and a pair of strong hands. A towel is a good idea too.
Make sure the faucets are turned off and that nobody plans on using the sink for a half hour or so. Be sure that you notify everyone in the house that the sink can't be used until you're done, just in case you have to run to the hardware store to pick up parts.
Put the bucket directly under the drain and loosen the nut that tightens the compression ring. It will probably be easier to loosen the one that joins the two halves of the trap first. When you do so, water will likely leak out, that's why you have the bucket. This will keep you from making a mess.
Once you have the two halves apart, loosen the nut that keeps the half on that is connected to the sink. Then drop that piece down and dump it over, it will probably contain some water. There are many different types of configurations that you can run into, and I can't describe each one in detail, but they'll all have some similarities. There should be a shaft coming straight down from the sink. Then you should have a trap (I have seen sinks without them, pewwww!). This trap should staighten out and then go either down or towards the wall.
Loosen the remaining nuts and pieces and remove whatever pieces you can. Check each segment and see if it is clogged with scum, hair, tissue paper, toothbrush caps, berrets, hair thingys, or just about anything else you can think of.
Replacing The Drain Part 2
It's easier than you think to do some light plumbing work like what we'll discuss in this series of articles. All you really need for this task is a small bucket and a pair of strong hands. A towel is a good idea too.
Make sure the faucets are turned off and that nobody plans on using the sink for a half hour or so. Be sure that you notify everyone in the house that the sink can't be used until you're done, just in case you have to run to the hardware store to pick up parts.
Slide The Bucket In
What we're going to do is remove the trap that is under the sink and check it for debri. Just for kicks, now's a good time to go ahead and replace the trap since it will probably be pretty nasty.Put the bucket directly under the drain and loosen the nut that tightens the compression ring. It will probably be easier to loosen the one that joins the two halves of the trap first. When you do so, water will likely leak out, that's why you have the bucket. This will keep you from making a mess.
Once you have the two halves apart, loosen the nut that keeps the half on that is connected to the sink. Then drop that piece down and dump it over, it will probably contain some water. There are many different types of configurations that you can run into, and I can't describe each one in detail, but they'll all have some similarities. There should be a shaft coming straight down from the sink. Then you should have a trap (I have seen sinks without them, pewwww!). This trap should staighten out and then go either down or towards the wall.
Remove The Remaining Pieces
You can probably safely remove the bucket at this point. If you have to leave the bathroom for any reason, place the bucket directly under the drain, just in case somebody comes in and forgets that the sink is off-limits.Loosen the remaining nuts and pieces and remove whatever pieces you can. Check each segment and see if it is clogged with scum, hair, tissue paper, toothbrush caps, berrets, hair thingys, or just about anything else you can think of.
Replacing The Drain Part 2
