It'southward common for a household sink to go chock-full up, and sometimes this ways yous will need to remove the trap under the sink to remove the debris. In a just a few easy steps y'all tin take your sink draining properly in no time.

p trap kit

First, a few tips to attempt before removing your drain:

  • First, run some very hot water down the bleed in an endeavour to clear blockage
  • If that does not piece of work, endeavour using a plunger in the sink - push downwards slowly, then pull up quickly
  • If these do not work, it's time to remove the bleed

Tools yous will demand to remove the drain: Saucepan, wrench or channel lock pliers, rags, cleaning brush, masking or duct record.

Step 1: Start, locate the drain trap under your sink. The pieces yous volition near commonly see under your sink are: a tailpiece, skid joint basics, a "J" shaped trap ("J" bend), a waste arm and a section of pipe coming from the wall. Together, these pieces are normally referred to equally a "P-trap".

Stride 2: Place a bucket or dish pan under the trap to catch any water that might come out every bit the trap is being removed.

Footstep 3: Unscrew the slip joint basics on each side of the "J" section of the trap. Y'all may exist able to do this past hand, just if your plumbing is older, it is likely you volition demand to employ channel lock pliers or a wrench to loosen them. If you take a metal or decorative finish on your trap, use a strap wrench to prevent scratching the terminate. Or, you can utilize masking or duct tape on the inside of your pliers to prevent scratching the end. Another method would be to place a rag over the slip joint nuts earlier using the pliers or wrench, so that the tool does non come in contact with the metal stop.

Step iv: Once the slip articulation nuts are loose, keep to untighten them by paw and remove the trap. Remember to take your bucket handy! This is where it tin get messy as there is normally water in the curve of the "J".

Slip joint example

Step 5: With the trap removed, yous will notice that in between the slip articulation nut and trap there is an o-ring. Exist certain to put these in a condom identify as they are very necessary to seal the connection. As well, notation the order these parts are in: the slip joint nut will become onto the tail piece then the o-ring, then the threaded trap end (same for the side connecting to the wall).

Step 6: Yous can stuff a rag into the pipage coming from the wall to prevent any sewer gases from coming upwardly into your habitation.

Step 7: Employ a bottle brush or other cleaning tool to remove any debris found in the trap. You tin also gently make clean the tailpiece coming from the sink, and slightly into the pipe in the wall to remove any "gunk" that may be present. It'south also not a bad idea to take the trap to some other sink and rinse it out, this will remove any left over soap scum or residue that could contribute to another clog in the hereafter.

Pace viii: With all the parts cleaned up you lot can now brainstorm to reassemble the trap. Once more, noting the social club the parts are installed: the slip articulation nut will go onto the tail piece or wall pipe, and then the o-ring, then the threaded trap end.

Step 9: Hand-tighten the slip articulation basics until tight. Employ your wrench or pliers to tighten a quarter plow more. Be careful of two things: Exercise non cross thread and exercise non over tighten! Plastic traps, specially, volition scissure if over tightened.

Helpful Tips

  • If you are looking to brand this job a bit easier in the futurity, check out our Add-A-Trap catcher. These products have built in features to prevent clogs and make information technology easy to call back items lost down the drain.
  • Some traps accept a cleanout plug on the bottom of the curve. To clean these types of traps, only unscrew the plug and use a stiff wire to snag and remove the clog. Be sure to have a bucket under the drain because there volition be water in the bottom of the trap.
  • Some find information technology helpful to place a towel, or piece of masking record over the sink and/or faucet to remind themselves and others not to use the sink while unassembled.
  • We do not recommend pouring dangerous, dangerous to your wellness (and sometimes your pipes), bad for the environment, products into your bleed to articulate upwardly blockages. Physical removal of hair and other droppings is best. The regular utilise of a safety product such as Roebic K-67 tin aid preclude slow drains and stoppages.
  • Unfortunately, there really is no substitute for manually removing a hair clog. Chemicals used to remove hair clogs are often inefficient and often issue in manually removing the clog anyhow. Not to mention how harmful they are. If you find that a lot of hair goes down the bleed in your household, yous may consider purchasing a stainless steel mesh strainer for your lavatory, tub or shower. These strainers are an cheap, easy to clean way to assist go on your bleed from clogging with pilus so often.
  • The above steps can be useful not simply for unclogging your sink, but to remember items dropped down the drain.
Related Items & Information

Delight note the information provided hither is intended to give a bones knowledge of plumbing related repairs, troubleshooting, or purchasing considerations. This information is general, and may not suit all applications. If you are at all unsure of your abilities to complete one of these projects or have farther questions about the information presented, please consult a professional. E'er check with local code regulations and the proper authorities earlier beginning a project.