One of the most popular ways to transform a kitchen both aesthetically and functionally is with a kitchen sink plumbing project for Redwood City households. We’ve put together these five tips to prevent kitchen sink plumbing problems in Redwood City homes, because when done wrong, kitchen sink plumbing can grow into a real nightmare.
Already living the nightmare or need an extra hand from a fully licensed professional plumber? Don’t hesitate to give us a quick phone call or email and we’ll be happy to have one of our experienced plumbers take a look at your kitchen sink plumbing project or problems and get you the help you need.
Tip 1: Measure the Tailpiece for Depth
A classic mistake that many homeowners make when purchasing a new sink is buying a sink with an exceedingly greater depth than the previous sink. While in many cases this can be a great way to give the sink more utility, it’s important to make sure the added depth doesn’t become prohibitive for draining. If the added depth is too great, the sink may not drain properly if the sanitary tee connection is no longer low enough to satisfy the new depth of the sink. In this case, you would need to do some serious pipework to get things working – extra work you almost certainly want to avoid.
If you measure the tailpiece from the base of the old sink at the basket strainer down to the tee, you can derive the extra depth that can be supported by your current setup. You can use that extra depth while planning to purchase a new sink to make sure it doesn’t add an unsupportable depth.
Tip 2: Make Sure the New Sink Covers the Old Hole
This may sound obvious, but some people in a hurry fail to realize the new sink needs to be snugly match the dimensions of the hole it’s covering. In addition, it’s important to check if there are cornered or rounded edges in the frame of the hole. Contractors typically like to install cornered edges, so if you decide you want a sink with rounded edges, things may get complicated. It’s easiest to match the corners of the frame, unless you’re willing to do some extra work.
Tip 3: Check for Water Stains in the Surrounding Area
Besides being unsightly, water stains can actually be a major detractor in a kitchen sink plumbing project. If water has been seeping into the surrounding area too long, materials like particleboard can be structurally weakened and no longer serve as a good support for the new sink.
Tip 4: Make Sure You’re Using the Right Sealant
For a long time, plumber’s putty was a popular choice as the standard sealant for sink baskets and sometimes sink rims, but nowadays the clear choice is to use a kitchen-and-bath 100% silicone sealant that requires a solvent to clean up. The trouble with plumber’s putty is it will eventually dry out and crack, causing leaks which can lead to damage. It can also directly damage certain plastics, including those used to make sinks.
Tip 5: Get Help from a Plumbing Professional
Feeling uncertain about your kitchen sink plumbing or simply need a little help from a professional plumber? Give us a call or send us an email and we’ll be happy to send an experienced, fully licensed plumber over to your location to help you figure out how to your kitchen sink plumbing project completed as quickly and professionally as possible.