Sunrise Specialty » How to Install a Kitchen Sink Drain? (Step-by-Step Tutorial)

How to Install a Kitchen Sink Drain? (Step-by-Step Tutorial)

Is the drain for your kitchen sink leaking and requires urgent replacement? What goes into the sink drain is not always clean, so we know what it means for the kitchen sink drain to leak.

Maybe you are carrying out a total renovation of your kitchen, and you need a new drain for your brand new kitchen sink.

We will give you the ten steps to install a kitchen sink drain in this article. This guide is a simple step-by-step DIY process that you do not need any advanced professional knowledge to follow.

Tools and Supplies

  • A basket wrenches
  • A pair of pliers
  • kitchen sink drain kit
  • Plumber’s putty
  • Rubber gasket

How to Install a Kitchen Sink Drain

Now, let’s proceed to the steps involved in installing a kitchen sink drain;

Step 1: Measure the Sink’s Drain Hole

The reason you need the measurement of the sink’s drain hole is to guide you in the purchase of the appropriate sizes of the sink drain kit.

Yes, the pieces you need to install a new kitchen drain now comes in a package, though you can still buy the parts individually.

The components making up the sink drain kit include rubber-seal washer, a fastening nut, basket strainer, friction-protection band, and a tailpiece that connects the drainpipe and the kitchen sink drain.

You should ensure that the tailpiece also matches the size of your drainpipe. We advise that you select a sink drain kit with a brass tailpiece as it is more durable than the plastic types.

Sink drain kits are available at your retail hardware stores.

Step 2: Remove the Old Strainer

Step 2 Remove the Old Strainer

Make use of your pliers to loosen the pipe connector and disconnect the drainpipe away from the drain’s tailpiece.

Unscrew the nuts that hold firm the strainer with a basket wrench. After that, draw out the basket strainer from the sink’s underside.

Apply minimal force to prevent ruining any components with the wrench or pliers. Doing these will enable you to disconnect the drainpipes in the sink cabinet.

Step 3: Apply Plumber’s Putty to the Basket Strainer

Use your bare palm to roll a slender length of the plumber’s putty and thread it all over the base of the strainer.

The rolled-up putty should have an equal diameter down its stretch to avoid one part of the strainer appearing more padded than others.

Plumber’s putty is also available in retail hardware stores around you.

Step 4: Insert the Basket Strainer into the Sink Drain Hole

Step 4 Insert the Basket Strainer into the Sink Drain Hole

When you have thoroughly wrapped the roll of putty around the basket strainer, cut off excess putty if the thread appears too long.

Press down the basket strain into the hole for the sink drain just hard enough to achieve a good seal from the putty between hole on the drain and the basket strainer.

You should not press the strainer too hard that the putty is now forced out entirely instead of achieving an even seal.

Crawl into the sink cabinet and wipe clean the excess putty from the underside of the basket strainer.

Step 5: Slip the Friction Band and Rubber-Seal Washer over the Base of the Strainer

Place the washer over the basket strainer.

It creates an additional sealing effect. After that, slide the friction band on the washer to shield it against the nut.

Step 6: Tighten the Nut to the Basket Strainer

Step 6 Tighten the Nut to the Basket Strainer

Turn the nut in a clockwise motion to fasten it to the threaded base of the basket strainer.

Use your hand to drive it in as tightly as possible before you use a basket wrench to achieve a tighter seal.

Use the needle-nose pliers to hold the filter’s base in place while using a wrench to tighten the nut.

It will prevent the basket strainer from rotating along with the movement of the wrench.

Clean any excess putty released while you tighten the nut.

Step 7: Connect the Brass Tailpiece and Basket Strainer

Screw the tailpiece up the thread of the basket strainer. The tailpiece is also threaded.

Align its threads with the threads on the basket strainer’s base and tighten it up through a clockwise motion.

Step 8: Fix the Brass Tailpiece with the Drainpipe

Step 8 Fix the Brass Tailpiece with the Drainpipe

Insert a rubber gasket into the drainpipe. The gasket ensures a watertight seal when you connect the drainpipe with the tailpiece.

Carefully align the top of the drainpipe with the bottom of the tailpiece. Attach the connector ring to the drainpipe and drive it to the threaded brass tailpiece base.

Step 9: Use a Wrench to Tighten the Connector Ring

Tighten the ring as much as you can with your hand before you use a wrench on it to achieve a tighter seal.

You should apply only reasonable force while using the wrench in order to prevent breaking the plastic ring or the drainpipe.

Step 10: Turn on the Faucet to Test the System for Leaks

Step 10 Turn on the Faucet to Test the System for Leaks

Turn on the shut-off valves and then turn on the kitchen faucet.

Allow the water to drain for a reasonable time while you check for any leakage in the system.

If you notice any leakage, then you have to tighten up the leaking part with a wrench.

However, you should do this gently. It is often common at this stage to apply too much force than is necessary and break a fragile component.

Conclusion

Installing a kitchen sink drain is among the least technical aspects of plumbing. With the right information, you can change your kitchen sink drain yourself.

In this DIY guide, we broke down the process of installing a sink drain into actionable steps any novice can follow and achieve a professional result.

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