One of the sneakiest damage-dealers in your house can be a kitchen sink pipe leak. With cabinet damage, wood damage, wall damage, and floor damage possibilities, you always want to catch and fix your leaky pipe problems as fast as possible! But what are the symptoms of a kitchen sink pipe leak and how do you know where the problem is? Today, we’re looking at how to find your problem and the top three issues that your pipes can have. You may be able to fix these issues yourself, or you might discover that you’re in hot water and need a professional plumber to come out and assess the issue!
Assessing the Problem
There are plenty of signs that you have sink leaks, drain leaks, and general water leaks if you know where to look. Spraying water is a tell-tale sign, and this is often the most noticeable signal of an issue. These happen when the water is under pressure and there is a leak somewhere like the water supply line.
However, there are other, less-noticeable leaks as well. If you have a sink drain line leak, you may have a slower leak that only happens when the sink is actively used. This can lead to water damage over time – look for a standing puddle under your sink or a distended portion of the cabinet. Even harder to detect is a sink drain leak. If the drain is faulty or leaky, you may have to fill the sink and wait for the water to stand before you can find the leak under the sink!
In addition, look for laminate that is separating from the wood , for swollen portions of the cabinet, for a loose faucet, or even for bad caulk. These can be a sign that the sink itself needs resealing because of wear and tear over time. Or, you may just need to tighten the faucet connections!
Fixing a Supply Leak
Like we said, a supply leak is often signaled by a spray of water because the supply line is under pressure. They may also just drip actively when in use. When there is an active drip, the solution is often fairly easy. Usually, there is a compression nut that needs to be tightened on the shutoff valves. Tightening the compression nut can be tricky, but the easiest way to do it is with two wrenches. You can hold the valve with one while you tighten the nuts with the other.
Fixing a Drain Line Leak
Sometimes, the problem happens at the other end of the plumbing system. Leaks from the drain pipes are signaled by puddling, damage in the cabinet or in front of the sink, or a bad smell. The problem may be from a slip joint’s loose slip nut or blockage where the pipes connect.
If the problem is with the slip joint, you should tighten the slip nut first. If you’re still seeing a leak with the slip joint, disassemble the joint and clean it. You may also want to clean the drain line in case of a blockage. If you’re still having issues, you might have an issue with corrosion. Corrosion can be a big issue, and you might want to call a plumber to help with corrosion problems.
Still Seeing Issues?
If you’re still experiencing leaks and dripping, there could be a hidden problem that’s hard to pinpoint. When you can’t figure out the source of your leak, it’s important to call a plumber as soon as possible. By calling a plumber to fix the issue, you mitigate water damage, bad smells, and higher water bills. Go ahead and call a professional plumber like Anchor Plumbing in your area to have your kitchen sink pipe leak problem solved quickly!
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