My sink is leaking underneath - the plumber says I need to replace the entire sink?

Question

The sink seems to leak where the strainer(?) meets the drain pipe - at the nut..The plumber who looked at it says it is an older "one piece strainer included sink" , with damaged strainer and the whole sink must be replaced.Does this sound right.?The sink is about 20-25 years old.Doesn't it just need a washer replaced?Thanks.

Answer 1

Where did you find this plumber, he sounds a little air headed if you ask me. I have fixed many of sinks in my day and have never heard of anything like this, nore have I seen it. Your sink strainer basket has a bead of plumbers putty under the lip that seals against the sink. On the bottom side of the sink, you have a rubber gasket then a cardboard gasket then a nut that screws on, as it is tightened it compresses the plumbers putty and rubber gasket. I found something that works better than plumbers putty. I used auto trim seal under the strainer lip If your not a do it your selfer get a good plumber or handy man.

Answer 2

Check with a different plumber. My sink is at least that old if not older and I can replace just the drain piece . You should be able to undo the pipes under neath remove the strainer part and put some plumbers dope in and then put everything back together.

Answer 3

i've been plumbing for 40 yrs. , have yet to see a kitchen sink with a strainer that is part of the sink , unless its a plastic laundry sink , which could have a strainer built in to the sink . If the strainer is not part of the sink there is something that can be repaired. If its a plastic sink and the threads are damaged you could try using a fernco coupling on it . There is almost always a way to fix something if you if you just use your head!

Answer 4

Always get at least 3 opinions. If the sink is only as old as you say, it may just need to have a new gasket. The one piece sinks he described go back a lot further than 20-25 years. You should be able to determine that by just looking at it.

M

Answer 5

If I knew how old your plumbing is i will make an informed wager. kind and mfgr of faucet could be efficient. If the faucet is over 10 years old your plumber substitute into possibly fantastic. in case your plumbing is over 18 years old the plumber could desire to look at all of the plumbing as i could guess there are greater problems waiting to seem. How do you recognize what's undesirable on the faucet and desires replaced? at an identical time as factors could be obtainable, getting the old ones out and the hot ones in could be confusing without assure of sucess. maximum plumbers have been with the aid of this sufficient situations to appreciate that's often greater competitively priced to in simple terms replace the finished faucet. Did the plumber value you for this call or substitute into it unfastened suggestion?

Answer 6

Cast iron sinks wear out.Porcelain chips and water gets to the metal.The worst spot for damage and wear is around the baskets.25 years is not bad for the life of a sink.Replacement may be in the cards.That would be a lot less costly than replacing cabinets,floors,basement ceilings,etc.

Answer 7

If its where the nut screws to the drain pipe then its just a case of unscrew the nut and replace the o seal that is placed in the nut alternatively wrap p.t.f.e Tape around the threads and joint and screw the nut back on this may solve the problem.

Answer 8

Ask a second plumber it sounds a bit iffy

Answer 9

Take a picture (If you have a digital camera) and print it out and take it to Home Depot or Lowes and talk to someone that works in the plumbing department.