Kitchen Plumbing Question

[wtom]

There's a tiny leak coming from the kitchen sink. Before I wander over to Home Depot, what does a plumbing newb such as myself need to know in order to repair this?

The leak only occurs when water goes down the sink pipe (of course). Tiny droplets will leak out the tiny crevice shown by the arrow point. The first pic shows a droplet of water forming.

My questions include, is the larger ring exactly that? Does it spin freely from the pipe? It looks like it does. In which case, I shouldn't be soldering along that crevice. That will also cause water to build up within the ring. Bad.

Do I just buy plumbers tape and put a few extra layers along the threading within that ring?

Or is there another method I don't know about? Thanks for all your input.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v606/wtom/IMG_1917a.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v606/wtom/IMG_1919a.jpg

[-cj-]

You probably need a washer/gasket. I'm not a plumber (nor do I play one on TV :chuckle), but I think that's all you need.

Edit: It may be possible that it's also not tightened enough. What I'd do is unscrew it, inspect the washer inside, wrap some of that white teflon tape (plumbers tape) around the pipe, and re-attach everything... You may just need the tape if the washer is okay. Not sure how tight it should be though... (Some plastic fittings tell you to only hand tighten..but I think metal is different)

Edit2: If you decide to follow any of my advice without a second opinion, be sure to Youtube it. =)

[Noisy Crow]

You probably only need to tighten the collar.

Grab a pair of slip-joint pliers (http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/6/Tools/PliersSnips/TongueGrooveChannelPliers/PRDOVR~0584540P/Mastercraft%2BMaximum%2BTongue%2B%2526%2BGroove%2B Pliers%252C%2B8%2Bin..jsp (http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/6/Tools/PliersSnips/TongueGrooveChannelPliers/PRDOVR%7E0584540P/Mastercraft%2BMaximum%2BTongue%2B%2526%2BGroove%2B Pliers%252C%2B8%2Bin..jsp)) and snug it up. Don't reef it down super tight.. firm is all that should be needed.

If that doesn't work then like -cj- said you'll need to replace the seal.. which is a 50¢ plastic ring you can buy at Canadian Tire. Loosen the collar and slide it down, pull the pipe down enought to pop out the old seal, stick the new one on end of the pipe (it fits into the end of it) and then thread the collar back on. If THAT doesn't work you probably have a cracked drain assembly, which will need to be replaced. (#1 reason for cracking: overtightening the collar!) But if that was the case I would expect the water leak to be on the top side of the collar, not the bottom.

[wtom]

Thanks both of you for the info. I'll stop by Home Depot and/or CanTi tmr and see if I can't repair this. :)

[DumpInfo]

-cj- pretty much nailed it.

Check the plastic/rubber washer if it still intact.
Tighten the ring with pliers (dont over kill it)
If not loosen the ring and add teflon tape (t-tape) and dope (pro-dope) if needed. Re-tighten it once again and test the sink by filling it up and releasing it once again. Keep us posted.



You probably need a washer/gasket. I'm not a plumber (nor do I play one on TV :chuckle), but I think that's all you need.

Edit: It may be possible that it's also not tightened enough. What I'd do is unscrew it, inspect the washer inside, wrap some of that white teflon tape (plumbers tape) around the pipe, and re-attach everything... You may just need the tape if the washer is okay. Not sure how tight it should be though... (Some plastic fittings tell you to only hand tighten..but I think metal is different)

Edit2: If you decide to follow any of my advice without a second opinion, be sure to Youtube it. =)

[wtom]

Had to look up dope, but thanks, DopeInfo! :)

If only Home Depot was open 24 hrs ... ?

[DumpInfo]

btw if you end up getting teflon tape go with the pink stuff the white one isn't great at all.

[wtom]

From past experience, the white one seems a bit too thin; rips easily. Thanks for the tip!

[wtom]

FIXED!

Just happened to be on the phone with property management on other items when I brought up the kitchen sink issue and they said the superintendant was in their office and could come up to check what's going on. Said the the collars were mostly hand-tight only and proceeded to undo them, cleaned up the washer inside, reposition and ta-da!

Damn, I felt like a super newb. Coulda done that ish myself! LOL

Thanks for the info, everyone! Learnt something new!

[DumpInfo]

Cool, happy it worked out for you!