Before installing a bathroom sink, you need to make sure that the sink’s drain and supply pipes tie in with existing plumbing. Also, there are vent pipes that need to rise from the drain within five feet and tie into an existing vent. In some cases, the vent pipes may need to extend through the roof.
If one of these components is broken or leaking, you can call a plumber to install a new one. You can also have it checked to make sure that everything works as it should. To make the process easier, you can know what each component is called so that you can better describe the issue to the plumber. It also helps if you have a photo of the plumbing fixtures so that you can visualize the components.
To start, shut off the water and use a bucket to catch any water that is draining from the system. Different bathroom sinks have different heights, so it is necessary to know the correct height for the sink. Usually, the height is around 24 inches above the floor. However, the height of the rough plumbing remains around 18 to 20 inches. This allows better placement of required connections such as the P-Trap.
If you notice that your drain is smelling, it might be due to biofilm buildup. To check if this is the case, remove the stopper and look for black gunk. If the black gunk is indeed biofilm, it needs to be cleaned out thoroughly. Cleaning the pipes thoroughly will eliminate the bacterial buildup and stop the drain from smelling.
Shutoff valves are a key part of most plumbing systems. These are usually plastic or metal and located between supply pipes, tubes, and hoses. Most of them feature a football-shaped handle that opens and closes the valve. It’s important to turn the water supply off before replacing a valve, especially if the valve is too old to function.
If the drain is clogged with hair or soap, there is a good chance that a p-trap will become blocked. To remove this, unscrew the pivot nut and use a hair removal tool to remove the blockage. Once you remove the pivot rod, you can clean out the upper section and P-trap section.
A P-trap is another essential part of the plumbing system. It has two sides, one longer than the other. You should connect the longer side to the tailpiece of the sink pop-up and the shorter side to the arm of the trap. Once the trap is installed, you can connect the drain pipe to the main drain line.
Most homeowners prefer a top-mounted sink, but undermount sinks are increasingly common. These sinks mount below the counter and eliminate the lip that comes with a top-mounted sink. The most common faucets include hot and cold handles, but you can upgrade to more elaborate ones by adding a wrist-blade faucet or an electronic-eye faucet. The best faucets are energy-efficient and battery operated.