How to Remove Your Sink Drain in the Kitchen

The kitchen sink is one of the most used sinks in our homes. It accumulates a lot of debris such as food remains, soap, and grease over time which causes the drain to clog. Therefore, knowing how to remove your sink drain in the kitchen is important as clogged sink drains can cause bad smells, create an unhygienic environment and make it difficult to do dishes. In this article, we will take you through the steps of removing your kitchen sink drain and answer some frequently asked questions.

Materials You Will Need

Before starting the process of removing your kitchen sink drain, you will need the following materials:

– Channel locks pliers
– Gloves
– Bucket
– Screwdriver
– WD-40 (optional)
– Plumbers Putty

Steps to Follow

Here are the steps that you need to follow to remove your sink drain in the kitchen:

Step 1: Turn off the Water Supply

The primary step of this process is to turn off the water supply for your sink. You can turn off the water supply from the valve present under the sink. Shut it off in both directions, hot and cold.

Step 2: Disconnect the Disposal

If your sink has a garbage disposal, then you need to disconnect it from the drain. To do so, locate the nut where the disposal connects to the sink and use channel lock pliers to loosen it. Disconnect the disposal from the sink.

Step 3: Remove the P-Trap

The P-trap is the curved piece of pipe found under your sink. Place a bucket under the P-trap to catch the water that may spill out. Loosen the nuts holding the P-trap with channel lock pliers or a pipe wrench. Once the nuts are loose, slide the P-trap away from the sink drain and empty its contents into the bucket.

Step 4: Loosen the Nut on the Drain

Using a screwdriver, loosing the screws which hold the drain in place to the sink. Please note; some drains have crossbars that you might also need to remove before attempting to remove the drain.

Step 5: Remove the Drain

After removing the screws or the crossbars, apply pressure to the nut under the sink with a screwdriver, or you can use any penetrating oil to spritz it if tight, to let it lose. Turn the nut counterclockwise and pull out the drain from the sink.

Step 6: Replace the Drain

After successfully removing the old drain from your kitchen sink, it’s time to replace it with a new one. Ensure that you have the exact size, shape, and model of the new drain to fit perfectly into your kitchen sink.

Step 7: Reassemble

Put back the disposal and connect it to the drain via the nut you loosened before ending the exercise. Ensure that everything is secure and steady by tightening all nuts and screws removed initially.

Step 8: Test the Sink Drain

To ensure that you have successfully removed and replaced your sink drain, turn on the water supply and test the drain to see how it functions.

FAQs

Q. What is causing my kitchen sink drain to clog frequently?

There are many reasons your kitchen sink drain gets clogged frequently. Some of the reasons include the accumulation of food remnants, grease, and soap on the inside of the pipes. You can prevent these clogs by regularly cleaning the sink and disposing of food wastes appropriately.

Q. Can I unclog my kitchen sink drain without removing it?

Yes, you can unclog your kitchen sink without having to remove it. Pour hot water, vinegar, or baking soda followed by boiling water down the sink to break up and dissolve any debris stuck inside.

Q. Can I reuse my old drain after removing it?

It is not recommended to reuse an old drain after removing it from your kitchen sink. Old drains result in leaks, lead to clogs, or failing to fit accurately, causing water leaks in your sink.

Q. How long does it take to replace a kitchen sink drain?

Replacing your kitchen sink drain typically takes about 30-60 minutes if you have all the required tools and follow the necessary steps as outlined above.

Conclusion

Removing the sink drain in your kitchen is a critical exercise that should be done regularly to prevent blockages or foul smells. This article has highlighted the steps involved in removing a kitchen sink drain and given answers to frequently asked questions. Follow these steps to successfully remove your kitchen sink drain and make your sink function properly.