While cleaning out the sink drain the other day with a pair of long tweezers, I grabbed on to a plastic ring in the drain. I thought it was a plastic ring from a milk jug or something similar and it turned out to be a broken gasket of some sorts from the PVC pipe attached to the drain under the sink. Unfortunately, I realized what it was after I pulled it out (the plastic gasket ring had cracked and part of it was sticking into the inside of the drain pipe and catching everything draining out of the sink, hence why the pipe was clogged).

Now I have a leak when the sink drains, and it is located exactly where this gasket should be. I can also move the PVC pipe where it joins to the bottom drain of the sink, it gives about 1/8".

Can I repair this with applying epoxy putty onto the outside of the PVC pipe under the sink at the connection? Or is there a major rebuild of the plastic pipe and joint required here? Any suggestions?

 

Best bet is to remove and replace pipe or pipes.

 

Does it look like this if so, it's called a tailpiece washer, buy a new one at Home Depot, unscrew the plastic nut or it maybe metal on the bottom of the strainer, insert the new one and retighten it.

Plumber2000

 

Yes - I think it does look like that, with little wings on the outside of the connection that appear to facilitate tightening (or lossening) of the connection.

How do I loosen the screwed on pipe? It appears it is a PVC pipe screwed or glued onto the metal drain from the bottom of the sink. I think I need a very strong person to loosen it, or some type of tool. But if it is cemented on, what do I do?

 

A good pair of channel locks will do the trick, but take it slow, if it, kinda stuck on there you may have to replace the entire basket strainer

Plumber2000

 

Thanks so much. This is a great forum. I was reading my "home repair book" and it recommended a "spud wrench" may do the trick in loosening the connection. I imagine the whole thing is going to have to be replaced. There goes another Saturday!!

 

I find the channel locks are the best tool one can have, and you can use it for lots of things, not just for plumbing either.

Good Luck To You

Plumber2000

 

Thanks to all of you here, I located the proper tool in my toolbox, went down to the local hardware store, bought the "tailpiece washer", managed to get the pipe thingy unscrewed and installed the new washer and it works! No leaks! This is great, thanks again!

 

Glad we could help, tell all you friends about this place.

Plumber2000