How Kitchen Sink Plumbing Works

In recent times, it's not easy to find a kitchen without a sink. You could be owning one but, do you know how kitchen sink plumbing works? The kitchen sink plumbing consists of several essential elements, and the process is a bit complicated.

The kitchen sink plumbing consists of various processes and parts. Essential elements involved are three, and includes the following;

• The pipes that supply hot water
• Pipes responsible for providing cold water
• The drain and waste pipes

To help you understand better how a kitchen sink functions to supply you with adequate water and the right temperature for cleaning and washing. We discovered this guide from https://sinkengineering.com/ as it’s a reputed sink and faucet plumbing blog.

How Various Components of Kitchen Sink Plumbing Works

Under the Sink

Have you ever wondered what usually happens under your kitchen sink? Your kitchen's under hosts a lot of parts and pieces that attributes to the sink plumbing. When you look below your kitchen sink, the first thing to notice is a rubber gasket and a locknut. The two are responsible for keeping the strainer into its position and ensuring it's connected to the tailpiece.

When you look further, you'll find the trap, just after the rubber and gasket. As its name denotes, it gets used for trapping anything that wasn't supposed to fall down the drain. At the trap's bottom, you'll find a clean area where you can reach the pipe. On the trap's other side, you will find pipes that connect it to a portion of the sink's drainage system.

Inside the Trap

The trap comes with multiple parts with the inlet appearing first. The inlet gets connected to the trap's adapter. Looking inside the trap's U-shaped part, or its bottom, you'll get the P-trap, trap dip, clean out, trap weir, seal, and lower dip. The trap arm and outlet pipe get found on the trap's other end.

Other Components

Sometimes a homeowner may employ other equipment or appliances that use water to their kitchen sink. Good examples are garbage disposal, fridge ice maker, or dishwasher. Such components usually get connected underneath the kitchen sink. But if installed when the kitchen is getting constructed, they may get connected below the flooring using a shut-off valve or connector situated under the sink.

Kitchen Plumbing Caring

Because of its function, particles like those from food and fat or grease going down the kitchen sink's drain is inevitable. They mostly built up or caught easily in the pipe's walls—this where the sink's trap becomes handy. Opening the trap will help remove all particles caught up within the pipes.

You or your plumber can use reliable tools after opening the trap to remove or locate particles or foreign objects that are causing the blockage. But to avoid all these, maintain your kitchen sink's plumbing in good condition by being conscious of what goes down the drain. Also, performing annual maintenance can help.

The kitchen sink plumbing may be complicated, but it's worth the hustle. It is because of the kitchen sink plumbing that people enjoy hot and cold water in their kitchen sinks and can dispose of sanitary and wastewater with ease. Unfortunately, as much as you try to keep your kitchen sink in good condition, it sometimes develops problems. Though some require the assistance of a professional, with enough knowledge, you can also handle them. Below are issues that can hinder your kitchen sink plumbing from working correctly, and how to solve them.

Kitchen Sink Plumbing Problems That Hinders It from Working Properly and Their Solutions

Low Water Pressure

When you discover the water stream from your sink is weak, you should know that your water pressure is low. The cause is usually a clogged aerator by dissolved minerals such as calcium, which build up in the aerator's small openings. It is common if you are running hard water through your kitchen sink plumbing system. Hard water contains high mineral content capable of clogging the aerator.

To solve the problem, remove the aerator. Then find a plastic container and fill it with white vinegar and dip the aerator for approximately six hours. Then return the aerator; you will be amazed seeing it work like new. Low pressure from your water source and clogged pipes due to debris may be other causes of low water pressure from your kitchen sink's plumbing system. In such cases, seek advice from your local professional plumber.

Leaking Kitchen Faucet

Leaking kitchen faucets require professional attention, but if it's a simple problem, there's no harm in fixing it. First, find out the source of the leak. If it's at or near the base of the spout, the O-ring seal could be damaged. Also, leaking kitchen faucets are as a result of worn-out or old sinks. If need be, replace the O-ring or install a new sink.

Clogged Kitchen Sink

The sink's p-trap prevents sewer gases or odors from entering the kitchen. It works by use of gravity force. Because of its shape, it quickly gets filled with grease and soap, that eventually clogs your kitchen sink or have it develop leaking issues. Place a bucket below the trap and loosen its slip nuts using a pipe wrench or channel lock to open. Then remove everything that's causing the clogging and install it back when well cleaned.

Conclusion

Kitchen sink plumbing systems are essential in any home. They help us use our kitchen sinks effectively by washing and cleaning with either hot or cold water. We are also able to dispose of wastewater properly. But to continue enjoying the benefits of your kitchen sink plumbing system, you need to keep it in good condition, as explained above. In case you encounter any of the problems described above, use the illustrated techniques to solve them. Ensure you learn how kitchen sink plumbing works if you own one.