A Beginner’s Guide To Kitchen Sink Plumbing

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Well, in this post, I would be walking you through various aspects of the kitchen sink plumbing in order to help you make an informed decision.

Moreover, I would also be discussing the nuts and bolts of how kitchen sink plumbing works along with various diagrams needed to understand the know-how.

Topics that we would be covering in this post are as follows:

What Is Plumbing
What Are Different Types Of Plumbing
Components Of Kitchen Plumbing

Kitchen Sink Plumbing Diagram
How Does Kitchen Sink Plumbing Works

So, without any further ado, let’s begin…

How does Kitchen Sink Plumbing Works?

Well, if you’ve landed on this post, then the probability is very high that you might be interested in knowing, how does kitchen sink plumbing works, right?

Nonetheless, in this article, we’re gonna discuss the know-how of sink plumbing.

Does it make sense to you?

Kitchen Sink Installation And Pipes Connection

First and foremost, you need to connect pipes under the sink.

You need to take care of certain things while you’re in the process of fitting the pipes to your sink.

Let’s discuss each one of them.

Outlet Height Of Your Drain Needs To Be Checked…

This is the foundation and one of the most important steps.

Failing to do it correctly can lead to vague outcomes.

So, you need to be very careful while expediting this step.

While connecting the pipes under your kitchen sink, you need to be very careful, indeed.

In order to fit the pipe to the drain in the best possible way, you need to reduce the height of the drain to the wall.

But, there isn’t any hard and fast rule or any standardized process or steps for the same.

In fact, it depends upon the house.

You need to figure out whether, in your home, the drain fitting is at a lower level or higher level, and then you need to act accordingly.

Your Drain Needs Enough Room

Yes, you heard it, RIGHT.

You need to provide enough room for your drain so that things fall well in place, and the functioning could be smooth and hassle-free.

While connecting the pipes, your top priority should be to provide enough room for your pipe in order for the drain to run out.

Failing to do so may lead to issues such as clogging.

The best thing that you can do is to leave the fittings flexible enough to make some room for the drain.

However, things can be adjusted later on as per your requirement and preference.

Garbage Disposal Fitting

I always suggest my clients, expedite the garbage disposal fitting process while they are in the process of connecting pipes under the kitchen sink.

By doing so, you’ll literally enjoy the process as plumbing will sound to you so easy even though you’re a newbie.

The prerequisite of garbage disposal is an electric circuit that provides the power needed for segregating and flushing out the food wastes as well as other solid wastes from entering the drain as well as transferring it to the bin.

As per your requirement, you can connect the hot water and cold water pipes to the garbage disposal.

In case, you’ve any doubt or queries, feel free to reach out to us via the contact form, and our team would be more than happy to assist you.

Tailpiece And The Waste Pipe Connection

Well, the tailpiece is nothing but a pipe that connects to the strainer.

On the other hand, the waste pipe connects to the tee fitting.

In order to connect it correctly, you need to put the pipe at a particular length for quick and easy installation.

A slip nut is required for installing the tailpiece to the strainer.

And, thus, connect the curved end of the waste pipe to the garbage disposal can.

Once done, you need to leave the straight end of the pipe till the tailpiece, this step is very crucial and needs to be expedited in a proper manner.

After fitting this and removing the excess, all you need to do is to fix it to the PVC tube.

Check For Any Leakage After Connecting The Trap Bend

Of course, it’s an important step that needs to be expedited in a proper way so that you can reap maximum benefits out of the entire process.

Failing to execute it correctly may lead to numerous small or big issues, and dealing with them will for sure consume much of your time.

You need to fit the trap bend and the trap arm with the slip nut and a washer while connecting it to the garbage disposal

Make sure that the trap arm is fitted at a downward angle.

Kitchen Sink Plumbing Kit

If you want to keep your kitchen clean and free from leakage, then definitely, you need to choose a kitchen sink plumbing kit.

Choosing a plumbing kit wouldn’t consume much of your time, in case, you’re doing the needful considering specification of your kitchen.

Always, choose on the basis of your kitchen sink usages to avoid any last-hour misadventure.

Mainly, there are two types of plumbing kits that we recommend to our clients, that is, single-bowl, and double-bowl.

Out of the two, a double-bowl plumbing kit is a better option for sure.

Kitchen Sink Plumbing Kit | Buyer’s Guide

Let’s have a quick look at some of the important parameters that you can’t afford to ignore when it comes to buying a kitchen sink plumbing kit.

Material

Of course, material selection is very important because lots of things are dependent upon it.

We always ask our clients about the amount of time that they can give to the kitchen sink.

Confused?

Let’s understand it with an example.

If you’ve got a busy schedule and can’t spend a tangible amount of time cleaning the kitchen sink, then definitely, a steel-based plumbing kit would do the trick for your sink.

On the other hand, a porcelain sink would be a perfect choice if you love cleaning and has some spare time for it.

Size

Size is definitely another important parameter that you can’t afford to ignore.

Frankly speaking, you should select the size of the sink as well as plumbing material to provide enough room for the kits to fit in.

Don’t Miss Out On Necessary Things

Always, choose the thing that is necessary and refrain from those that are of least importance.

Every kitchen is unique and so everything around it should be selected accordingly.

For example, an advance and large plumbing kit would be a complete mess if you’ve got a moderate space for your sink allotment.

Not only extra space would be occupied but also draining would be complex.

Double Kitchen Sink Plumbing

To be honest, who doesn’t wants to install a double kitchen sink plumbing.

I’m not simply giving a vague statement rather I’m sharing my experience that I’ve accumulated over a decade.

First and foremost, you need to choose the right kit for your drain.

Secondly, the supply line installation process needs to be expedited once the water in the system has been removed.

Moving further, you need to fit your kits and pipes to the sink.

For this, you would be needing certain tools such as a P-trap, PVC, and wall tubes.

But, before initiating the double kitchen sink plumbing installation, you need to be very clear about the way you want your kitchen sink to operate.

In case, you’re NOT sure how to move forward, the best thing that you can do is to reach out to your plumber for fitting your kitchen sink plumbing kit.

Replacing Drain Pipes Under Kitchen Sink

Leakage can be prevented if the pipe fitting is perfect for your kitchen sink.

All you need to do is to replace the old drain pipes with the newer one.

Use new tailpieces for the connection purpose.

Cut the tailpiece as per your requirement.

Use compression fitters for joining the pipes.

In the next step, you need to install a p-trap.

Lastly, check for the leakage by simply feeling the sink.

What Is Plumbing?

Plumbing can be defined as the network of pipes, tanks, fittings, as well as other fixtures that are the prerequisites of building water supply, sanitation, and heating system in an apartment.

In layman’s terms, it follows the basic laws of pressure, gravity, water level, etc.

In other words, plumbing can be described as a network of pipes and fixtures that NOT only provide clean water to the buildings but also remove waste water out of the apartment via the drain and underground sewer.

What Are Different Types Of Plumbing?

Frankly speaking, there are quite a few types of plumbing.

However, our discussion would revolve mainly around water supply, sanitary, gas fitting, and roofing plumbing.

Since our today’s topic of discussion is, “how kitchen sink plumbing works?”, so we wouldn’t be diving deep into different types of plumbing rather be keeping our conversation concise and short.

Water Supply Plumbing:

Below are the main tasks performed by a water supply plumber.

Installation of water supply to both kitchen and bathroom

Maintaining proper functioning of sanitary drains, and also, to open & remove the blockage
Install deferred sanitation, excess pipes, and bond to fittings

Sanitary Plumbing:

Important tasks performed by sanitary plumbing.

Install suspended drains
Take care of the blockage, if any

Bathroom and toilet pipes installation

Gas Fitting Plumbing:

Let’s have a quick look at the various tasks performed by a gas-fitting plumber.

Installation of gas pipe lines
Testing and blockage clearing of gas pipe lines

Roofing Plumbing:

Important tasks performed by roof plumbers are as follows:

Roof renovation
Installation and replacement of roof

Cutting long-story-short, let’s not deviate from the topic, and keep our discussion around “Kitchen Sink Plumbing”.

Kitchen Plumbing

Well, kitchen plumbing follows the basic law of nature, that is, gravity and pressure.

Many of you wouldn’t be aware of the fact that your home plumbing system can be further divided into two parts.

The working styles of both the subsystems are entirely different.

While one works on the principle of pressure the other resides on gravity.

In layman’s terms, the subsystem that brings in freshwater works on the principle of pressure.

On the other hand, the subsystem that carries wastewater out of your apartment relies on gravity (gravitation force; F=mg).

Proper maintenance of your kitchen plumbing can ensure its proper functioning for a longer duration.

Components Of Kitchen Plumbing

In order to have a piece of thorough knowledge about kitchen plumbing, it is really important for you to understand the various components of kitchen plumbing so that you can not only make the BEST choice but also do the needful accordingly.

Kitchen Sink

It goes without saying that a kitchen sink is one of the most important fixtures in your kitchen if not the MOST.

Well, if you’ll closely watch the strainer body, you’ll mainly find a rubber gasket and a locknut beneath it.

These are connected to both the strainer sleeves and tailpieces.

All of these leads to the trap.

So, if you’re not aware of what the trap is, then please allow me to explain it to you in the simplest way that I could.

The trap is nothing but the region where things that are not supposed to go down the drain fall.

Cleaning a trap is easier and can be expedited in an epigrammatic span of time, thanks to the clean-out plug on the bottom.

In fact, it then winds back up and is connected to the pipe that takes the dirty and used water out to the sewer system.

Kitchen Sink Maintenance

The kitchen sink is one of the most used fixtures in your kitchen so maintaining it properly becomes very important.

We suggest our clients to clean the drain at least once in two weeks. By doing so, it would be easy for them to prevent clogs or backups. Using a drain cleaner can expedite the entire cleaning process.
At the same time, you need to place a strainer over the kitchen drain in order to prevent food from entering the garage disposal and drain

Garbage Disposal

Needless to say, the garbage disposal is yet another important component of kitchen plumbing.

It is found under the sink – pulverizes and stores food waste going down your sink drain in a compartment known as a hopper chamber.

The waste materials are flushed out from this chamber with the help of kitchen faucet water.

Moreover, the water materials are further pushed down into the sewer system.

Garbage Disposal Maintenance

You need to properly maintain your garbage disposal else it would lead to numerous problems including but not limited to clogging, quickly wearing out, making weird noises, etc.

Let’s have a quick look at some maintenance tips that can do wonders for you if done correctly and regularly.

First thing first, avoid putting liquid grease down your garbage disposal

Don’t forget to run tap while grinding food
Always, allow your tap to run for at least 15 seconds after food is finished grinding
Avoid, putting foods that are hard to grind down the disposal

Lastly, clean the disposal on the regular basis

Dishwasher

Well, most of you would be aware of the fact that dishwashers are directly connected to your kitchen plumbing.

But, at the same time, have the outlet connected to the garbage disposal at the top of the hopper.

This allows the food waste from the dishwasher to drain through the disposal along with the water.

Dishwasher Maintenance

Like any other fixture, the dishwasher also needs to be maintained properly in order to reap maximum benefits.

To begin with, pour a cup of white vinegar into the bottom of the dishwasher and set it to run a cycle

By doing so, you would be able to get rid of foul smell as well as old food particles
In the next step, you need to clean the seals around dishwasher and soap despenser, and the best agent for expediting the cleaning process would be a rag
Once done, you’ll get rid of old food that could cause clogging

Refrigerator

As we all know, copper tubing is attached to the refrigerator water pipe.

Mostly, nut and ferrule are used for this purpose.

In fact, a cut is made into the water line that prevails under the sink and a copper T-fitting is attached.

Furthermore, T-fitting is attached to a water valve and a gasket seal.

By doing so, you can control both the water flow as well as pressure.

The water valve is then attached to the other end of the copper tubing.

Lastly, the refrigerator is attached to the cold-water lining allowing for ice and water to be ready as per your requirement.

Refrigerator Maintenance

Proper and regular maintenance is very important for your refrigerator to perform to its best.

Lack of performance can lead to the rotting of perishable food items.

Correct me, if I’m wrong.

Let’s have a quick look at some of these simple steps that can keep your refrigerator up and running for a longer duration.

The pan present under the refrigerator needs to be cleaned once in a while

In order to prevent ice from putting strain on operation, you need to periodically defrost your refrigerator
The good news is, most of the modern day refrigerators includes self-defrosting functionality in order to help you save your time
You need to ensure that the coils present both under and behind the refrigerator are clean and free from any form of leakage
By doing so, you can easily avoid overheating
A good way to clean the coil is by turning the appliance off and vacuuming the coils
In order to keep the elasticity of refrigerator door seal intact, you need to lubricate it with petroleum jelly
Make sure that the refrigerator feet are positioned correctly so that warping of the door can be prevented

Kitchen Sink Plumbing Diagram

Wrapping Up The Kitchen Sink Plumbing

First and foremost, I would like to thank you for being with us till the end.

Secondly, I would like to bring to your notice that I along with my core team have put loads and loads of efforts in coming up with this idiosyncraitc piece of information.

And, in case, you liked our efforts, then please do share it with the like-mineded people and the ones who are in need of it.

That’s all, as of now :):)

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