Do you have a mysterious leak in your kitchen sink? Maybe you always find pools of water underneath the sink, but don’t know where it is coming from. Or you see the source of the water but are not sure how to stop it. Uplift Property Management notes that most kitchen leaks can be fixed without the help of a professional plumber.
In this post, we explain the most common reasons why your kitchen sink leaks, how to diagnose the problem to determine its root cause, and of course, how to solve the problem. Also, we keep everything really simple so that even if you are not handy, you can still follow along. Let’s go!
Common kitchen sink leaks and how to fix them
The base of the faucet
Leaks can happen at the base of your faucet. Most faucets have a base plate underneath them. During installation, your plumber will putty around this base plate to seal it. With time, through normal use and rough handling, the base plate can become loose, creating a gap for water to seep through. To fix this, check the base of the faucet for gaps and signs of rust. Nudge it to see if it moves. If this is the problem, unscrew the faucet from underneath your sink, clean the base plate, and apply some putty before replacing both the base plate and faucet. Make sure you tighten everything securely.
Leaks in the faucet spout
Another place where your faucet might leak is on the spout. Leaks can happen at the base of the spout where it meets the base plate. The nut on top of the spout that holds it down on the base plate may be loose. If this happens, water will pass through the O-rings in the base of the spout, causing a leak. To see if this is the case, check if the nut at the base of the spout is loose. If it is, just hand-tighten it. It is also possible that the O-rings have worn out. Unscrew the faucet spout to reveal the O-rings and check them. If they are bad, replacing them should solve the problem. Do not forget to apply some grease when replacing the O-rings.
Leaks in the sprayer unit
The sprayer unit on the faucet can also leak. In this case, water will trickle down the tubing and pool underneath your sink. Typically, this is caused by a loose connection. Pull out the sprayer, turn on the water, and feel the connection between the tubing and sprayer to see if it’s dripping water. If it is, turn off the water and check that the nut at the end of the tubing is not cracked. Loosen the nut to check if the O-ring inside is in good condition. If everything is as it should be, tighten all connections securely, and the problem should stop. If not, you will need to replace the sprayer unit.
Leak in the faucet cartridge
If your faucet spout feels stiff when you try to turn it and you also have a leaking sink, the problem could be a leaking cartridge. To fix this, turn off the water supply at the shut-off valve and disassemble the faucet. Remove the cartridge and take it to your local hardware store to make sure you get the correct model. Install the new cartridge, reassemble your faucet, and your problem should be solved.
Leaky basket strainer
The basket strainer at the junction between the sink’s drainage pipe and the bottom of the sink is a common site for leaks. This component often becomes loose as things constantly bump into it (say, your trash can). If water is coming from the bottom side of the bowl, this is probably the cause. To fix the leak, take a pair of channel locks and tighten the basket strainer. But if the leak is from below the basket strainer, unscrew the slip nut connecting the pipe to the basket strainer. Check that the insert inside the pipe is not worn out and apply pipe dope to the area before reconnecting the pipe. These steps should fix any leaks in the basket strainer. If the insert is damaged, replacing it should stop the leak.
Worn-out washer
The sink drainage pipe could be leaking at one of its joints. Run the water and feel the pipe to see if it is wet around the joint. If you confirm that the pipe is wet, turn off the water and inspect the pipe for cracks and other signs of damage. If the pipe appears intact, unscrew the nut at the pipe joint (these are usually hand-tightened) and check the washer inside. If it is brittle and hard, your sink drainage pipe will certainly leak. Replacing the washer should stop the leak. However, if the sink drainage pipe is cracked, you must replace it.
To conclude, if after doing all these steps you still can’t find the cause of the leak in your kitchen sink, the best course of action is to contact a Willow Springs, IL plumber. A good plumber should be able to locate and fix the leak within an hour.
