Recently, the bottom of our bathroom sink has started to leak just slightly. Little drips come out of the nuts. The leaking part seems to be more toward the end where the pipe meets the wall and the end of the curve where the p trap ends.
What are some common issues with a leaking p trap under the sink?
If it is a PVC compression fitting, put a bucket under the p-trap and take the trap off.
Odds are good that you will find one of two things. Either the threads were cross threaded, which will affect the pressure seal around the pipe, or the plastic o-ring was caught in the threads at one point in time and was mangled. A mangled o-ring won't provide a satisfactory seal.
Either way you will know which part to replace, and these connections (provided it is compression fitting PVC) can be replaced easily at your local hardware store.
If it seems that everything is fine, look for the following items:
Is the pipe being unnaturally flexed or bent due to particular pipes being too long or short? If so the solution is shorter / longer pipes, but make sure you don't dramatically change the geometry of your setup.
Are the locking nuts really tightened appropriately? Sometimes a good "extra twist" solves a leak in the best possible way. Remember, if you "break" an obviously replaceable section of pipe, you're out a few dollars in plastic, so don't be shy.
The joint between the end of the p-trap and the pipe from the wall is supposed to be constantly under water, so it is fairly common for those to leak. Normally they are fitted and tested for leaks. The workman will not leave with one leaking. Since it is under the sink, and people often store items under their sink, eventually the pipe gets bumped. That's probably the source of your new dripping; however, it is highly unlikely that anyone will remember bumping the pipe, even if they did it.
Always be sure to find the source of the leak - water will follow pipes so sometimes you could have a leaking facuet that is dripping down the waste pipe. Dry the pipe completely, plug and fill the sink. Verify that there is no visible water now (if there is, it isn't the drain). Now pull the plug in the sink and look for the source of the leak.
Most P-traps can be removed via a threaded compression fitting. Check to see that those fittings are properly hand-tightened and not cross threaded. If it is a glued joint then likely it was not done properly in the first place and has now failed. If this is the case you will need to replace that section of pipe.
There are different makes. McAlpine thread does not fit other makes. They tighten but leak. Some fitings slide in each other and tighten, some go but to but with rubber washer. Make sure using same manufacturer fitings
