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74 votes
Accepted

Good way to remove something from a bathroom sink overflow drain?

I'd be going at it with a strongest vacuum you can come up with. Maybe put a nylon stocking over the end of the hose so the earring doesn't get damaged flying down the pipe.
isherwood's user avatar
  • 126k
56 votes

Is my stainless steel kitchen sink really chemically dangerous?

Tongue in cheek: Your stainless steel sink is only dangerous if you live in California. Consider moving, and take the sink with you. California passed proposition 65 which makes manufacturers liable ...
Robert Johnson's user avatar
30 votes

What is this closed off pipe under my kitchen sink?

It is a drain cleanout. You can try turning it clockwise to see if it tightens enough to stop the leak. If not, have a bucket or pan to catch any spillage, turn it counter clockwise, remove the plug, ...
JACK's user avatar
  • 77k
28 votes

What should I be aware of in buying second-hand sinks and toilets?

I applaud your effort at frugality and environmentalism. The "throwaway" mindset peeves me to no end. Many folks change out fixtures just to change the look or size, and there are plenty of good units ...
isherwood's user avatar
  • 126k
26 votes

How do I tighten this bathroom faucet?

Turns out the two smaller "threaded" bolts are actually springs. Red herrings. Luckily my architect remembered the (discontinued) line "Brizo Quiessence" and was able to find the ...
Phrogz's user avatar
  • 1,135
23 votes

How to remove a laundry sink that is glued to the counter top with silicone?

Yeah, when spread over a larger area silicone holds really well. The key is to apply pressure over a small area, without bending your sink. Start at a corner or a thin place. Use a utility knife or ...
isherwood's user avatar
  • 126k
23 votes

Why is water leaking from this hole under the sink?

First of all there should not be any water there and coming out. The hole is probably a part of sink manufacturing process. So where does the water comes from. Probably from leaking faucets. Your ...
asinine's user avatar
  • 16.4k
22 votes

Why is water leaking from this hole under the sink?

Try pouring water into the sink instead of from the faucets. That will tell you if its the faucets leaking or the drain. Like Ruskes said, that hole looks like a manufacturing aid. I would call the ...
BrianK's user avatar
  • 5,385
21 votes

How do I temporarily fix the hole in a porcelain sink?

I did that once as a kid and my father fixed it with some epoxy. If you buy a good water-proof two-part epoxy it should seal the lines nicely until you can replace the sink bowl.
Machavity's user avatar
  • 23.5k
21 votes

Is my stainless steel kitchen sink really chemically dangerous?

Chromium-free stainless steel is as common as unicorns producing rainbow ice-cream. Chromium, nickel and many other elements are common alloying elements to alter properties of the steel. They do &...
Crowley's user avatar
  • 1,367
19 votes

How do I temporarily fix the hole in a porcelain sink?

It seems like you can use old "bowl in a sink" solution
aaaaa says reinstate Monica's user avatar
18 votes
Accepted

Under sink has cylindrical fixture instead of J-pipe, what is it and how to clear it out?

That is a drum trap. [Evidently also called a bottle trap in some parts of the world, per comments] They are rather old school, and out of favor in code now. I'm more used to finding them embedded in ...
Ecnerwal's user avatar
  • 193k
15 votes

Good way to remove something from a bathroom sink overflow drain?

If you absolutely, positively, must know for certain that you've hooked the earring, the whole earring, and nothing but the earring, then you want an endoscope: An inexpensive USB or WiFi endoscope ...
ArmanX's user avatar
  • 598
15 votes
Accepted

How do I remove a stuck sink drain plug?

Use a small suction cup on it or a utility knife to pry it up from the rim. Now that you have added the additional photo and comment that there is no access behind the wall (assuming it is drywall ...
SOHR's user avatar
  • 340
14 votes
Accepted

Is my sink P-trap too low?

Bring your Ptrap up or your Sanitary Tee down. AS noted by others you can cut the tail of the piece where it goes into the top of the Ptrap shorter ( thereby bringing the Ptrap up ), This will ...
Alaska Man's user avatar
  • 13.5k
14 votes

Is my p-trap installed correctly?

Didn't know about trimming tailpices to fit, leading to odd arrangement with more pipe than needed. And more critical; that's an S trap now. The pair of vertical elbows at the wall entrance is a ...
Ecnerwal's user avatar
  • 193k
13 votes
Accepted

What type of bathroom sink supply plumbing is this?

Chrome-plated copper. They will last virtually forever, unlike "modern" flex lines. The fittings either are, or are compatible with, compression fittings. The 5/8" pipe from the wall is ...
Ecnerwal's user avatar
  • 193k
13 votes
Accepted

Connecting a p-trap via bending the drain stem vs the trap arm?

It's standard practice to use one or more horizontal bends on the drain stub (trap arm) to gain alignment. In this case, a single 45° elbow toward the camera should do nicely. You'll swing the trap ...
isherwood's user avatar
  • 126k
13 votes

Can I salvage my disaster of an under-sink cabinet for actual storage?

All the supply and drain plumbing for your entire kitchen is in one easily accessible space where it can all be maintained without tools! This is actually pretty cool. Worth sacrificing an under-...
jay613's user avatar
  • 32.1k
12 votes

Is my sink P-trap too low?

In the OP's installation the last horizontal run going into the vertical drain appears to be slightly higher than the horizontal run coming from the disposer. I think this will cause the horizontal ...
Jim Stewart's user avatar
  • 20.8k
12 votes
Accepted

How do I connect my sink to the drain in the wall?

Go to your local big-box store (or even better, a locally owned plumbing supply place) and get a standard P-trap kit. It will include all the pieces you need as well as instructions on how to install ...
FreeMan's user avatar
  • 40.8k
12 votes
Accepted

What are these rubber gaps near the top of my sink drain?

Bathroom sinks typically have an overflow hole which routes the water into the drain instead of overflowing your sink in the event that your stopper is engaged and the water is left running. Per your ...
MonkeyZeus's user avatar
  • 16.1k
12 votes

Why are my sink drain pivot rods corroding and breaking?

This failure is mysterious. I would suspect chemical damage, such as from drain cleaner. If you would like to replace with one that has a plastic rod rather than metal rod within the drain, the Danco ...
KMJ's user avatar
  • 7,583
11 votes

Is my plan for an air admittance valve ok?

The valve needs to be downstream of the trap, basically in the position an actual vent would be. source Also, be sure they're legal where you are. My local inspector forced me to run a new vent line ...
isherwood's user avatar
  • 126k
11 votes

Good way to remove something from a bathroom sink overflow drain?

You could try a flexible claw pickup. Press the end, the claws open, let go and they close:
Steve Wellens's user avatar
11 votes

How do I temporarily fix the hole in a porcelain sink?

I hate "not answering the real question" but I also hate people wasting their time. Instead of spending 20-30 dollars on 2 part epoxy and maybe making this waterproof AND chancing a small ...
DMoore's user avatar
  • 47.7k
10 votes

How should this sink drain be connected?

Your sink doesn't drain properly because the water has to go up hill to drain. The right way to fix this is to remove this elbow: And then re-plumb it like this (but flipped horizontally): You will ...
longneck's user avatar
  • 21.1k
10 votes

How do I plumb this kitchen sink to stop the leak and improve drainage

try setting it up like this. you will have to trim the dishwasher feed tail pipe a bit (be sure to bring it up high like @DMoores pictures to keep the sink from draining into the dishwasher.
mark f's user avatar
  • 2,295
9 votes

Sink tailpiece doesn't line up with trap

The photos posted above were really helpful, since many people may not know what connectors and adapters are available -- as I didn't before replacing two vanities. Therefore, I thought I'd post ...
HomeHandyman's user avatar
9 votes

How Do I Take This Old P Trap Off Cast Iron T?

I'm coming in a little late to help the OP, but wanted to add some clarification in case anyone else runs into this situation. I used the procedure outlined below dozens of times when I was a repair ...
Chuck 's user avatar
  • 91

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