Noticed a leak at the top of this U bend pipe earlier today. I have zero plumbing experience myself but is this something that can be DIYd or is it a job for a professional?
Hello @JakeP88
Please note that plumbing work needs to be completed by a licensed professional for safety and compliance.
Thank you for sharing your question about your leak under the sink. It is difficult to diagnose what could be causing the leak and I don't wish to hazard a guess and provide you with incorrect advice. I recommend engaging the services of a plumber to assess the entire drain so that they can pinpoint the probable cause.
Generally speaking, any changes that involve moving or reconfiguring pipework would be considered regulated plumbing work and would need to be carried out by a licensed plumber.
Eric
Hi @JakeP88
Some may suggest that this is plumbing work but as cleaning out a u bend is something most homeowners do, I would say it's ok to check it out yourself. Simply undo both the upper and lower fittings (expect some water to come out when undoing the lower one), clean the bend out and check any "O" rings are still serviceable then reseat everything and hand tighten. dry it all off and then fill the sink then pull the plug and watch for leaks. If you see any water before pulling the plug, you will need a plumber as it is probably leaking around the sink drain. If it still leaks, you may need new O rings or you may just get away with a smear of silicone grease (Not Silicone Sealer) on the O rings
@R4addZ thanks. I did what you suggested and when I took the pipe out it was full of water. Not sure if that’s totally normal. From what I can tell the O rings seem in good condition. I can’t see any damage to the rings or pipe. Will try the silicone grease…
The reason it is full of water is that, that is what it's there to do. If that water wasn't trapped in there your sewer pipes would be open to the room with the expected smells coming out of them. It's the same reason your toilet is designed to always have water in it. With the one on your sink, they can often get blocked by things like hair and that is why the connectors that screw off are there to facilitate cleaning. Hope this makes things clearer (no pun intended).
How did you go with the silicone grease? Did my explanation make sense? Hopefully the leak is gone!
@R4addZ yep seems to of worked! I’ve done a couple of laundry loads and no leaks so I think we’re onto a winner! Thanks heaps
If the leak was around the upper fitting then the other comments should have solved your issue and there are Replacement seals available, but if the pipe is leaking from the drainage inlet then you'll still have a problem. Putting a dishwasher outlet cap on that little spout will do the trick while it doesn’t have the drain hose of an appliance hooked up.
