Articles & Books From Sinks & Garbage Disposals

Article / Updated 09-18-2023
After you have attached your faucet and water supply and set your sink, it’s time to connect the sink drain. Drain kits come in different materials and configurations, but installing them is a snap. Choose the kit with the configuration for your sink type, and you’re halfway home!You have a couple of choices for drain kits: chromed metal kits and PVC drain kits.
Article / Updated 09-18-2023
Much of the work of sink installation takes place before you set the sink into the countertop. Taking your time with the preliminary work ensures a smooth installation. In most cases, the old plumbing configuration will work with your new sink. But if you’re making a major change in the design of the new sink, be sure that the old plumbing fits the new sink’s requirements.
Article / Updated 09-18-2023
A food disposer takes the place of a sink basket and drain piece on one of the kitchen sink bowls. To install this appliance, consult the installation instructions that come with the unit, because the steps vary among brands. Here are the basic steps for installing any food disposer: Remove the sink basket (if one was installed).
Article / Updated 10-04-2021
Even if you are careful about what you put down your garbage disposal, clogs happen. There are some simple things you can do to keep clogs to a minimum and steps you can take when that inevitable clog occurs. The following actions are what generally cause clogs in your disposal: Dropping a foreign object — usually a spoon or fork — into the disposal Feeding garbage in too rapidly Failing to run enough water (to completely flush out the drainpipes) while garbage is being processed Your garbage disposal can be finicky, so don’t expect it to devour and digest everything.
Article / Updated 09-29-2021
If neither cleaning the trap nor plunging clears a plumbing clog, your final weapon is a drain auger (also known as a snake). This tool, a coiled steel wire usually about 1/4-inch thick with a handle on one end, works the opposite way that a plunger does: You push the snake into the clog and crank it to drive the snake farther into the obstruction.
Video / Updated 03-28-2016
Repairing a leaky faucet usually requires replacing a washer. Conserving water and avoiding a professional plumber in one DIY home-improvement project? This video shows you how to fix a leaky faucet by replacing the washer.
Step by Step / Updated 03-27-2016
Knowing how to fix a leaky stem faucet saves money, and the process is easy. A leaky stem faucet usually means that the packing is worn out or needs tightening. The packing (which looks like string) keeps water from leaking out around the stem. These faucets have no aerators and are found mostly in laundry rooms and outdoor sinks.
Step by Step / Updated 03-27-2016
Cleaning clogged faucet aerators and sink sprayers help faucets function like new. Mineral deposits and sediment slow the water flow, so clean your faucet aerators or sink sprayers to get a full flow. The aerator screws onto the end of the faucet spout and typically has two screens inside that the water flows through.
Step by Step / Updated 03-27-2016
Replace the sink trap to deal with buildup and clogged pipes that a plumber’s snake or plunger can’t fix. Replacing a sink trap is pretty quick work. You'll need groove-joint pliers, a bucket, and a replacement sink trap. (Take the old trap with you to the store to get an exact match.) If there is any chance that chemical drain cleaner has been used to clear this trap in the past, you must take extra precaution when working on the trap.
Step by Step / Updated 03-27-2016
Removing a sink trap releases whatever is caught inside. If you know how to remove the sink trap you’ll be able to retrieve valuables that disappear down the drain. It’s happened to almost everyone:. The best rescue tactic is to remove the trap. Don’t run any water through the drain — water may flush it farther away.