It’s rare for the drain assembly on a kitchen sink to fail and need repair, but if a sink is being replaced during a kitchen renovation or update project, part of the process often does involve installing a new drain assembly for the new sink.

The steps for installing the sink drain will depend on how different the new sink is from the old one, as well as what other components are being installed. For example, the new sink may have a different depth than the old one, so it may be necessary to perform some alterations to the branch drain pipe fitting entering the wall. Installation may be slightly more complicated if you are also installing a garbage disposal as part of the new sink installation.

Before You Begin

Kitchen drain traps are available in various bundled kits containing different configurations of parts to match specific situations—some for single-basin sinks, some for double-basin sinks, and some for sinks that will include a garbage disposal. Both chromed copper and PVC plastic drain trap kits are available; most people now use plastic parts for kitchen sink drains, which are generally hidden from view.

Kitchen drains are usually 1 1/2-inch in diameter, rather than the 1 1/4-inch pipes often found in bathroom sinks, so make sure you buy the right size. Occasionally, you may find a 2-inch kitchen drain outlet. If so, there are adapter fittings that can transition a 1 1/2-inch drain kit to the 2-inch outlet pipe.

Although many drain trap kits include flexible, corrugated tubing that makes installation much easier, professional plumbers generally do not use these, as the rough corrugations are quite susceptible to catching grease and food particles and causing clogs. It’s much better to use smooth pipes, cutting them precisely to size, to ensure a good flow of drain water.

Tip

If you’re planning to replace a standard sink with a deep basin sink, you may find it necessary to lower the drain outlet in the wall to match the lower height of the new sink drain. Extra-deep farmhouse-style apron sinks often require this kind of alteration. Moving a drain outlet is a fairly complicated job that will probably require a professional plumber unless you are a very experienced DIYer.

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What You’ll Need

Equipment / Tools

• Tape measure
• Marker
• PVC tubing cutter or hacksaw
• Channel-type pliers

Materials

• Kitchen drain trap kit
• Sink drain and strainer assembly (for each basin)

Instructions

1. Check the Drain Outlet HeightBefore removing the old sink and buying a new kitchen sink, it is a good idea to check the height of the trap arm on the old sink. The trap arm is the horizontal piece between the U-shaped trap bend (the P-trap) and the branch drainpipe in the wall. It connects to a sanitary tee fitting in the branch drain and should slope down toward the tee at about 1/4-inch per foot for proper drainage.Measure up from the floor or base of the cabinet to the center of the trap arm. If the height is more than 16 inches, you may find that a new sink will not allow for the necessary downward slope for the trap arm.
2. Lower the Drain Outlet, If NecessaryIf you find that the existing drain outlet is not low enough to accommodate the depth of the new sink, you (or a professional) will need to open the wall and lower the position of the sanitary tee connecting to the drain pipe in the wall. This can be a somewhat complicated job that requires cutting away the back of the cabinet and the wall surface.Our example is a case in point—the new sink left insufficient room for connecting a standard drain assembly to the drain outlet in the wall (left photo). So, the sanitary tee fitting serving as the drain outlet has been lowered (right photo). Keep in mind that the drain height must leave enough room for removing the trap and cleaning it out.If you need to lower the sanitary tee in the branch drain, it is a good idea to wait until the other parts of the drain are test-fitted before gluing and securing the fittings permanently. Leaving the fittings loose will allow you some room for adjustment.Before continuing to the next steps, remove the old sink and install the new sink in the countertop. Our installation will include a double-basin sink with a garbage disposal fitted to the right basin.
3. Install the Garbage Disposal and StrainerFirst, install the garbage disposal onto the desired side of the sink, since this takes up the most space. Next, install a basket strainer onto the remaining sink basin. This is also a good time to install any other under-sink components, such as a water filter or a hot water dispenser. You will need to work around these fittings as you connect the drain pipes.
4. Install the Drain Tailpiece and Continuous Waste PipeThe drain tailpiece is a short vertical length of straight pipe that joins the sink strainer to a tee fitting. The side outlet on the tee fitting will accept the continuous waste pipe coming from the garbage disposal (or the other sink basin), while the bottom outlet will continue on to the drain trap.Temporarily install the tailpiece onto the sink strainer, using a slip nut (and slip washer, as applicable). Temporarily connect the curved end of the continuous waste pipe to the garbage disposal’s drain outlet, using a slip nut and washer. Let the straight end of the pipe extend past the vertical tailpiece on the sink basin. The pipe should slope downward slightly toward the tailpiece.Hold the tee fitting up to the tailpiece and waste pipe, and mark cutting lines on both pipes, where they will fit into the tee fitting. Now, cut the tailpiece and continuous waste pipe to length with a PVC tubing cutter or a hacksaw.Reinstall the tailpiece and continuous waste pipe, along with the tee, leaving the connections hand-tight. Adjust the pieces as necessary, making sure the continuous waste arm has a slight downward pitch toward the tee fitting.Tighten the slip nuts slightly more with channel-type pliers. These do not need to be overly tight; the plastic threads can be damaged if you use too much force.
   • Note: If your sink has a single basin, it will not require a tee fitting on the end of the tailpiece—the tailpiece will lead directly down to the drain trap. If you have a double-basin sink but neither basin will have a garbage disposal, the tee fitting is installed on one basin’s tailpiece, with the side outlet of the tee accepting a continuous waste pipe from the second basin.
   
5. Connect the Drain TrapThe drain trap assembly includes a U-shaped trap bend and a J-shaped trap arm. The trap bend fits onto the bottom of the tailpiece tee fitting, while the trap arm extends into the drain outlet in the wall.Assemble the trap bend and trap arm together loosely with a slip nut and washer. Slide a slip nut and washer onto the straight end of the trap arm. Push the trap bend up into the tee fitting on the tailpiece while sliding the trap arm into the drain outlet at the wall.Adjust the trap pieces as needed to create the most direct path from the sink to the drain outlet. Make sure the trap arm has a slight downward angle toward the drain outlet.Mark and cut the trap arm as needed if it is too long to fit the space, then reinstall the P-trap assembly. Tighten all slip nuts with channel-type pliers. Again, don’t overtighten.Confirm that the continuous waste pipe and the trap arm slope slightly downward in the direction of the water flow, then check all of the drain connections to make sure they are tight.TipMake sure to face the trap the correct way, with the sharp bend below the tailpiece. It may be tempting to turn it the wrong way in order to fit it into a small space, but it doesn’t work properly this way and may leak.
6. Check for LeaksRun water in both sink basins and check for leaks at each pipe joint. Tighten up any connections that leak. Conduct a final test by filling up each sink basin and letting them drain quickly while you check for leaks below.It’s not uncommon for slip-nut joints to leak slightly. Fixing this usually requires just some minor adjustment. If initial tightening doesn’t stop the leak, unscrew the nut, reposition the washer, and re-tighten the nut, making sure it’s not cross-threaded.