4 Possible Reasons There's A Water Leak Underneath Your Kitchen Sink
A leak under your kitchen sink can be a bigger problem than it may seem. If you keep the cabinet under the sink filled with cleaning products, you may not see water damage that's occurring to the cabinet. The damp wood can attract roaches to your kitchen and the cabinet might get moldy and develop an odor. A leak under your kitchen sink can be in a supply pipe or a drain. Here are some reasons for leaks under the sink and how a plumber can make repairs.
The Joints In The Drain Are Loose
The areas where pipes join together are susceptible to leaking. The drain under your sink has a curved trap with a joint on each end that attaches to straight drain pipes. If these joints are knocked loose because they get hit with bottles of cleaner or because of high water pressure, water will drip out every time water flows down the drain. Fixing this problem is fairly easy if all that's needed is to tighten the joints. However, the plumber might also replace parts to ensure the drain has a snug fit.
A Seal Is Old And Cracked
Everywhere the pipes under your sink connect to something, there's a seal in place to prevent leaking. The seals are made of rubber and they crack and degrade when they get old. When a seal loses its cushioning and sealing ability, water will drip into the cabinet. There are seals on the water pipes as well as the drain pipes, and fixing this problem involves taking the connection apart and putting in a new seal. If one seal is bad due to age, then others might be too, so the plumber may check or change other seals at the same time.
The Pipes Are Old And Corroded
A more serious problem involves the pipes. When plumbing pipes get old, they can rust and develop leaky areas. This problem might not be an easy fix if the entire length of pipe has corrosion issues, because the whole pipe might need to be replaced. If the corrosion is in an isolated area, the plumber can probably cut it out and put in a section of new pipe to fix the leak. However, if all the pipes in your house are the same age, you should be alert for the development of other leaks, including hidden ones, since other pipes might be corroded too.
The Water Pressure Is Too High
The water pressure from the city's supply line can affect your home. If you have an old plumbing system, the main line might not have a pressure-reducing valve on it. In that case, you may want a plumber from a reputable residential plumbing services company to install one so you can reduce the water pressure in the pipes. If your line has a valve installed already, a plumber can test the pressure in your pipes and adjust the valve to bring the pressure to a safe level. Water pressure that's too high can cause old pipes to crack and joints to work loose.
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