You are probably in the middle of a renovation, and you want to know the best way to install a kitchen sink in your new kitchen countertop. You may have a definite kitchen sink in mind and how you would like that to look.
This article will help you with all the necessary information you will need for that. Installing a kitchen sink and tap will give your kitchen that new feel. Fixing it the right way will aid in avoiding unnecessary plumbing complications, especially if you are doing this by yourself.
Table of Contents
Installing A Kitchen Sink 101
Kitchen sinks are essential in the kitchen, even if you are not a cooking enthusiast. It is still heavily relied on the fixture. Before tackling the installation process and the types you could choose from, it is only wise to know some few kitchen types.
There are four different types of mounting installations for a kitchen sink into a countertop: under-mount, dual mount, drop-in, and farmhouse.
- Drop-in - It is also referred to as self-rimming. The sink has a finished edge or rim and is installed on top of the countertop. If you are planning to replace your sink soon, then this type of mounting is preferred. The sink can be removed and installed without damaging the countertop while at it.
- Dual mount - This one has a flat rim that is the thickness of the material. They can either be installed above as a drop-in or as an under-mount making it quite versatile. This type of mounting is also favourable if you would want to remount the sink in the future. It also gives you flexibility when choosing your countertop.
- Undermount - Also called a recessed sink is installed under the countertop and creates this seamless appearance. They can be mounted in a way it shows some of the sink rim or overhang where the rim isnt seen at all. If you are going for a quartz or natural stone countertop, then this is better for that. This one though you will have to get a professional installer to do it.
- Farmhouse - Referred to as an apron front is mounted below the countertop exposing the sink front which extends slightly farther than the cabinet below. Recommended for any solid surface countertop and offers a unique look. This installation type also requires a professional.
The standard size of a kitchen sink
When you are planning to buy a new sink, narrowing your search on size before even cost is the wisest thing to do. This is because understanding sizes make it easy to design your kitchen, plan cabinets and find the right sink that suits your kitchen perfectly.
The standard measurement of a sink is 22 by 30 inches. The front to back measurements remains constant because most countertops have the same dimensions. The width is the one that may vary unless you want a deeper countertop which may accommodate a larger sink than this standard one.
Most kitchen sinks have a depth of 8 to 10 inches but the downside of the 10 inches one is that any short people in the house will have a problem accessing the sink well.
Shallow sinks help in easy reaching. Make sure you also consider peoples height when choosing your sinks depth. The best criteria to select the right fit kitchen sink is:
- Find one that comfortably fits the kitchens base cabinets.
- Measure your cabinets dimensions while you search for the sink
- Consider the people that will use it so that everyones comfort is considered.
How to install a double kitchen sink plumbing
Many people desire a double kitchen sink but do not know the work that comes with it when installing. To ensure that you have no leaks, you need to fit a double kitchen sink plumbing kit.
You can find them quite quickly, and they contain several connector pieces depending on what you want, a disposal unit and a sink or a sink, and a dishwasher device. If DIYs are your cup of tea, then you can get extra nuts, washers and the kit ad get working.
- Buy the right kit for the drain. Get one that closely resembles the set up of your drains. For one that is specific to your drainage. Once you get it lay the pieces out taking note of what joins where.
- Turn off the water supply from the primary source and place a bucket under the drainage to catch any water that may flow out. Remove the supply lines with a wrench and put the new ones in their place.
- Dry-fit your pieces then cut to fit the area beneath the sinks using a saw. Get a P trap PVC pipes and a wall tube. Fit them below then slide the nuts of the pipe in the piping and add the washer onto the top of the vertical pipe. Tighten them and then join the pipes together.
- Lay the P trap on top of the pipes and push up the sink. Thread the wall tube into the right position and tighten the bolts that hold the pipes on to the sink and beginning of the water outlet. Turn on the water now.
How to install a Studor Vent for a kitchen sink
It is also known as an air admittance valve and is a necessary part of the drain system in the kitchen sink. It equalizes pressure in the pipes and prevents the vacuum from forming as fixture drains.
Without it, the negative pressure can suck the water out of the drain tap and allow sewer gases to enter the home. It cleans the drain pipes and rids it off the smell keeping the flow of air sufficient. Installing it is quite easy, even if you are replacing it or installing a new one.
- Loosen the slip nuts holding the drain tap then disconnect and remove the trap bend and trap arm from the sink tailpiece and branch drain. As usual, get a bucket to trap any leaking water.
- Plan the arrangement of pieces you want to connect, including the air admittance valve to fit under the sink. You will have to cut sections of the PVC pipe and shorten the trap arm. The purpose of all this is to add a sanitary tee so that the vertical pipe extension can be inserted to attach the studor vent.
- Dry-fit all components together including the drain trap bend placed on the sink tailpiece and the trap arm inserted into the new sanitary tee. Use a marker to help you get the alignment right as you put together the parts.
- Install the studor vent assembly. Includes a sanitary tee, a vertical extension pipe, and the connectors of the branch drain. Start by priming the ends of the pipe extensions and the inside surfaces of fitting hubs then apply solvent glue joining the pipes to their fittings.
- Attach the studor vent to the top of the vertical extension pipe extending from the sanitary tee. Wrap pipe-seal tape around the male threads of the studor vent before screwing into the socket on the pipe adapter.
- Rather than the trap arm fitting into the opening of the branch drain, it will fit now into the sanitary tee where the AAV is connected. Join the trap arm to the trap bend leaving the slip nut loose. Slide the trap arm into the sanitary tee fitting. Tighten all nuts using channel-lock pliers. Fill up the sink with water and tighten any leaking joints.
Does A Kitchen Sink Have To Be Under A Window?
Traditionally many people have believed that kitchen sinks should be under a window. This primarily because the window is on an outside wall. Also, in terms of plumbing, using the shortest waste pipe is the most effective and cheap solution.
However, do you know that the sink can be placed anywhere in the kitchen room? If you are lucky enough to be designing a kitchen from bottom-up, then you have that laxity to place it wherever you want. People put the sink under the window because of :
- Cost - It is a bit pricey to move it, especially if you are working on a budget.
- Plumbing - As we said, the shortest waste pipe is what is favoured and cheaper while at it.
- Room size - Under the window may just be the best option because of a lack of space.
- View - It is a lot nicer when doing dishes and you get to look outside in the sun rather than doing your dishes in the dishwasher and staring at a blank wall.
Caulking A Stainless Steel Sink
Caulking helps prevent leakages in various structures and piping, and in this case, stainless steel kitchen sinks. Many pair stainless steel sinks with granite countertops and caulking are important for them so that water doesnt get under the sink.
This is pretty easier than installing a double kitchen sink plumbing so get to it!
Requirements
- Caulking gun
- A rag
- Rubbing alcohol
- Clean your countertop, and this is why you need the rubbing alcohol to disinfect and clean and caulk residue off. If you had caulk before, scrape off the old caulk for a polished look.
- Place the sink in its position to ascertain that it fits perfectly. Afterwards, with the caulk outline where your sink will sit, try to lift the sink high enough to let the caulking gun fit. Place about a ¾ inch of caulk silicone on the edges where the sink meets the countertop.
- Secure the sink with nuts and screws then put the sink down adding a little pressure on top of the stainless steel where you placed the caulk underneath.
- Lift the sink for the caulking gun to trace any part of the sink that fully needs to be sealed. You could easily do this with your fingers, of course, wearing a glove. Clean off excess caulk to ensure a smooth look once it is dried off.
- Let it sit and dry for at least 72 hours to avoid gaps. Run a check after the time to ensure it is thoroughly dried and it is covered everywhere because even the smallest of holes can destroy the whole point of the caulk.
Recaulking a kitchen sink
After a long while, your caulk may weather and get damaged due to exposure of moisture and smoke on the sink.
- As always, turn the water supply off from the mains. Clean the caulked surface, which by now has a deposit of grime and soot layers. Use a strong soap solution with lukewarm water to do the job. You will probably also need a utility knife to scrape it out. Remove the caulked bits to reveal a clean surface for recaulking. Remove any mould that is under the sink. Ideally, just disinfect the entire sink with rubbing alcohol before recaulking.
- Prepare the surface for recaulking by using a vacuum cleaner to suck any bits of the old caulk that may be in the laminate edgings. Dry up the laminate layering so that the new caulk isnt seeped into. You could lift it too then use a blow-dryer for that. Secure the laminate with a layer of standard adhesive.
- As soon as the sink surface is dry, use a caulking gun and slowly squeeze the trigger to apply the caulk. After laying the first layer of caulk, press upon the recaulked line with a wedge tool pressing it deeper into the hard to access areas. Two to three layers will do the job.
- Scrap off any excess caulk and let it dry for 72 hours tops.
How To Plumb A Kitchen Sink With Disposal And Dishwasher
Honestly, this may need you to get a professional to do this, but if you have a plumbing background, you could do this.
- Get your dishwasher and connect it to the plug. The standard drain line is already pre-drilled inside the cabinet and should ideally pump the waste to your garbage disposal.
- There is also a pre-installed water feed for the dishwasher made mostly from stainless steel for the dishwasher only.
- Get your disposal kit and connect it to the drain through the S-trap and make sure you wipe that with PVC solvent to clean any debris on the fittings. Make sure the windows are open so that the solvent fumes do not make you feel dizzy.
Repairing A Faulty And Smelly Kitchen Sink
Kitchens are supposed to be a haven for sweet and delicious smells because it is a place to eat and prepare meals you enjoy, but once in awhile, you will notice an unpleasant smell coming from your sink disposal or garbage disposal. These odours stink! What causes this anyway?
- Food that is rotten and stuck in the drain
- A sewer gas leak coming through the drain or vent
The good thing is, it is fixable.
What to use do to clean smelly drains
Using Baking soda to clean a smelly drain
- Get 1 cup of baking soda and 2 cups of vinegar
- Pour the baking soda down the drain first and then the vinegar where you will witness some bubbling.
- Let it sit for some time then rn hot water to clear it out.
Lemon peels, ice cubes, and coarse salt
- Get two to three ice cubes down the drain.
- Take a handful of salt and throw it in the drain too.
- Turn on the garbage disposal where the ice will knock the food off the grinder as the salt scrubs the sides.
- Throw the lemon peels down the drain to leave a fresh lemon smell on your clean drain.
What causes gurgling in the kitchen sink
Gurgling is another indicator that you are encountering problems in the kitchen drain pipes. It is an irritating noise produced by air bubbles as a result of a blockage. The bubbles move up out through the sink opening.
The blockage is caused by food residue that gets stuck in the drain pipes, and that is why it is essential to clean your dishes as soon as you are done not to pile too many dirty dishes and make sure you pour hot water once in a while to clear the grease grime.
When washing many plates with the remains of food, all those bones, eggshells, hot oil, and grease clog the pipe. To avoid the gurgling, make sure you also dilute any soap you use for cleaning or use a kitchen soap dispenser which cannot clog the drains and still does the work.
How to remove kitchen sink drain flange
The sink drain flange is a flat metal disc that fits into the drain hole at the bottom of the sink.
- For easy removal, spray a lubricant onto the threads between the securing nut and the flange. Take slip-joint pliers sticking the handles inside the drain.
- Turn the securing nut counterclockwise with the pipe wrench then place a block of wood against the drain flange then hit the other side of the block with a hammer to loosen the flange and move it forward. Remove it from above.
