Creating A More Comfortable Home

Plumbing leaks around the kitchen sink are fairly common since the sink gets so much use. A leak can occur in a few different places and some aren't easy to detect. A leaky sink does more than just waste water, it can cause serious problems with water damage if it goes on long enough. Here are some reasons your sink may be leaking and the repairs a plumber might need to make.

Common Ways A Kitchen Sink Can Leak

One of the most common places for sink leaks is at the end of the faucet. It might start as an annoying slow drip that gradually picks up speed. A drip wastes a lot of water over the course of a day, so you should have it repaired as soon as you can. Plus, a drip is usually a sign of a bad seal that will continue to get worse, so the drip will eventually turn into a stream if you don't have it fixed promptly.

Another place the sink can leak is around the base of the faucet. This is a dangerous place to have a leak since it's more difficult to notice. Depending on the type of sink and countertops you have, this type of leak could cause water damage to the cabinet below the sink.

The most challenging place for a kitchen sink to leak is along the pipe inside the cabinet. A leak here could go undetected for a long time and cause water damage to the cabinet and floor. If you keep a lot of cleaning products crowded in the cabinet, you may not see the leak when you reach in to get supplies. The first indication could be a mildew odor or the presence of roaches that are drawn to the damp space under the sink.

How A Leaky Kitchen Sink Is Repaired

The first thing a plumber does is isolate the location of the leak to determine the cause and recommend repairs. Sometimes, fixing a leak is simple. It might entail fixing the seal on a faucet by replacing a worn down o-ring. A worn o-ring can cause leaks at the end of the faucet as well as the base. These can be examined and replaced by taking the faucet apart and then reassembling it with the new ring inserted.

Leaks underneath the sink can be more difficult to repair. These might be from a leak around a connection or a tiny hole in a pipe. If the leak is from a hole, it might be difficult to pinpoint, but a plumber can locate it and make the necessary repairs. Tightening might be all that's necessary or part of the pipe might have to be replaced. The plumber will also rule out leaks caused from the drain side of the sink rather than the water supply. Leaks around the drain cause water to drip into the cabinet every time water goes down the drain, and these can cause extensive damage over time too.

Contact residential plumbing repair services for more information.