A home is full of DIY projects. Painting, roofing, carpentry, installing new appliances, etc. The list goes on. Among some of these projects, there’s one that frequently gets asked if it can be done by an expert: Can professional plumbers install sinks?
The answer is yes, of course, they can. In fact, they are the best-qualified person for the job. Installing a sink is not just as simple as removing the old one and placing in a new one. There are codes and instructions to follow that are easy to miss if you lack the experience. Here’s a breakdown of the process.
Getting Your Sink Ready
Preparing the placement of the sink is not the same as removing it. First, you need to measure the width, length, and height of your old sink. This will give you an idea of the size you will need to find, especially if you are looking for a different model or design.
Second, if you want a different size or style, you will need to make sure that the countertop opening will fit and that the plumbing will still match up.
Since the sink will be replaced, you might also be considering changing the style of faucet, or other attachments. This is the perfect time to do it since you’ll have easier access to install the components.
Get Rid of Your Old Fixture
The next part of the process is the actual removal. It’s not as simple as turning the water supply off and detaching the plumbing. First, you need to determine if your sink is a drop-in sink or an undermount sink. The removal steps are different for both.
To make things simple, we’ll cover what it takes to remove a drop-in sink:
Turn off the water supply underneath the sink or the main line.- Relieve the pressure in the lines by turning the faucet on.
- Disconnect the water supply lines, the garbage disposal, dishwasher drain line, and the disposer.
- Loosen the metal clips underneath located at the sink's edges.
- Remove the caulking around the sinks upper edges and push from underneath.
- Clean away any debris or leftover caulking and plumbers putty.
Turn off the water supply underneath the sink or the main line.Installing Your New Sink
The above steps apply to install a sink but only in reverse order. There are also some additional steps you may need to take. For instance, if your drain or plumbing lines don’t match up, you’ll need to adjust them by adding more or fewer pipes in your piping system.
The additional components such as a faucet will need to be added before placing the sink into the countertop. Sealant and plumbers putty is also required around the edges of the sink and drain. After that, you can finish connecting the rest of the lines, the disposal system, and the dishwasher drain.
Compared to painting a room, this project seems rather intimidating. This is why plumbers offer their services when it comes to installing new appliances such as sinks and toilets. Even so, it’s still a good idea about educating yourself when it comes to projects such as this. Hopefully, this gives you a better understanding of the process and why it’s more beneficial to hire an expert instead of doing it yourself.