If you’re like most people, you don’t give much thought to the functionality of your sink until there’s a problem. But whether it’s a clogged drain, a dripping faucet, or something else, sink problems can be a real pain.
Luckily, most sink issues are relatively easy to fix. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the most common sink problems and how to fix them. This way, the next time you have a problem with your sink, you will be prepared to fix it. Just follow these simple tips and you may have your sink running smoothly again in no time.
Most Common Problems
There are a variety of different problems that can arise when it comes to your sink. Whether this is your kitchen sink, your bathroom sink, or somewhere else – these issues can happen to any of them.
Clogged Drain
The most common sink problem is a clogged drain. This is usually caused by a build-up of hair, soap scum, or food particles. This may cause problems like a slow-draining sink. Luckily, this is something that can be fixed pretty easily, depending on the severity of the clog.
Leaking Sink
If your sink is leaking, the first step is to identify where the leak is coming from. Is it coming from the faucet itself, or from one of the pipes underneath? Once you know where the leak is coming from, you can try to fix it yourself or call a plumber for help. A leaking sink may be the result of a cracked pipe, worn-out connections, among other things.
Sputtering Sink
A sputtering sink likely means that there is air in your pipes. This may be the result of a clogged aerator, damaged valve cartridge, or a faulty water heater. A sputtering sink will not resolve on its own, so you will need to address the problem to make it stop. Additionally, air in your sink pipes can damage them – including causing corrosion and rust.
No Hot Water
A lack of hot water from your sink faucet can be caused by multiple different issues. These include line blockages, issues with your water heater, or other heating elements failing. Additionally, there may be a leak or an issue with your faucet cartridge.
The speed in which your sink water heats up depends on multiple factors, including the temperature outside, how big your pipes are, and the distance between the faucet and the water heater.
Brown Sink Water
Brown sink water, while alarming, is not actually harmful. The brown coloring is typically from the presence of sediments in the water. Many times, it is a result of a change in the water table levels. This may happen after a large amount of rain or a drought.
Additionally, your filtration equipment may have broken, causing those sediments to get into your water supply. If neither of these is the cause, your sink water may turn brown thanks to corroding water lines.
pH Imbalance
The pH of your tap water should generally be a neutral number – somewhere between 6.5 and 8.5. When the pH of the water goes outside this range, it is referred to either as “hard” or “soft” water; hard water being more basic, and soft being more acidic. The pH will change from absorbing minerals in the ground (or wherever your water supply originates).
An imbalance in your water should be addressed as soon as possible. When too acidic, your water pipes may begin to corrode. When too basic, your water may develop a buildup of calcium in the pipes – eventually blocking your waterflow.
How to Fix Your Sink
Luckily, with many of the issues your sink may have, there is an easy solution for it. The following are some simple solutions to various sink issues.
Clogged Drain
When you unclog a sink drain, you will either want a plunger or a drain snake. You will want to fill up the sink with water, and then use the plunger to unclog it like you would do with a toilet. If the plunger doesn’t do the trick, then you will likely need to use a drain snake to reach the clog.
Leaking Sink
When your sink is leaking, you first will want to double check that all of the connections are tightened. This includes the compression nuts in the p-trap. Sometimes, those compression nuts are hard to turn, they may be corroded. You can also use plumber’s putty and repack any of the leaks. To do this, you may need to take apart some of the parts of the sink – so you may want to call a plumber instead.
Sputtering Sink
There are a few ways to get air out of your pipes. One way is to turn on all your faucets halfway and allow the water to run, which lets the air escape the pipes. If your faucets continue to sputter after trying this method, it may be best to contact a plumbing professional.
No Hot Water
The fix for a sink with no hot water depends on the problem at hand. For example, if your lack of hot water is caused by a leakage, you will need to replace the broken pipes. If it’s an issue with the cartridge, you likely just need to remove the cartridge and clean it. A failing heating element may need to be replaced. Once you figure out the issue at hand, you should be able to determine the correct response.
Brown Sink Water
Luckily, brown sink water can sometimes repair itself. If the issue stems from a change in the water table levels, the brown water will likely disappear after the water table goes back to its normal level. If the issue stems from corroding water lines, you will want to address this as soon as possible. This will prevent bigger issues, such as pipe leaks.
pH Imbalance
There are a few ways to address an unbalanced pH in your tap water. If your water is too hard, you can install a water softener. This will remove the calcium and magnesium from the water. Additionally, you can try a water injection. You will want to place the injection close to the entrypoint of the water supply. Third, you may want to install a new filtration system entirely. Depending on if your water is more acidic or basic, your filtration system will use calcium carbonate or magnesium oxide to neutralize the water.
When to Call a Professional
Have you tried to fix your sink, but can’t seem to get to the bottom of the issue? Or, are you possibly unsure of where to even start? If either of these options sound like you, it may be time to call a professional to come and fix your sink.
Of course, there are some sink problems that are best left to the professionals. If you’re having trouble with your garbage disposal, for example, it’s probably time to call a plumber. The same goes for any major leaks or blockages.
If you’re not sure whether or not you can fix a sink problem yourself, it’s always better to err on the side of caution and call a plumber. They’ll be able to diagnose the problem and let you know whether or not it’s something you can fix yourself.
Contact White’s Plumbing Today
Most sink problems are relatively easy to fix. In this blog post, we’ve looked at the most common sink problems and how to fix them. If you’re having trouble with your sink, the first step is to try to identify the problem. Is it a clogged drain, a leaking faucet, or something else? Once you know what the problem is, you can usually fix it yourself or call a plumber for help.
So the next time you have a sink problem, don’t despair. If you live near the Youngsville, North Carolina area, contact White’s Plumbing for help. One of our technicians will be able to help you get your sink back to working condition in no time. Fill out the form on this page or give us a call at your convenience so we can help you figure out exactly what is wrong.
