What Is a Sink Repair & Why Is It a Necessity?

Imagine getting up first thing in the morning to make your freshly batched brew of coffee only to find the water streaming from your tap is discolored, cloudy, and opaque. Not only is this off-putting but more likely than not you are dealing with a broken kitchenette sink. Our household sink is more than just a place to slough down our used and dirty wastewater. But a standard sink serves as a basin for collecting and culling water from your kitchen or bathroom area so you can effortlessly go about your daily lifestyle including your bathing, grooming, eating, and drinking routines. Most of us take our plumbing fixtures for granted and only bother to give them the quick fix they require as the need arises and usually at the last minute once the plumbing problem has morphed into a crisis. A sink just happens to be one of them. If anything, sink repairs must be top of mind for any responsible homeowner but unfortunately, some do toss this plumbing problem onto the back burner. Lately, if you’ve noticed slow or sluggish drains, odd rattling or gurgling noises, foul odors wafting from your drain holes, leaky faucets, or lower water pressure—these are all telltale signs that something is amuck with your sink. For example, if your faucet’s aerator is damaged you’ll need to replace the aerator as it indicates it’s clogged full of accumulated debris from sediments and minerals which explains the fluctuating water pressure levels. It’s best not to outright ignore sink repairs as a damaged sink can result in costly and permanent water and moisture damage including mold and mildew growth on your warped countertops and rotted wooden cabinets. Sooner or later you will compromise the structural integrity of your home as it becomes readily exposed to a water backup that overflows from your plumbing fixtures and floods out your home wreaking havoc on your drywall, flooring, furniture, and other personal belongings. But if you are keen on preserving your sinks through their proper upkeep including routine maintenance through an annual professional inspection you will rarely if ever require frequent sink repairs. If that is the case however your best bet is to rely on a local, licensed, and fully insured Ontario plumber from Hy-Pro Plumbing & Drain Cleaning for sink repairs and replacements.

What Causes Your Sink To Break Down And Fall Into Disrepair?

Ontario homeowners who tend to have leaky faucets, clogged sinks, and pipes more often than not are suggested to receive expert sink repairs. Although most sink repairs are due to a nasty clog or blockage which is the result of accumulated residue such as soap scum, hair strands, food leftovers, flushable wipes, intruding tree roots, and more–and largely based on your habits and behaviors for items you mustn’t toss down the drain. So make a friendly reminder and a note to yourself: don’t treat your kitchen or bathroom sink like a garbage can or as a compost pail. Other sink repairs are out of your control, for example, if your sink is made susceptible to extreme and fluctuating temperatures for a prolonged period it can result in temperature-related stress resulting in hairline cracks and fractures. Plus this is made worse based on the type of durable material you opted for from porcelain to stainless steel and ceramic. Moreover, for those of you who have become complacent about the drip-drop of a leaky faucet, you must recall that you are sacrificing your home’s energy efficiency as your water consumption increases alongside your soaring monthly utility bills. On average a leaky faucet can result in upwards of 3,000 gallons or nearly 11,000 liters of wasted water per year–the equivalent of nearly 180 showers. Yikes! Although a generic sink can outlast you for decades sometimes it may be more cost-effective to receive sink repairs over a replacement as it may only require the tweaking of loose nuts and bolts such as plugging up minor holes so a refurbishment will suffice.

How Does Hy-Pro Plumbing Approach A Sink Repair?

Upon inspection of your sink, a professional plumber can recommend the best course of action for your sink repairs. Here are some of the areas we specialize in:

Leaky Drainage Pipe

The approach we take for sink repairs for your drain lines depends on the severity and extent of the damage. Sometimes we discover that your sink repair is a quick fix due to a loose fastener that holds together the joints of the pipework. For example, we can tighten up and securely fasten any pipes using a special wrench at the joint where one pipe end meets another–also known as a slip nut. Another quick fix is replacing the rubber gaskets at the pipe joints which serve as water-tight seals. If we discover the rubber gaskets are loose or worn out we will replace them with new ones based on the appropriate size for your pipe. And lastly, we will use plumber’s tape or Teflon tape to meld one joint to another which will forge a water-tight seal.

Oftentimes, however, we have to use a bit more elbow grease for sink repairs especially if there are fractures or gaping holes that need to be addressed. If the damages rendered are somewhat minor we will utilize epoxy resin on your pipe’s joints by first scrubbing clean the area and using the putty-based substance to plug up any cracks, holes, and leakages. If the damage is fairly reserved we may also use rubber and silicone tape to wrap up the bruised area of the pipe. If however, the damage is more widespread we will use both rubber tape or a patch and a repair clamp to replace that portion of the pipe. Although this last sink repair method seems foolproof it is in reality only a temporary fix as the tape and hose clamps themselves can become ineffective and weaken as a leakage gets worse. Despite it all, the pipe itself may not be salvageable and require a total overhaul by replacing the sink’s p-trap with a brand new set. 

Clogged Drain

Normally we would have to get rid of the clog before we attempt sink repairs as it may be the deeper and underlying problem for why your sink has become faulty. Sink repairs are also usually due to a nasty clog which is the result of accumulated debris including dirt, soap scum, hair strands, skin flakes, and food leftovers that have forged into a solid blockage. As of late, if you’ve noticed standing water in your basin that seems increasingly slow to drain away it’s due to this residue which is readily clinging to the pipe’s walls obstructing the flow of water into your main lateral and eventually onwards to the municipal sewage system. Although there are homemade remedies galore you can try out such as pouring boiling water, vinegar, and baking soda most of them are only temporary solutions. For residential sink repairs, a professional plumber will conduct a thorough inspection of your drainage lines and if they need to remove a clog they have some useful tactics up their sleeves. Some tools allow the plumber to triangulate and exactly target the location of a clog so they can prioritize during your sink repair, whilst others loosen up the blockage so it can be readily removed. For example, they’ll utilize a wide range of tools at their disposal including but not limited to the following: video or drain camera inspection, drill or power augers, wet and dry vacuums, acoustic listening devices, thermal imaging cameras, and more.

Leaky Faucet

The most commonplace reason for a leaking faucet is a sputtering handle due to a loosened O ring or gasket, a spewing spout due to a worn-out washer, or lastly, corrosion in the valve seat. Here are some of the steps we take for sinks repairs for a leaky faucet:

• Prep Is Best: First, as a safety precaution, we will stop the drain with a plug or rag before we attempt any sink repairs as we don’t want to lose any key nuts and bolts. We will also wrap the teeth of any wrench or plier tool with a piece of duct tape to prevent any damage against the sink’s shiny finish coating.
• Cut It Off: Next, we will proceed to turn off the water supply to the faucet by toggling the two shut-off valves found underneath the sink, one for hot and another for cold. This will help to redirect and remove any excess water in the water supply lines.
• Just Handle It: Now we will attempt to remove one or both of the leaky handles on the compression faucet by loosening its screw.
• Nuts And Bolts: Now we will loosen the main nut which holds the stem of the handle in place and use the wrench to remove it and place it aside.
• Replace And Fasten: We will install a brand new O-ring for the handle and washer for the spout to stop the leakages.

Replacement Sink Parts

Sometimes you need to replace the faucet itself for a sink repair and depending on the type of faucet you have it can vary. An expert plumber can unscrew and remove the handles alongside the spout.

Type Of Faucets

Ball: A ball faucet has a singular handle and a free-moving rubber ball situated at its base and within a metal socket. This type of faucet does not have any washers and is often considered the least likely to leak.

Cartridge: A cartridge faucet has a cylinder mechanism and contains a plastic piece that controls the flow of water. Its rubber O ring may wear out and require sink repairs via a replacement part.

Ceramic Disk: A ceramic disk faucet is composed of a short cylinder and contains multiple neoprene rings and two rotating discs made of ceramic. These disks help to facilitate the flow of water and control fluctuating temperature levels.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sink Repairs

What Are The Different Types Of Sink Materials?

• Stainless Steel
• Ceramic
• Porcelain
• Copper
• Enamel
• Fire Clay
• Solid Surface
• Stone
• Composite

Can A Crack In A Porcelain Sink Be Repaired?

Yes–epoxy putty is best reserved for any minor dents or chips in a porcelain sink as it can easily plug up gaps, forge an airtight seal, and can only be finished off by being sanded down and a fresh coat of paint.

What Is The Most Common Cause Of Sink Blockage?

A clog emerges due to your daily lifestyle, behavior, and edict, and tossing items into your bathroom and kitchen sink which you must otherwise trash into the garbage or recycling can or compost pail. Eventually, this muck accumulates over time and as it readily lingers on your pipes’ walls it stifles the flow of water.

How Do I Know If My Sink Pipe Is Clogged?

• Odd gurgling or bubbling noises
• Sluggish or slowly draining water
• Standing water
• Foul and rotting odors
• Mold and mildew growth
• Pest invasion
• Skyrocketing utility bills

Hy-Pro Plumbing Will Tweak Your Taps To Pristine Condition–Call Us Today!

Let’s face it no Ontario homeowner wants to be elbow-deep in a basin chock-full of dirty and used wastewater so your best bet is to be proactive about sink repairs. Never again will you have to tiptoe around your faucet in fear that it will submerge and topple over as you wash up after dinner. Go ahead and reach out to one of our courteous customer service representatives at 1-877-554-9776 who will gladly schedule a consultation or service appointment. Plus you would rather inquire about our other residential and commercial plumbing services from clogged drains and water heater repair as we are on standby and ready to serve.