Plumbing: how to find and fix a leak in a trap?

Finding and fixing a leak in the sink trap is a task that any homeowner can handle if they act consistently. Before taking active steps, ensure safety and prepare your workspace: turn off the water supply if necessary, unplug appliances operating near the wet zone, and ensure good ventilation in the bathroom.

After following the safety rules, proceed to the engineering diagnostics of the problem. Place a wide basin or deep bowl under the sink, and lay an absorbent rag on the floor. Carefully inspect all connections of the trap, pipe, and corrugated hose to pinpoint the exact location of the leak. Most often, water drips from connecting joints or due to worn-out rubber gaskets.

Next, disassemble and clean the assembly. Carefully unscrew the trap sump and mounting nuts, drain the remaining water into the basin, and rinse the parts to remove accumulated dirt, hair, and soap scum. Assess the condition of the sealing gaskets: if they have lost their elasticity, cracked, or deformed, they must be replaced with new ones of a similar size.

Reassemble the trap, tightening the threaded connections evenly by hand without using wrenches, so as not to strip the plastic threads. After completing the assembly, turn on the water and check the system for leaks by placing a dry tissue under the trap for a couple of minutes. If there is no leak, you can proceed to the final cleanup, wiping down surfaces, and returning decorative elements to their places.