Like anywhere, Georgia’s homes need good plumbing, both by municipal mandate and for your comfort. Still, without consistent pipeline maintenance, your property could easily develop an unseen leak or two without you noticing for a while. No one wants a leaky sink or faucet since this often leads to potentially expensive plumbing problems and higher water bills.
Why is my sink leaking underneath, and how do I get it to stop? As reliable plumbers in Bainbridge, GA, Cooper’s Plumbing & Air specialists can quickly diagnose and resolve hidden plumbing problems. Below, the team shares more about common sink leakage causes and to identify them in time.
Common Issue With Leakage Beneath Sink Troubleshooting
Understandably, not many homeowners stoop low enough to check under their sink on a regular basis. Of course, that means they won’t notice water damage in its early stages. If they’re using a lot of the storage space under the sink, they also won’t hear dripping from leaky components until things look quite bad.
While this isn’t a warning not to use all your storage space, it’s always a good idea to remember to check under the sink occasionally. If you find any evidence that you need under-sink leak repair care, it’s best to move quickly. Still, even if you find a leak, knowing which part of the system is leaking isn’t always straightforward.
Can you see just where the water droplet comes from? If not, you may misdiagnose the source of the leak. Trying to attempt repairs while not knowing the exact location of the leak only risks damaging other components, so be sure to call for professional assistance.
Depending on the source and severity of the leak, you may be able to cover licensed and insured plumbing services with your homeowners’ insurance policy.
Four Common Reasons for Sink Leaks Underneath
Professional plumbers excel at identifying sink leak sources. Are you asking, “Why is my sink leaking underneath, and where is it coming from?” Check the following places:
#1. Leaky Faucet
Leaky faucets tend to be easily identified by the pattering sound of water dropping into the sink bowl, even with the faucet turned off. Most faucet leaks go down the drain as usual, but there are some leaks that slip underneath the faucet and make a mess.
For example, if the flow isn’t fast enough, water can slide down the underside of the faucet and drain underneath the fixture’s base. In other cases, the faucet doesn’t connect well to the supply lines, which then leak whenever you use the sink.
Depending on the type of faucet and connection issue, you may need a new washer or gasket or a new faucet entirely.
#2. Drain Leaks
A drain leak refers to water escaping the pipe as it goes down into the system. The best way to test for this type of leak is to do the following:
- Plug the sink.
- Turn on the faucet.
- If nothing leaks before that point, lift the stopper and allow the water to drain.
- If there’s a drain leak, water may leak around the sink bowl base or down the sides of the pipe into the area beneath the sink.
Drain leaks have many potential sources, such as blockages, pipe corrosion, valve seat corrosion, and loose nuts between pipes. Thankfully, you can address many of them with plumbing maintenance that can save you money. Simple fixes may include plumber’s putty or tightening pipeline connections, whereas pipe corrosion requires pipe replacement from a local professional to avoid future leak issues.
#3. Water Supply Leaks
Why is my sink leaking underneath when the faucet and drain seem fine?
When fixing sink leaks from below, the problem might not be the drainage system or faucet. Is your water supply causing the leaks under your counters?
Water supply leaks can be especially damaging because they provide a consistent water flow. Even when you aren’t using your faucet or sink, it still leaks, which does untold damage to anything beneath the sink or pipes.
You can test for a water supply leak as follows:
- Plug the sink drain.
- Allow the water to flow.
- Leaks that happen while your water runs but isn’t draining may indicate a supply leak.
- Leaks may also happen while you have the water turned off completely (you’ll see water still dripping into the cabinet below the sink).
Supply leaks require new pipes, joints, or gaskets installed by professionals for accuracy.
#4. P-Trap Issues
Lastly, you might consider a P-trap issue, which refers to problems in the curved pipe section under the sink. It’s placed after the drain’s tailpiece, and the U-shape collects and filters the wastewater coming down the drain. When enough water fills the space, it flows up and out into the J-bend attached to the drain system.
Think of a P-trap as “U” and “J” bends (without the back of the “P”). This P-trap’s function keeps bad smells from flowing back into your property. Unfortunately, it collects debris and needs emptying every now and then if you want to avoid leaks.
A P-trap’s material can also degrade over time, especially its metal components. It’s also important to note that PVC and partially metal P-traps alike will corrode as they’re exposed to commercial chemical drain cleaners.
Because P-traps connect under the sink, most homeowners may not even notice the leaking until much later. If you’ve reached that point, you’ll be pleased to know that expert plumbers are happy to deal with the often-gross task of cleaning the waste out of the P-trap. Otherwise, they’ll install a new, non-corroded pipeline to restore your property’s leak-free wastewater disposal.
Expert Sink Leak Repair With Cooper’s Plumbing & Air
Why is my sink leaking underneath if none of these common reasons explain things? Get Cooper’s Plumbing & Air to inspect your pipelines and connections to fully diagnose and repair any under-sink leaks. The team has helped Bainbridge residents keep their water where it belongs for over 20 years!
To address a sink leak or check off your plumbing maintenance checklist, call Cooper’s Plumbing & Air at (866)-464-7132 today or visit our contact page online.