How to clean out a sink drain: Reinstalling the adjustable p-trap

[mrbenrocks95]

I have a metal P-trap and one larger and one smaller washer. The horizontal outlet connection to the P-trap seems to be fitted correctly with the smaller washer but I can't work out how to fit the vertical section of the trap, I have a larger washer and just can't work out how to make it fit so the trap doesn't slide up and down.

Any ideas?

[VideoJoeKnows]

@mrbenrocks95 Are you sure you didn't get the rubber washers mixed up before putting back on the pipes? I think the vertical pipe generally has the smaller of the two washers (most of the time....not always). The horizontal pipe usually is 1.5 inches in diameter where the vertical upright pipe is generally 1.25 inches. This is not always the case however. Maybe you've mixed up the washers and maybe the smaller rubber washer is worn & it just happened to fit on the larger size pipe? Joe :0

[blaphemyrgf]

man u must be a fucking super plumber!!!

[VideoJoeKnows]

@blaphemyrgf I'm not a super plumber!! It's just something I do whenever I try to show someone (like you) how to save some money!!....lol. Joe :0

[TJSsuperFRESH]

@VideoJoeKnows Once again Thanks for the help. I tried to remove pop up valve but it wouldn't come out when I loosened the circle screw.

[VideoJoeKnows]

@TJSsuperFRESH The pop up valve will not come out this way, rather it gives you a bit of room to try to pull some of the hair out (not much though). You would have to go under the sink & unscrew the little plastic nut that holds the pop up in place....I have a video of how to do that....look for it. You can remove the pop up without having to remove the p-trap. Watch the other video & you will see how to remove your have clog. It works good. The video will show you what to do. Joe :0

[TJSsuperFRESH]

HELP!! I have a problem with my sink. The pipe for the hot water is really loose and i have no idea how to tighten it. Please help.

[VideoJoeKnows]

@TJSsuperFRESH I can try to help you. Please give me more information. Joe :0

[VideoJoeKnows]

@TJSsuperFRESH Is your hot water pipe leaking? Do not attempt to tighten it before shutting off the hot water valve. where exactly is the pipe loose. Can you give me more details. Don't worry too much yet, if the pipe is not leaking, but send me more details so I can better help you. Joe :0

[TJSsuperFRESH]

@VideoJoeKnows Well I can see with a flash light I have hair stuck in the sink. I tried to remove the ball and nut from under the sink but it didn't come out so I just tightened it back up and left it there. Then i also saw the hot water pipe was loose like I am able to move the pipe around in circles but not the nut it self. The pipe is not leaking but i can feel a little bit of dampness.

[VideoJoeKnows]

@TJSsuperFRESH Is the hot water pipe a flexible line like the one in the video? Is your cabinet floor wet? I have more videos that show how to unclog a sink (for more directions). You might want to check them out so you can unclog your sink. Do "not" tighten the hot water nut yet. Send me the answers to my questions & we'll go from there. Joe :0

[TJSsuperFRESH]

@VideoJoeKnows Yes it is the flexible line like in your video. No the cabinet floor is dry.

[VideoJoeKnows]

@TJSsuperFRESH It sounds ike your hot water line is fine. Take a deep breath & exhale. Now.....look at my other sink videos that show you how to unclog your sink. Your sink is only going to get worse before it gets better so you need to remove the hair, etc. so sit down for a spell & start watching the other videos. Look for them & you'll find them. Thanks again for your questions/comments. Joe :0

[VideoJoeKnows]

@TJSsuperFRESH Your hot water line sounds like it's fine then. Check out some of my other videos to see how to unclog your sink. Thanks for your questions. Do your frineds need "joe"? Tell them about me!!.....lol :0

[VideoJoeKnows]

@TJSsuperFRESH I don't have just a video that just shows that. Try to unscrew the top of the pop up valve (in the sink). Most of them "unscrew" the opposite of regular (to the right not the left). Try that. Then you can remove some of the hair. You should not have to remove the trap though (sometimes), as most of the hair gets caught above the trap, on the pop up valve. You could remove just the pop up valve then you could pull that out & do it that way. Don't be afraid to try it. Joe :0

[VideoJoeKnows]

@TJSsuperFRESH It sounds like your hot water line is fine then. Watch some of "joe's" other vidoes that show how to unclog a sink. Do some of your friends need "joe"? Tell them about "joe"!!.....lol. :0

[TJSsuperFRESH]

@VideoJoeKnows I don't want to take the p trap off I am too scared to mess it up. I just want to unclog the hair balls at the top of the sink. Do you have a video on how to remove that one part? or is it best for me to just use something to dig the hairballs out? Thank You for all your help!!

[VideoJoeKnows]

@TJSsuperFRESH I don't have just a video that just shows that. Try to unscrew the top of the pop up valve (in the sink). Most of them "unscrew" the opposite of regular (to the right not the left). Try that. Then you can remove some of the hair. You should not have to remove the trap though (sometimes), as most of the hair gets caught above the trap, on the pop up valve. You could remove just the pop up valve then you could pull that out & do it that way. Don't be afraid to try it. Joe :0

[VideoJoeKnows]

@TJSsuperFRESH Try unscrewing the pop up head (in the sink). It unscrews the opposite of what you think (most of them anyway). Unscrew to the "right" not the left. Then you should be able to fish some of the hair out. Joe :0

[VideoJoeKnows]

@TJSsuperFRESH Unscrew the pop up top portion to the right not the left & you should be able to fish some of the hair out. Joe :0

[jcpegg]

Hey Joe - I just installed a new sink and the drain is about 5 inches closer to the wall than the old drain, meaning I need to shorten the horizontal pipe on the trap. Any hints on how to go about that?

[VideoJoeKnows]

@jcpegg Does the horizontal piece have a nut on the end of it where the adjustable p-trap fits into? If it does, you can cut that pipe closer to the wall & put a new fitting nut on (just the the old one), then you can get it closer to the wall. I'm at a little dis-advantage as I cannot see your exact setup as there are different ways to shorten the pipe depending how they initially installed it. Look at your project & tell me more of what you see so I can help you further. Thanks. Joe :0

[VideoJoeKnows]

@jcpegg What kind of horizontal pipe do you have?..... i.e. chrome, abs (black), pvc (white). Tell me more of what you have existing & how the existing is connected to your adjustable p-trap so I can help you further. Thanks for your question. I'll wait to hear from you. Joe :0

[jcpegg]

@VideoJoeKnows I think I figured it out. I didn't look hard enough at the hardware store the first time. The outlet pipe is ABS. I found a ABS coupler and picked up some ABS cement. I should be able to cut out a section of the outlet pipe (Can I use a PVC cutter?) and rejoin with the coupler and cement, right? There is no threaded pipe or loose fittings on the outlet pipe... it's all glued together.

[VideoJoeKnows]

@jcpegg Nice job to figure it out! Do you have a pvc cutter that big? I guess you could use it. Make a trial cut & see what happens. The abs pipe is thicker than pvc so you might not be able to go all the way through with your cutter. Try a hacksaw....that's what I use....or a sawzall will do it too. Concentrate on making a straight cut. Clean off the burrs with a sheetrock knife. Yes...put the coupling on with ABS glue making sure to coat both pieces of each connection. Good luck. Joe :0

[VideoJoeKnows]

@jcpegg Make sure to put a rag or something down under your work to protect your cabinet bottom from getting ABS glue droplets on it. Do a good job so it looks like you never were there. Make "the joe" proud lol. Any other questions?.....just ask. I'll keep the light on...... Joe :0

[weegk]

very helpful video!

[VideoJoeKnows]

@weegk Thanks for watching "joe". Anytime you have a howto question, ask. Joe :0

[ultrakool]

the "white sleeve"? is that the cone gasket?

[VideoJoeKnows]

@ultrakool The little white sleeve is like a gasket. I guess you could call it a cone gasket. That sleeve needs to be repositioned before you tighten the big plastic nut. That little white (or clear) sleeve needs to be left on there or your fitting connection will leak. Let me know if you have any other questions as I am here to help. Thanks for your question. I always like to hear from my viewers. Joe :0