7 Tips to Keep in Mind when Replacing Kitchen Sink

You’re probably thinking of remodeling your kitchen but there seems to be not enough time or money to complete the whole project.

Why not start small? As they say, you should never despise small beginnings, and you can start your kitchen remodeling project by replacing your sink with a new and better unit.

In this post, we’re going to talk about some important reminders before doing a DIY sink replacement. Whether you will hire a professional plumber in Singapore for this project or not, these reminders will be very useful for you.

Choose the best type of sink

The first thing to do is to shop for the sink that you want to have for your kitchen. You may think that this is an easy-peasy decision to make, but it’s not that simple. Remember that the sink you’re going to install will probably stay in your kitchen for a long time, 3 years at the minimum. If that’s the case, then you should be careful in choosing the right one.

Here are some questions to ask when selecting the sink type to settle with:

• What’s your priority, durability or look?
• If you prefer both, do you have the budget to buy a sink that is durable and stylish at the same time?
• If you don’t, which of the two can you sacrifice?
• Which color and material fits your home interior design best?
• What accessories would you like to add to the sink?
• If you’re adding accessories, will the sink type you prefer look okay with them?

Answering these questions will give you a set of criteria to refer to when looking for the specs of your kitchen sink.

Disconnect electricity!

Okay, let’s get this straight. Kitchen sink replacement will always involve water. Whether you turn the faucet on or off, there’s a series of plumbing pipes connected under the sink, so when you remove a vital part such as the sink basin itself, there will be water splashing, flowing, or leaking somewhere.

Having said that, you need to be careful! Remove all electrical connections nearby. If there is a socket beside the sink, cover it with socket protectors. If there are electricity-powered appliances nearby, remove them from the sink countertop.

Clear the area of any electrical devices before beginning the sink replacement job. Safety should always be the priority.

You may need to replace the plumbing pipes

Replacing your kitchen sink is not as easy as picking the best sink and installing it. There are things that you might discover when you remove the old sink.

One such thing is to find out if the pipes underneath are damaged or leaking. If this is the case, then you need to replace those pipes too.

Beware of a clogged P-trap

The first set of plumbing pipes that you will find underneath the sink is the P-trap. P-trap is that component of the sink that connects directly into the drain. It is the first layer of pipe where wastewater travels through.

When you drain small bits of bread, some oil, and coffee granules into the sink, expect to find gunk inside the p-trap especially if your sink has been draining slowly lately.

When you find chunks of the waste inside, you need to deal with unclogging your sink first before installing your brand new kitchen sink.

Prepare the necessary tools

We know that you’re not a plumber and you’re not expected to have the complex plumbing and handyman tools inside your house. Don’t worry, you won’t need them. But you need the basic plumbing tools and materials if you are determined to do DIY kitchen sink installation. Some of the important tools and items that you should prepare are:

• drill
• drill bit
• jig saw
• screwdrivers
• caul and caulk gun
• tape measure
• putty knife
• putty
• pliers
• tape measure
• ruler
• pencil
• safety glasses
• gloves

Pointers on the actual installation

When the coast is cleared, the brand new sink is delivered to your home, and the tools are ready, it’s time to install your kitchen sink. You can refer to DIY videos that simply explain how to install a kitchen sink and watch closely how the plumber does it. Here are some important pointers that you should not miss:

• Put enough pressure on the sink when installing it into the caulked area.
• Installing the drain is pretty straightforward as long as the P-trap is clear and not leaking.
• Keep in mind that kitchen sink installation takes time. Focus on the job because messing it up can be really costly.

Hire a plumber for faster installation

Of course, if you want the sink installation to be done quickly and without any risk of plumbing troubles, you can hire a professional to do it. Just make sure the pro you will transact with has the required license and experience to perform the job well.