5 Tools Every Homeowner Needs To Repair Kitchen Sink Plumbing

Is your kitchen sink leaking, drain clogged, or water pressure low? Don't panic. With a few essential tools and DIY know-how, you can fix common issues under the sink and avoid paying high plumber fees.

Repairing minor plumbing problems like leaks, slow drains, and garbage disposal jams is much easier than you might think.

Why DIY Under Sink Plumbing Repairs

Doing it yourself has several advantages over calling a professional plumber:

• Saves money - no labor costs for a simple repair you can likely handle
• Convenience - fix problems immediately rather than waiting days for an appointment
• Confidence boost - gain a sense of accomplishment and skills to maintain your home

As long as you have the right tools, repairs under the sink can be a straightforward weekend project. Read on to learn about the essentials every homeowner should have on hand.

Safety Tips

Before tackling any plumbing repairs, keep these safety guidelines in mind:

• Turn off the water supply lines before disassembling pipes or fittings
• Wear safety goggles to protect eyes from debris
• Use caution when handling sharp tools or parts with jagged edges
• Keep paper towels and a bucket handy to catch any drips or splashes

Taking basic precautions will allow you to work safely and avoid water damage or injuries.

5 Essential DIY Plumbing Tools

Adjustable Wrenches

A set of adjustable crescent wrenches in small (6 inch), medium (8 inch), and large (10+ inch) sizes allows you to grip and turn nuts, bolts, and fittings beneath the sink. Common uses include:

• Tightening slip joint connections to stop leaks
• Loosening supply line nuts to replace worn washers
• Removing p-trap fasteners to unclog drains

Adjustable wrenches provide versatility to loosen or tighten a range of sink parts even in tight spaces.

Basin Wrench

A basin wrench has angled jaws that let you reach up behind the sink to access nuts. Typical uses are:

• Loosening supply line nuts attached to faucet tailpieces
• Tightening nuts to secure new supply hoses

Its long handle and pivoting head are ideal for maneuvering in the cramped area under a sink basin.

Slip Joint Pliers

These pliers can grip circular connectors and small parts in confined sink cabinets. You'll find them helpful for tasks like:

• Twisting slip nuts on trap assemblies when removing clogged p-traps
• Holding fittings when tightening or loosening with a wrench

The adjustable tension helps securely grip plumbing fixtures while your other hand turns the wrench.

Putty Knife

A stainless steel putty knife helps when resealing leaky sink drain baskets. Use it for:

• Scraping away old plumber's putty around a drain flange
• Spreading new putty evenly before resetting the basket

The thin, flexible blade lets you smooth putty into a watertight seal.

Extension Magnet

A telescoping magnetic pickup tool is excellent for retrieving small metal objects dropped down drains or garbage disposals, including:

• Extraction of pins, staples, or silverware jamming the disposal
• Reaching screws that fall into awkward under sink voids

Extend it down drains or into tight spaces to retrieve metallic items with ease.

How To Use These Tools For Common Repairs

Now that you're equipped with the basics, here are some of the most common DIY repairs beneath the kitchen sink and how to tackle them.

Fixing Leaky Pipes

If you have water dripping from slip joint fittings, compression nuts, or the drain pipe, try these steps:

1. Place bucket under leak to catch water.
2. Tighten any joints/fittings with adjustable wrench.
3. If leak persists, disassemble to check for cracked washers which need replacing.

Having the right wrenches and spare o-rings or gaskets on hand makes it easy to stop annoying leaks.

Unclogging Slow Drains

For sluggish sink drains, attempt to clear the clog as follows:

1. Try a plunger first to force out debris.
2. Take apart the p-trap and remove any hair or gunk inside.
3. Use an extension magnet to fish out objects stuck down the drain.

Unscrewing the p-trap and checking for collected debris is often the culprit, and a quick fix with your tools.

Noisy Garbage Disposal

Loud grinding or humming sounds from the disposal can be quieted by:

1. Unplugging and using an Allen wrench to free jammed blades.
2. Tightening mounting bolts to reduce vibration.
3. Replacing worn shredder ring or blades.

Getting to the source of the noise with your set of wrenches allows you to fix common garbage disposal issues.

Equipping your DIY toolkit with a few essential plumbing tools enables you to tackle a variety of minor repairs beneath the kitchen sink. Investing in high quality adjustable wrenches, a basin wrench, pliers, putty knife, and extension magnet provides versatility for quick fixes and maintenance.

Understanding how to use each tool properly will build your confidence to diagnose and solve common issues like leaky pipes, poor drainage, and noisy disposals. With a handy toolset ready to go under the sink, you can save on plumber fees and gain useful home maintenance skills.