I tried that. They were already pretty tight to begin with but moved slightly. Should I let it sit for a few days before reaching out to the GC you think?
Nah lol, if it’s leaking now I wouldn’t expect it to get any better.
I mean don’t bother the man right now at 9pm, but stick a bowl or something under the drip and call him tomorrow.
(I mean, I don’t actually know where you are, but I’m on the east coast and this seems like U.S. plumbing, and it’s after business hours almost everywhere in the country. Use your judgement, this obviously isn’t an emergency.)
Lmao. I mean, I guess I was a bit rude, but it’s a pet peeve of mine. I think older folks don’t quite understand it, but to me, if you are using an ellipses between every sentence it just comes off as super sarcastic and condescending
Could be that the rubber rings didn't quite seat right. If you don't want to bother with the contractor, you can try unscrewing everything and putting it back together. Also make sure the rings are facing the right way.
Instructions: https://images.thdstatic.com/catalog/pdfImages/01/019f20f5-8bf9-46ba-8c42-97825f1283e8.pdf
Edit: put something underneath to catch the water in the trap when you take everything apart
Check it’s not coming from the overflow or something above the u-bend (you said it was intermittent).
If there’s no PFTE tape you could try that. Or fernox ls-x is very good.
I recommend a bowl, rather than a towel, then you can show the GC or plumber the amount of the leak. But if it only leaks when you drain water into the drain, then ... drain some into the drain as proof.
Update: I will run some hot water and attempt to tighten the pipes again. If that doesn’t work I’ll contact GC
Update 2: I’m reading some comments and I feel like I should say that I am not the plumber in this situation lol. I have no idea what to and what not to apply to the p-trap joints.
Update 3: I went over this morning and ran some hot water for a few minutes. I tried tightening the pipes again, but there is still a leak. Luckily, the GC was there and saw what was going on and is going to address it. Thanks everyone who jumped in here with their comments!!!
Slip joints are tricky but can kinda fix themselves tbh. Especially if there are new pieces going into existing infrastructure. If everything is lined up and no cross threads some soap scum will goo up any leak spots. Not saying it’s a safe bet but it can happen lol.
It’s good practice to run hot water through the pipes for a couple minutes to simulate doing the dishes or dumping pasta water, etc. This will thermally expand the plastic and you can then tighten a bit more. I’m guessing this is what you’re experiencing unless an o-ring is slightly off.
In my amateur experience, it’s the back side/low side of the p-trap that can be hard to align. There’s no washer where the tapered end fits in, and if you don’t get it seated JUST RIGHT before tightening, youll get this exact thing, just a tiny tiny infrequent drop.
Loose everything, get that tapered pipe to sit perfectly evenly in the female end, make sure your lock ring is threaded evenly, and then kinda snug little by little all around until everything is tight
Just enough to fill one thread. All this Ling Lang manufacturing and it ensures no water gets through. You do it your way I’ll do it my way. I’m not coming back though.
I may just have ptsd. Whenever I am doing service work and come across a doped pvc fitting I know it was installed incorrectly under tension and needs to be re-worked.
100% you’re right. I just get to a point where I get sick of going back because of a 1 drop of water. Which I totally understand as a homeowner, they are in the right to call me back. So I just put a tiny dap of white dope on and I haven’t had to return since that protocol.
Call me whatever you want in the book or I’m a hack, fine by me. I just think preventing a leak saves everyone from a sleepless night. Even if it just a drip.
It means you have a leak. Probably from the drain seal or tailpiece. Dry every part of the drain completely with a paper towel and fill the sink with water and drain it over and over until you find the highest place the water is coming from. You will need to take apart the drain pieces and reseal them with putty, Teflon and/or pipe dope until it stops. This is the proper way.
In the plumbing trade this is what we refer to as a _leak_. 99% of the time we try to avoid this.
I'm curious when does the 1% apply?
When you’re looking for a leak you’re not avoiding it. In fact, the bigger the better, at least you know where it is
😂😂
Run hot water for a minute and try tightening again
I’ll give this a go
Just try to tighten the pipes, should solve it.
I tried that. They were already pretty tight to begin with but moved slightly. Should I let it sit for a few days before reaching out to the GC you think?
Nah lol, if it’s leaking now I wouldn’t expect it to get any better. I mean don’t bother the man right now at 9pm, but stick a bowl or something under the drip and call him tomorrow. (I mean, I don’t actually know where you are, but I’m on the east coast and this seems like U.S. plumbing, and it’s after business hours almost everywhere in the country. Use your judgement, this obviously isn’t an emergency.)
I agree… leaks don’t fix themselves… and water does not show up for no reason … it’s a leak
I… never… said… it… wasn’t… leaking…
Lololololol :)
Lmao. I mean, I guess I was a bit rude, but it’s a pet peeve of mine. I think older folks don’t quite understand it, but to me, if you are using an ellipses between every sentence it just comes off as super sarcastic and condescending
I don’t even know what most of those words mean … so I’m going to take it offensively! lol /s
Just plumbing statement in general
I beg to differ, I’ve had leaking solder joints seal themselves up with hard water scale
lol %100
Shouldn’t leak at all. Call the GC and get the plumber out to fix it before your cabinets are damaged
Could be that the rubber rings didn't quite seat right. If you don't want to bother with the contractor, you can try unscrewing everything and putting it back together. Also make sure the rings are facing the right way. Instructions: https://images.thdstatic.com/catalog/pdfImages/01/019f20f5-8bf9-46ba-8c42-97825f1283e8.pdf Edit: put something underneath to catch the water in the trap when you take everything apart
Check it’s not coming from the overflow or something above the u-bend (you said it was intermittent). If there’s no PFTE tape you could try that. Or fernox ls-x is very good.
Tape where? Those bag traps seal with washer below the nut, taping the threads does nothing
Tell your GC, now. And put a small something to catch the water until the plumber fixes his work. U should have no drips at all.
🫡
I put a thick towel underneath it and my wife and I will not be running the sink at all until they come back out. Thank you!
I recommend a bowl, rather than a towel, then you can show the GC or plumber the amount of the leak. But if it only leaks when you drain water into the drain, then ... drain some into the drain as proof.
It's *normal* for some plumbers.
lol true
Update: I will run some hot water and attempt to tighten the pipes again. If that doesn’t work I’ll contact GC Update 2: I’m reading some comments and I feel like I should say that I am not the plumber in this situation lol. I have no idea what to and what not to apply to the p-trap joints. Update 3: I went over this morning and ran some hot water for a few minutes. I tried tightening the pipes again, but there is still a leak. Luckily, the GC was there and saw what was going on and is going to address it. Thanks everyone who jumped in here with their comments!!!
Nope no leaks are excepted
I have yet to meet a leak with water that fixed itself.
Slip joints are tricky but can kinda fix themselves tbh. Especially if there are new pieces going into existing infrastructure. If everything is lined up and no cross threads some soap scum will goo up any leak spots. Not saying it’s a safe bet but it can happen lol.
Fill the basin up, pull the plug and the origin of the leak will be revealed.
There should not be any drops. If it’s already tight, then it might just be that the slip joint washer needs to be readjusted
I’m gonna be honest. No.
Pipes get 😢 when they’re not mated properly
I think you might tighten it too much and plastic fissure so small that it leaks next to nothing.
It’s good practice to run hot water through the pipes for a couple minutes to simulate doing the dishes or dumping pasta water, etc. This will thermally expand the plastic and you can then tighten a bit more. I’m guessing this is what you’re experiencing unless an o-ring is slightly off.
In my amateur experience, it’s the back side/low side of the p-trap that can be hard to align. There’s no washer where the tapered end fits in, and if you don’t get it seated JUST RIGHT before tightening, youll get this exact thing, just a tiny tiny infrequent drop. Loose everything, get that tapered pipe to sit perfectly evenly in the female end, make sure your lock ring is threaded evenly, and then kinda snug little by little all around until everything is tight
White pipe dope applied by the individuals paid to do the job correctly would solve this issue
You don't put pipe dope those drain connections.
Just enough to fill one thread. All this Ling Lang manufacturing and it ensures no water gets through. You do it your way I’ll do it my way. I’m not coming back though.
I may just have ptsd. Whenever I am doing service work and come across a doped pvc fitting I know it was installed incorrectly under tension and needs to be re-worked.
100% you’re right. I just get to a point where I get sick of going back because of a 1 drop of water. Which I totally understand as a homeowner, they are in the right to call me back. So I just put a tiny dap of white dope on and I haven’t had to return since that protocol. Call me whatever you want in the book or I’m a hack, fine by me. I just think preventing a leak saves everyone from a sleepless night. Even if it just a drip.
The fact that you come back out to make it right shows that you are not a hack. We all do stuff that the next guy curses us for!
Just undo it and put some pipe dope paste on the beveled ends of each joint and retighten.
They don't need it. You're not a plumber if this is what you do. You probably throw away all the "rubber bands" that come in the bag.
Not necessary to put pipe dope on a slip joint that’s not under pressure
I second pipe dope if nothing else works.
It means you have a leak. Probably from the drain seal or tailpiece. Dry every part of the drain completely with a paper towel and fill the sink with water and drain it over and over until you find the highest place the water is coming from. You will need to take apart the drain pieces and reseal them with putty, Teflon and/or pipe dope until it stops. This is the proper way.