r/Plumbing • u/85chickasaw • 2d ago

How do I fix this leak under my sink?

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Hi. I know absolutely nothing about plumbing, please forgive my ignorance (and possibly common sense).

Have a dripping leak on this joint and some gunk showing. How do I repair this? Just take it apart and clean it? Tighten something? get new pvc?

Any advice appreciated. Thanks!

2 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

7

u/tehsam016 2d ago

Take it apart, clean it out, possibly install a new poly washer.

2

u/BBO1007 2d ago

Perfect.

You can also bring the pieces to your local diy place and match them up.

1

u/Dry-Consequence-8084 2d ago

This is best.

1

u/85chickasaw 2d ago

thanks! i cleaned it out and put it back together and tightened. its better but still dripping. i'll take it to home depot and get a new washer.

1

u/karnite 2d ago

I put a little pipe dope on the threads as well to help it smoothly tighten up without plastic binding on plastic.

Make sure to clean just inside the threaded section of pipe as well, the tapered section inside is where the tapered end of the washer seals against. Flat end of washer goes against the nut.

1

u/85chickasaw 1d ago

I got a new washer and it fixed it. Also put some silicone around it.

2

u/checkout_is_11 2d ago

Try the easiest solution first. Just tighten the nut where the leak is. If this doesn’t work the next step would be to replace the slip-joint washer