Leaking pipe under the sink

dhokes

I've recently discovered I've got a slow leaking pipe under my sink so I need to arrange to get that fixed.

1. What sort of price should I expect to pay for something like this? I live in Leicestershire.

2. What questions should I ask plumbers before agreeing to one?

Browntoa

All all the joints tight ? It looks to me as if the top one is leaking

You can get some white plumbers tape from Wilko or a plumbers merchant , loosen the joint off , wrap with tape and then tighten up .

Should stop the leak

nofoollikeold

1. Agree with Browntoa, looks like the top joint leaking.
2. Don't agree with putting PTFE tape on it.  Seal is not made on the threads.  There will be a black rubber washer between a flange at the top of the pipe and the base of the waste fitting.  That is what makes the seal.  If you put too much PTFE tape on, and overtighten the fitting, you might split it.
3. Bucket / bowl under waste fitting.
4. Loosen top white plastic nut.  (Turn clockwise looking down on it, i.e. Grab in right hand and move right elbow leftwards).
5. Clean bottom of waste & top of pipe.  
6. Make sure black rubber washer is in place between bottom of waste fitting and pipe.
7. Push the pipe and washer square into the base of the waste.
8. Tighten white nut up again.  Hand tight wearing rubber gloves should be fine.  If it still weeps, tighten 1/4 turn more with grips.  
9. Test by filling bowl with water, then pulling plug out.  This way gives more pressure (and a better test) then just running water through it.

dhokes

Browntoa said:

All all the joints tight ? It looks to me as if the top one is leaking

You can get some white plumbers tape from Wilko or a plumbers merchant , loosen the joint off , wrap with tape and then tighten up .

Should stop the leak

nofoollikeold said:

1. Agree with Browntoa, looks like the top joint leaking.
2. Don't agree with putting PTFE tape on it.  Seal is not made on the threads.  There will be a black rubber washer between a flange at the top of the pipe and the base of the waste fitting.  That is what makes the seal.  If you put too much PTFE tape on, and overtighten the fitting, you might split it.
3. Bucket / bowl under waste fitting.
4. Loosen top white plastic nut.  (Turn clockwise looking down on it, i.e. Grab in right hand and move right elbow leftwards).
5. Clean bottom of waste & top of pipe.  
6. Make sure black rubber washer is in place between bottom of waste fitting and pipe.
7. Push the pipe and washer square into the base of the waste.
8. Tighten white nut up again.  Hand tight wearing rubber gloves should be fine.  If it still weeps, tighten 1/4 turn more with grips.  
9. Test by filling bowl with water, then pulling plug out.  This way gives more pressure (and a better test) then just running water through it.

Thanks for the suggestions however my diy skills are pretty basic and I wouldn't trust myself with plumbing that could cause a flood! The drops are coming from the bottom of the u bend. In terms of pricing for a plumber, how much work would it be?

pramsay13

This is an easy job.
It is probably as easy as tightening all of the joins so definitely worth a try.

These are the waste pipes so you won't flood the room if your sink is empty.
If you need someone to have a look you are probably better with a handyman rather than a plumber.
If you have a handy relative or neighbour it would be worth asking them. 

Mutton_Geoff

nofoollikeold said:

2. Don't agree with putting PTFE tape on it.  Seal is not made on the threads.  There will be a black rubber washer between a flange at the top of the pipe and the base of the waste fitting.  That is what makes the seal.  If you put too much PTFE tape on, and overtighten the fitting, you might split it.

Absolutely agree with this. PTFE tape is not the solution. Cleaning up the joint, reseating the rubber seals is.

Belenus

dhokes said:

Browntoa said:

All all the joints tight ? It looks to me as if the top one is leaking

You can get some white plumbers tape from Wilko or a plumbers merchant , loosen the joint off , wrap with tape and then tighten up .

Should stop the leak

nofoollikeold said:

1. Agree with Browntoa, looks like the top joint leaking.
2. Don't agree with putting PTFE tape on it.  Seal is not made on the threads.  There will be a black rubber washer between a flange at the top of the pipe and the base of the waste fitting.  That is what makes the seal.  If you put too much PTFE tape on, and overtighten the fitting, you might split it.
3. Bucket / bowl under waste fitting.
4. Loosen top white plastic nut.  (Turn clockwise looking down on it, i.e. Grab in right hand and move right elbow leftwards).
5. Clean bottom of waste & top of pipe.  
6. Make sure black rubber washer is in place between bottom of waste fitting and pipe.
7. Push the pipe and washer square into the base of the waste.
8. Tighten white nut up again.  Hand tight wearing rubber gloves should be fine.  If it still weeps, tighten 1/4 turn more with grips.  
9. Test by filling bowl with water, then pulling plug out.  This way gives more pressure (and a better test) then just running water through it.

Thanks for the suggestions however my diy skills are pretty basic and I wouldn't trust myself with plumbing that could cause a flood! The drops are coming from the bottom of the u bend. In terms of pricing for a plumber, how much work would it be?

This is about as basic as DIY comes so give it a try. A quarter turn by hand to tighten up that top joint might be all that is required.

If that doesn't work then make sure that the sink is empty and that the appliance (washing machine or dishwasher) that discharges via the grey pipe just below the top joint is switched off.

Replace that metal bowl with something a bit bigger or deeper to catch any spillage from the U Bend..

Then undo the top joint, clean it and re fit it hand tight as advised above.

Check and tighten the other joints too.

Browntoa

This video shows the basic part about tightening up 

https://youtu.be/DLWB1vcpZBg

If that doesn't fix the leak then watch the whole thing and see if you would be comfortable doing it

Hasbeen

dhokes said:

Browntoa said:

All all the joints tight ? It looks to me as if the top one is leaking

You can get some white plumbers tape from Wilko or a plumbers merchant , loosen the joint off , wrap with tape and then tighten up .

Should stop the leak

nofoollikeold said:

1. Agree with Browntoa, looks like the top joint leaking.
2. Don't agree with putting PTFE tape on it.  Seal is not made on the threads.  There will be a black rubber washer between a flange at the top of the pipe and the base of the waste fitting.  That is what makes the seal.  If you put too much PTFE tape on, and overtighten the fitting, you might split it.
3. Bucket / bowl under waste fitting.
4. Loosen top white plastic nut.  (Turn clockwise looking down on it, i.e. Grab in right hand and move right elbow leftwards).
5. Clean bottom of waste & top of pipe.  
6. Make sure black rubber washer is in place between bottom of waste fitting and pipe.
7. Push the pipe and washer square into the base of the waste.
8. Tighten white nut up again.  Hand tight wearing rubber gloves should be fine.  If it still weeps, tighten 1/4 turn more with grips.  
9. Test by filling bowl with water, then pulling plug out.  This way gives more pressure (and a better test) then just running water through it.

Thanks for the suggestions however my diy skills are pretty basic and I wouldn't trust myself with plumbing that could cause a flood! The drops are coming from the bottom of the u bend. In terms of pricing for a plumber, how much work would it be?

Seriously LOL.

Youngsters these days. Even the plumber will be laughing?

Take the advice and just do it. 

Simples!

Mickey666

dhokes said:

Browntoa said:

All all the joints tight ? It looks to me as if the top one is leaking

You can get some white plumbers tape from Wilko or a plumbers merchant , loosen the joint off , wrap with tape and then tighten up .

Should stop the leak

nofoollikeold said:

1. Agree with Browntoa, looks like the top joint leaking.
2. Don't agree with putting PTFE tape on it.  Seal is not made on the threads.  There will be a black rubber washer between a flange at the top of the pipe and the base of the waste fitting.  That is what makes the seal.  If you put too much PTFE tape on, and overtighten the fitting, you might split it.
3. Bucket / bowl under waste fitting.
4. Loosen top white plastic nut.  (Turn clockwise looking down on it, i.e. Grab in right hand and move right elbow leftwards).
5. Clean bottom of waste & top of pipe.  
6. Make sure black rubber washer is in place between bottom of waste fitting and pipe.
7. Push the pipe and washer square into the base of the waste.
8. Tighten white nut up again.  Hand tight wearing rubber gloves should be fine.  If it still weeps, tighten 1/4 turn more with grips.  
9. Test by filling bowl with water, then pulling plug out.  This way gives more pressure (and a better test) then just running water through it.

Thanks for the suggestions however my diy skills are pretty basic and I wouldn't trust myself with plumbing that could cause a flood! The drops are coming from the bottom of the u bend. In terms of pricing for a plumber, how much work would it be?

Come on!  This is the perfect job for a bit of DIY because it really can’t go wrong.  You’ve already contained the problem by using a drip tray so there is no chance of causing a flood.  Even if you removed ALL the white pipe work there can be no flooding if you don’t pour anything down the sink - worst case you could just place a bucket under the sink outlet!  This is not like trying to fix a pressurised water pipe.
Seriously, follow the above advice, give it a go and save £150 or so calling out a plumber for a 5 minute job.  You don’t even need any special tools because these sorts of pipe joints only need to be hand-tight.  You’ve already got drip-tray in place, just get an old towel or similar for the small amount of water in the u-bend traps and give it a try.  Even if you completely mess things up and end up having to call a plumber it won’t cost any more, even if it turns out to be a 10 minute job for them instead, so you have nothing to lose by trying.
Have some faith in yourself - you might be surprised.  Good luck

dhokes

Thanks for all the posts. I think I've stopped the leak by tightening the top joint where there's the brown stains.

So the next question is what would have caused it to loosen? I moved into a new build just over 2 years ago so the piping should have lasted until now?