Gunk underneath kitchen sink (can I get the whole pipe unit changed?) 14 March at 12:08AM in In my home (includes DIY) MoneySaving 32 replies 1K views

Daisy_84

I hate the pipes underneath my kitchen sink. I hate them so much. They get gunky and I think it's due to condensation. I want to get the whole unit changed, is it possible?

frugalmacdugal

Hi,

yes it's possible.

Any chance of a photie, then folks can advise.

ThisIsWeird

The outsides of the pipes shouldn't be gunky. I wonder what is going on?

Bigphil1474

OP, if you mean they get gunky on the inside, then it may be an issue with how they were fitted - correct angles for flow etc. Depends how bad the gunkiness is. With mine, I take them apart once a year and give them a clean out. The pipe from the washing machine is usually quite bad as it doesn't sit quite at the right angle but I haven't been bothered to adjust it due to the work involved. If, as above, it's gunk on the outside, then there is definitely something weird going on.

grumbler

Bigphil1474 said:

OP, if you mean they get gunky on the inside

Condensation inside?

macman

Are you referring to the hot and cold feed pipes and the waste pipe servicing your sink, or to some other pipework that happens to pass under your sink en route to somewhere else? If condensation is an issue (on the cold feed?), simply lag the pipe runs with some insulation. Changing the pipework won't remove any condensation itself.
In this case, a picture really does tell a thousand words.

markin

Have you wiped them clean? Grey pipe would look better but hide any drips.

Daisy_84

frugalmacdugal said:

Hi,

yes it's possible.

Any chance of a photie, then folks can advise.

Thank you. Here is a photo

Daisy_84

macman said:

Are you referring to the hot and cold feed pipes and the waste pipe servicing your sink, or to some other pipework that happens to pass under your sink en route to somewhere else? If condensation is an issue (on the cold feed?), simply lag the pipe runs with some insulation. Changing the pipework won't remove any condensation itself.
In this case, a picture really does tell a thousand words.

Thank you. Here’s a picture 

Daisy_84

markin said:

Have you wiped them clean? Grey pipe would look better but hide any drips.

I would rather they didn’t drip or condensate at all if possible, regardless of the colour. 

ThisIsWeird

Ah! That looks like old adhesive, the stuff at the joints possibly being excess 'solvent' used to seal the joints, whereas the unusual diagonal stripe looks more like it was left behind by tape that was once there.

This is purely a cosmetic issue - it doesn't indicate that anything is 'dirty' or gunky.

How to remove? Yes, you could very easily replace that 'L'-shaped pipe section with nice clean new, carefully solvented! A cracking DIY task if you, or a family member is up to it? A push-fit elbow could even be used, tho' they are not quite as neat. Expect a plumber to give you a funny look if you ask for this to be replaced for only cosmetic reasons...

Or, have you tried Jif? Or even 'sticker residue remover'? 

Or, you can even lightly sand it smooth, and give it a coat of multi-surface paint such as Zinsser AllCoat.

I'd start with the Jif. Cut a longish strip of material, apply the Jif, and use it like a towel being used to dry your back; wrap it around the pipe once, not overlapping itself or it'll stick, and 'saw' it back and forth.