Imagine walking up to your bathroom sink on a workday morning only to set into a pool of water. You’re certain nothing was wrong the night before and stand confused as to where the water came from. One thing is certain, though, you have a leak. Before you begin to fix your bathroom sink leak, you’ll need to locate it.

Locating a bathroom sink leak can be tricky. Causes of leaks vary greatly from – damage to your sink, corrosion of faucet attachments, breakdown of water supply lines, faulty valves, etc. Observing the severity of water dripping from your sink can be a clue to the leak’s location.

The most obvious clue of a leak will a dripping sound coming from the sink. If your faucets are closed, and the sound continues, this point towards a faulty supply line or shut-off valves. Turn the valves until they are entirely closed. If the dripping continues, you will need to replace the valves. This is a major problem and will require water to be shut off for the whole house.

Conversely, not all leaks are severe. A dripping faucet is the most common form of leaks. Depending on the severity, you might need to replace the washers or the whole faucet. Additionally, cracks between your countertop and the sink allow water to leak through. Sinks and faucet fixtures are attached to the countertop using plumbers putty or other kinds of sealants. Any form of mistake during installation can lead to this kind of leak in the future. Furthermore, faulty installation undermines the structural integrity of the sink. An undermount sink could collapse if not correctly installed.

Not all leaks have causes related to installation or breakage. Bathroom sink clogs can also lead to leaks anywhere in your sink assembly. A major clog can block the drainage of water and force it to escape from gaps between pipe connections. In such cases, removing your bathroom sink clog will solve your leak.

So as you can see, not all leaks are the same. To fix your bathroom sink leak, you need to locate it. Then proceed to understand the severity of it. And lastly, undertake the required steps to solve it.

Average Cost To Fix A Bathroom Sink Leak

There is no set cost to fix a bathroom sink leak. Tightening loose connections requires no expense. Conversely, replacing your pipes and will cost you anywhere between $10-$30. The cost of replacing a leaky faucet ranges between $50-$200.

Time Required

Similarly, the time taken to fix your bathroom sink leak will vary depending on the leak’s location and severity. Be patient and observe your pipe connections to understand the number of leaks. You could have one leak in a specific location or several leaks.

Tools & Materials

• Pipe wrench
• Pliers
• Allen wrench
• Plumber’s Putty
• Teflon Tape

Leaky Supply Lines

Connecting the bathroom sink faucets to the shut-off valves is the primary function of your supply lines. A leak in your supply lines will reduce your water flow strength and lead to the dripping of water under your sink. Common causes for leaky supply lines include –

• Damage or tearing
• Improper connections to the shut-off valves or faucet

In both these cases, the best option is to replace your water supply lines. We recommend buying nylon base supply lines as these are flexible and more durable than their plastic counterparts.

The end of the supply lines is threaded. One end connected to your shut-off valves and the other to your faucet connection. Before threading the ends onto the fixtures, wrap the connections with Teflon tape. The tape creates a watertight seal between your supply line and the valve/faucet connection and improves their durability.

Proceed to hand tighten the connections, before opening your shut-off valves and letting the water run from your faucet for a few minutes. If needed, tighten the connections using a wrench.

Leaking Faucets

A leaky faucet is a common sight in all bathrooms. A good quality faucet will serve you well for 8-10 years. But with constant use and water damage, leaks can happen. Faucets have various small yet important parts such as washers, valves, cartridges, aerators, etc. Over time with use, any of these parts can wear out and cause the faucet to leak.

Inspecting your faucet is the first step in solving your leak. Depending on the location, you can take the required steps to rectify the leak. Common causes and solutions to faucet leaks include –

• A dripping faucet head that points towards a worn-out washer or aerator. Replacing the washer/aerator will fix your leak.
• Water leaking from the base of the faucet points towards a faulty installation. You’ll need to remove your faucet, clean the countertop and re-install the faucet. Use a generous coat of plumbers’ putty while installing the faucet to create a seal between the fixture and the countertop to avoid leakage.
• Water dripping from beneath the faucet indicates a bad connection between the faucet and the supply line. Following the steps mentioned in the previous section, rectify your leaking faucet.

Loose Pipe Connections

Your bathroom sink plumbing consists of numerous pipe connections. The major connections include –

• Tailpipe to P-trap
• P-trap to drain line
• Drain line to the main outlet

A slip-nut secures most of these connections. If connections are firm, you don’t need to worry about leaks. But over time, these connections can become weak, leading to leaks from any or all of these locations.

Once you have found the leak’s location, access the condition of your pipe and slip nut. If both are in good condition, the leak could be because of a loose connection during installation. Conversely, corroded and damaged pipes will require replacement.

When re-installing pipe connections, wrap each connection with Teflon tape before attaching them using the slip-nut. The Teflon tape will create a watertight seal, preventing future leaks and improving the durability of your pipes.

Clogging in P-trap

A clog in your p-trap can lead to leakage from the p-trap connections. A major clog due to build by of waste in your p-trap can restrict water flowing through it. Resulting in water being backed up in the pipe and leaking out of the connections.

Resolving this problem requires detaching your p-trap and thoroughly cleaning it. While re-connecting the trap, wrap the connections with Teflon tape.

Similarly, clogs can develop in other locations in your plumbing and cause leaks. There are several techniques to resolve your bathroom sink clogs.

Frequently Asked Questions: How To Fix Bathroom Sink Leak.

Do I need to replace my supply lines if they are leaking?

Observing the condition of your supply lines, replace them if they are torn or damaged. Conversely, tightening the connections to the faucet and valves can fix the leak.

Can I have multiple leaks at once?

Yes, multiple leaks can present at the same time.