Looking for a solution to your leaking garbage disposal? Dealing with a leaking garbage disposal is never fun, but one particular issue that can be incredibly frustrating is a leaking P trap.
P trap leak is a common problem many homeowners face and can lead to water damage and unpleasant odors in your kitchen.
But don’t worry. We have the solution you need! In this article, we’ll provide a step-by-step guide on how to fix a leaking P trap in your garbage disposal.
Keep reading to learn more about tackling this issue and avoiding further damage to your kitchen and get back to normal.
What is a P-Trap?
A p-trap refers to the u-shaped part of a garbage disposal drain. It is also in other drains, such as the sink, bathroom, and toilet.
A P-trap is a plumbing component that prevents foul odors and harmful sewer gases from entering a building. It works by retaining a small amount of water in its curved section, which acts as a seal that prevents gases from flowing back up the drain and into the living space.
This water barrier also catches debris that could cause clogs in the plumbing system. Balancing the pressure of the pipe ensures the gases down the sewer don’t return.
The p-trap rarely leaks, but this does not mean it doesn’t. For this reason, let’s get on to why it spreads and a complete guide on correcting the mess.
When the garbage P-trap leaks, chances are you will only find out after some time, sometimes several days after it has started leaking. You will only see the area under the garbage disposal begin to get soggy, occasionally smelly.
While the p-trap leaks have several causes, the fixing tips match the task. Several reasons can cause garbage disposal p-trap to leak. Let’s find out what those are.
Causes of P-Trap Leaks
Improper Fit
If you have p-trap parts that don’t fit well into each other, especially from different brands, this may cause the p-trap leak. In most cases, the p-trap going into the more significant part is relatively small and fitting, hence leaking.
Overtightened Bolts
A trap with over-tightened bolts can have the trap design misaligned. Moreover, the overtightened nuts cause the trap material to crack under pressure.
While it may seem far-fetched, overtightened bolts may cause the need to replace the p-trap to correct the leaking.
Under Tightened Bolts
Tightening bolts properly is always crucial to prevent leaking. However, even as you avoid overtightening the nuts, ensure you don’t lean on the other extreme and under-tighten them.
If you don’t tighten the nuts enough, they will leave space that gives a chance to leak.
Faulty Washers
If the washers in the p-trap are too dry or get rusty, the result could be a p-trap leak under your drainage. Other than that, the washers could have been misaligned during the installation. The misalignment also causes a leak.
Corrosion
Metal traps and bolts may rust over time. The corrosion leads to cracks, which in turn leads to p-trap leaks.
Cracked P-Trap Pipe
A cracked p-trap leaking is almost apparent. For whatever reason
How to Know If P-Trap is Bad?
As mentioned earlier, the p-trap could leak for days and go unnoticed. On the other hand, every leak underneath the sink does not imply that the p-trap is the leaking section. For this reason, let’s take a look at how you would recognize a p-trap leaking;
- The cabinets or area under the sink will appear soggy or slippery.
- In more extreme cases, you will hear a dripping sound under the sink.
- When singling out the leaking area, wipe the whole drain area. Then, put a piece of newspaper around the p-trap if you guess it is the cause of the leak. The newspaper will be wet and soggy if you are right.
Get on to the fixing process once you are sure the p-trap is the problem behind the leaking.
Can A Clogged P-Trap Cause a Leak?
Not really. As long as the fittings on the p-trap are correct, a clog should not cause a leak. On the contrary, water and garbage will not flow through the p-trap. However, if the p-trap has a misalignment, the clogging squeezes it to the edge and causes a leak.
How to Fix a Leaking P-Trap
With basic plumbing skills, you can fix the leaking p-trap yourself. The correction measures may include correcting the alignment of the p-trap parts or replacing them altogether.
Either way, you may be forced to remove the p-trap first. But don’t fret, as we have a way around that as well;
How to Remove the Garbage Disposal Drain P-Trap?
First, ensure the water tap is not running from the sink to jeopardize your task. Then, start removing the garbage disposal drain pipe.
While there are times when hand removal is successful, having a drain pipe nut wrench always eases the task. Use the wrench to loosen the nut between the tailpiece and the p-trap, then remove the nut by hand.
There is another nut at the mid trap, which you will use your garbage disposal wrench or Allen wrench to loosen and remove. Finally, loosen the nut on the trap arm, and you will have the p-trap free for removal.
Fixing a Leaking P-Trap
Remember you already identified the cause of the p-trap leak? You can fix the following without the need for replacement;
- If the p-trap has misaligned parts, align the parts correctly and watch this out when putting the trap back in place.
- When the challenge is loosened or overtightened nuts, you can always tighten the nuts enough to prevent further leakage.
However, there are situations where you have no option but to replace the p-trap parts;
- Replace a cracked trap part to deal with the leaking. However, if the crack is tiny, you can also use a trap sealant to prevent the leak for the time being.
- Corroded pipes and nuts require replacement as the ultimate solution.
When replacing u-trap sections, use parts from the same company. Then, if you can’t get them, you can try companies with similar parts that fit into your older trap parts.
Here is a summary table for p-trap leaking solutions;
| Causes of P-trap Leaks | How to Fix the P-Trap Leaks |
| Improper fit | Replacement |
| Overtightened bolts | Loosening enough |
| Under Tightened bolts | Tightening enough |
| Faulty washers | Replacement, correcting alignment |
| Corrosion (for metallic p-traps) | Replacement |
| Cracked p-trap pipe | Replacement |
What is the Best Sealant for Leaking Pipes?
I prefer a standard kitchen pipes sealant such as this putty stick, which is suitable for all pipes, including plastic, metal, rubber, marble, and fiberglass porcelain. It keeps the pipe from leaking, and while it can be a lasting solution, it is an intermediate one for larger cracks.
Sealants are inexpensive, and the only thing you must look for in a suitable pipe sealant is performance. It will serve its purpose if it sticks perfectly and is durable.
Can Overtightening the P-Trap Stop the Leak?
No, it can’t. On the contrary, overtightening the p-trap nuts could be the cause of the leak. Too much tightening causes cracks in the pipes, which in turn cannot hold water efficiently.
On the other hand, a loose nut fitting can cause a leak. In this case, you will need to tighten the p-trap more. However, it shouldn’t go beyond the typical tightening.
Should I Call a Professional When My Garbage Disposal P-Trap Leaks?
If you don’t have the tools, confidence, or time to deal with the leaking p-trap, you can always get a professional to do it for you at a cost.
However, this guide is for you if you love taking care of the stuff and learning more DIY ideas.
Whichever way you prefer, the choice is personal. There is no shame in getting a professional, nor is there any harm in trying things that don’t necessarily need expertise.
Parting Shot
In conclusion, a leaking P trap in a garbage disposal can cause various issues, from unpleasant odors to water damage.
I have included here all most all the causes and fixing tips. Now you are here means; you read the things I have mentioned. So you can address the problem and prevent it from recurring.
The best news is that you can fix the p-trap without external help. But, consulting a professional is not a thing to be ashamed of if you are unsure about any steps in the process.
Good luck with your work, and I hope I was able to help. Thank you for reading till the end!
James is an organic fertilizer professional who owns a successful organic fertilizer company in new jersey. He is an expert in waste management in both houses and community cases. In his free time, he loves to write about his experiences in the field.