Bathroom drains and traps over a period of time will develop corrosion. This can lead to leaks and messes under your bathroom sink. The best way to fix this is to usually replace the whole drain assembly.
You could just try and replace certain parts but that typically leads to frustration since old parts are difficult to disassemble and them put back together. It’s not very expensive and my advise is to replace the whole drain assembly.
It is probably a good idea to go ahead and replace the pop up plug, rather than have to come back to it later. Before you start spray the threaded connections with a lubricant that will penetrate and loosen those old connections. Let it sit for a couple of hours.
Drain configuration do vary somewhat, but most will have slip nut connections that you can take apart with a wrench. If you are going to keep the old trap make sure that when you assemble it again that you at least put new washers under the slip nuts. This will help to keep a strong seal.
What type of parts do you need?
When selecting the right parts for a sink or a vanity that is mounted in a vanity top or on a pedestal and you want to replace all of the drain assemblies then you should use poly vinyl chloride (PVC) fittings. They are durable and rust proof plus they are very easy for you to work with.
If you are replacing an entire assembly under a wall hung basin then choosing chrome parts is a nice stylish alternative. If you choose to replace only part of the assembly then choose parts that match what you already have installed.
Here are the steps you will need to take to replace the old drain.
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Remove the trap. Use a small bucket to catch any over flow water. A Monkey or pipe wrench will work fine to loosen the nuts.
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Remove the fittings. These include the T connector, lock nut and washer that is holding the drain body, then push the drain body up through the hole in the basin.
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Install the new drain flange and seal it. Make sure you clean the surfaces before you do so you will get a good seal.
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Align the T Connector to fit properly with the drain body by pointing the connector towards the drain pipe.
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Install the new plastic drain pipe. Connect the trap to the T connector and also the drain outlet pipe. Use plumbing sealant tape around the tailpiece and T connector. Make sure all parts are secure and leak free.
That should do it for your new drain and trap assembly. After do the project once you should have a much easier time with it when the opportunity comes again.
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