I replaced my bathroom sink drain with the type that uses the pull up / push down rod that closes the drain or opens it up. This piece has the little ball and rod attachment that feeds into the drain pipe to control the up/down part of the drain. Then, a metal tube (1 1/4) screws onto this. The bottom of this piece of pipe (which is metal) goes into a ABS screw on attachment which then feeds into the rest of the p-trap.

The problem area is the bottom of the drain pipe connecting to this piece of ABS that has a white screw nut and goes into a 1 1/2" coupler. On top of the screw nut is where I have some water leaking a bit. I`ve put everything I have into tightening this connection but still the water comes up. I`ve also used teflon tape to try to help seal the connection with no luck.

Can I silicone around the top of this connection or is that not recommended? Any suggestions are appreciated.

Are you saying that you have a leak at the trap compression nut?

If so, that nut requires a nylon seal. There are two sizes. One for 1 1/4" drain and one for 1 1/2" drains. A lavatory drain would be 1 1/4". Make sure that you have the seal in place and have used the proper size. Put the nut on the sink drain pipe then slide the seal on. It should fit tightly around the pipe.

You could silicone the joint up but it is not a good idea.

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I think all connections on the actual P-trap are fine as when I replaced this drain stalk assembly, the p-trap was left unaltered. There is a tail piece that screws onto the drain stalk. This has teflon tape, and it's possible that it's leaking here and running down to the top of the compression nut joining the tail piece to the beginning of the P-trap, but I've not seen any indications that the water is running down. This leaves me with the actual compression nut as the root cause... though I realize it may not be the case.

I've included a picture link to show the piece I'm referring to, but this is an image found online and is not my actual connection, but it does show the piece where the water is accumulating. It is on top of the white nut.

http://www.terrylove.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=839&stc=1&d=1144291279

Hi Suco... Wrap some toilet paper up at where , as you said, the "tail piece that screws onto the drain stalk" is connected (If necessary secure in place with a piece of tape) and then fill the sink and drain the sink. If this toilet paper gets wet then it must be leaking from this joint and you'll need to use more teflon tape on the threads.

You may even try the toilet paper trick a little higher up to be sure you have no issues higher up, OK?

In this way you should be able to isolate and fix the leak!

Good luck...

Mark

Hello Sucosam,

Follow Mark's advices and you will find the spot, also please confirm the area that I have high lighted on your picture for you if the leak is from this area, disconnect and check the seal for proper installation, Thanks.

John

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Hi John,

To confirm, the area your image points to is where I believe the leak to be... or more accurately, it is the area where I am finding water. I will use the suggestions and let you know.

If your water is coming off the top of that white ring all the teflon tape in the world isn't going to help you. There is a thin ring inside under that nut. The ring could be up side down, worn or the pipe it slides on is cruded up. Clean they pipe with steel wool or sand paper, grease it with plumbers grease and install a new nylon ring V side pointing down

So I tried the toilet paper trick. I put one section directly on top of the nut surrounding the pipe. I also tape a second piece higher up, but below where the tail piece screws into the stalk. Well wouldn't you know it, the top piece was wet and the bottom dry, so I'm left with one of several locations of where the leak could be coming from:

- the sink drain in the actual sink but I think this is OK. It has teflon tape on the threads and plumber's putty under the cap
- the flange screw (?) where the copper nut screws up to the underside of the sink with a cone shaped washer and a flat washer
- the plunger rod for the drain assembly on the back of the drain stalk
- where the tail piece screws into the drain stalk

Any ideas on how best to determine this? Is one any more susceptible to leaks than another? My whole drain assembly is about to be littered with toilet paper LOL

Thanks to all taking the time to read and reply.

Above the white nut you were suspecting will be another "nut" just under the sink, tighten it a smidge

Sorry folks, haven't been on here in a while. Went to shave today, so filled the sink with water with the plug down and can hear the water dripping down the drain. After a short while I can see the water level has gone done, so it seems it's right at the top. Is the best option to do as ballengerb1 suggests and tighten the nut right under the sink a smidge? More (or less) plumber's putty under the screw on cap that I see in the sink? I'm going to try tightening now anyway just in case.

If tightening the nut will not stop the leak then you will need to remove the nut inspect the washer and the gasket for damage and you may need to remove the flange and use some plumber putty see the image below, good luck.

John

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I'll try this tonight after work. Just so I know I'm doing things properly, the gasket has a conical or V-shape to it. Should the "sloped" side be pointing upwards toward the sink or downwards toward the drain? I think it's flat side down right now and sloped side facing upwards

If you are talking about the black gasket #RP23060A is not conical or V shaped it is just flat gasket and the washer is the same, Good Luck.

John