[cjjjfarmer]

I am female and am trying to learn some basic house repairs myself. I want to know if changing the U shaped pipe under the bathroom sink is fairly easy or do I need a plumber.
Thank you

[Stratmando]

You need a big wrench, loosen both connections all the way, may be a little stuck, and pull down, the're will be water in there. It is called a "Trap" and with water in there, sewer gases have been trapped. If not for the trap, there would be some smells.
Take that to hardware store, and if you have a digital camera, take a picture and bring camera with you. Is it plastic or metal?
If you're lucky, you may find a ring?

[KISS]

I'll assume it's metal. Basin wrenches and/or large pipe wrenches are generally necessary to remove the nuts. Best to take the removed part to the hardware store. There is usually a rubber and nylon seal that's used. Coat the threads and the rubber seal with silicone plumbing grease to make the seal better and removal easier in the future.

[Flying Blue Eagle]

Keep it simple stupid ,Why do you always follow someone and answer someone's answer the same way ,just worded a little different?? O by the way ( IT IS BETTER TO USE CHANNEL LOCKS THEN A BIG PIPE WRENCH):::::::

[KISS]

FBE:

Everyone else adds a little more information and I find this site educational as well.

In reality you should probably use soft jaw plers like from here: Specialty Pliers

To protect the nice pretty surfaces.

I don't own a pair and that's why we see these nasty scratches on chrome fixtures.

So, guess my order to loosen is:

Hands
Soft-jaw slip joint pliers
Basin wrench
Slip joint pliers (channel-locks)
Pipe wrench
Heat + any one of the above except item #2

If someone doesn't lubercate the threads, they can be very difficult to remove. Also, many manufacturers don't make it look like a real nut.

See, aren't we learning?

Probably, I'm remembering the 50 YO stuck tub drain plumbing that had to be removed.

Your right, the best overall choice would be Channel locks or equivalent. You can put a rag around the nut to help protect it when tightenng or removal.

This isn't meant to scare the original poster.

[labman]

Keep it simple stupid ,Why do you always follow someone and answer someones answer the same way ,just worded a little different????????????? O by the way ( IT IS BETTER TO USE CHANNEL LOCKS THEN A BIG PIPE WRENCH):::::::

I don't think think that is near as bad as a weak or wrong first answer to a question. After all, a new member may not realize you get to be a Senior Member just making enough posts, good, bad, or otherwise.

[ballengerb1]

CJJJ now that you know how to remove that P trap maybe you could tell us what the problem is. There are several drain problems that can be fixed without removing the trap, what's your issue?

[cjjjfarmer]

It was a metal pipe and had a small hole in it. After reading the first answer from Stratmando I attempted to replace it. And guess what... I did it!! Thanks to you all!

[Flying Blue Eagle]

Keepitsimplestupid- O.K. So I misunder stood your intensions, so I will ( APOLOGIZE ) I'm sorry:::::::, I was wrong. I hope WE can forget any hard feelingsand be frinds and help each other in the future. F.B.E. What do you mean abouy (50 yo tub drain plumbing that had to be removed??

[KISS]

FBE: Apology accepted and thoughtfull

Let's face it. I'm odd. I have a thinking obsession which is confirmed by psycological testing. It's also known that I don't reason like everyone else. I pay too much attention to detail. To me all responses are positive, even if they seem bad. I can troubleshoot something I know nothing about as long as I can ask questions.

50 YO drain:
About 2 years ago, the tub drain sprung a leak in the thin tube much like the U tube here. The builder had soldered the fitting out of alignment because the cast iron trap didn't line up. Those fittings did not want to be removed so a pipe wrench was used.

The fix for the slight misalignment was a rubber coupling and a PVC drain pipe. The galvanized pipe was a PITA to cut. I used a surface grinder with a cutoff wheel because that's what I had available and I had nasty clearances to deal with. I also had to remove the tub shoe by cutting. Again with the surface grinder. I don't like the toggle mechanism at the tub. It's not smooth and it's not for another household member that has severe arthritus of the hand. The mechanism jammed shut too about 6 months later. Seems like those parts can range from about $30 to over $200. Now I know why.

The year before I remodeled the bathroom and installed one of these:
Leonard Valve Company - Product Details

I also installed a STUPID laundry faucet. Off is up or down depending if it's hot or cold. STUPID design if you ask me.

Because the toilet was backing up a lot until it was replaced, I installed a 1/4 turn retro valve on the existing toilet supply. Boy are they nice when you want to cut the water supply off FAST.

KISS

[Flying Blue Eagle]

Keepitsimplestupid- Thanks , My dad taught me from very young, that it takes a real person to admit it when he was wrong. I did not know what you meant when you said (remembering about the 50yo drain ) I went back through ALL my answers and couldn't find any thing referring to that kind of problem .It's OK because I haden't realized I had posted as many as I had ,and I did enjoy rereading them, and find out you have really helped someone::Working in all types of const. all these years, I have alwaysPaid a lot of att. To details I was const Field supt. F on mult. Million jobs for almost eight years. I was a licened contractor for several years. since I turned 60 I started takeing care of rental prop. And personel homes. I was a licesend electrician, I done ( carpentry , elect. Plumbing,etc.ect. I worked for TVA for seversal years,In eng. This is where I got my exper. At, I am also apilot I hold (single , multi. eng. Aircraft with INSTURMENT rateing. I was USAF several years, I was on the B-47 jet bomber, C130, C123. I loved it I have bent your ear long enough , again thanks Have a good night F.B.E.

[KISS]

FBE: Wow!! Don't be afraid to PM me.

[speedball1]

I am female and am trying to learn some basic house repairs myself. I want to know if changing the U shaped pipe under the bathroom sink is fairly easy or do I need a plumber.
Thank you

That U shaped thingy is called a "J" bend and the entire fitting is called the trap. Changing a "J" bend is as simple as unscrewing the two compression nuts and swapping it out. Good luck, Tom