Should a Plumber Install Your Sink?

A lot of projects and installations around your home are certainly DIY and can be completed quickly, easily, and at little cost; however, there are also jobs that should be completed by professionals - a sink installation being one of them.

When you have a sink install that needs to be completed, trying to take the job on yourself with no experience in the area can lead to costly mistakes such as damaging the sink, incorrectly placed piping, and even water leaking and flooding issues.

Let’s take a look at the steps involved with installing a sink and why this particular job is best left to the experts.

How to Prepare the Sink for Installation

Before jumping to placing your new sink, you’ll need to make some preparations.

• First, measure your currently placed sink. You’ll want to make sure the sink itself will fit into your counter, as well as the drain holes will need to match up. If you don’t buy a sink that fits the measurements of your current one, you’ll need to make changes and adjustments to your counter and your drain placements.
• Consider if you are going to have any components to the sink like a soap dispenser or sprayer as those will need to be measured for and accommodated as well.

How to Remove Your Old Sink

Now that you’ve prepped for your sink installation, it’s time to remove the sink.

• Secondly, you’ll need to remove the old sink. Make sure you turn off the hot and cold water lines before doing this; you can do this by turning it off under the sink or turning off the house’s main water line. Once you’ve turned off the water, turn on the sink’s faucet to drain any remaining water.
• Third, disconnect the water supply with a wrench. You can leave the faucet attached to the sink at this point and just remove it along with the sink.
• Next, you’ll need to disconnect the garbage disposal. Be sure to turn off the circuit first, then unplug the disposal and use pliers to disconnect the p-trap and drain pipe from the sink drain.
• Your next step will be to remove the dishwasher drain line and then remove the disposal. Be sure to follow the disposal manufacturer’s guidelines for removal.
• Next, loosen the metal clips around the sink from underneath the counter. You’ll also need to cut the caulking with a utility knife. Then you should be able to lift the sink out and clean the area of any leftover grime.

How to Install Your New Sink

Now, you can install your new sink.

• When placing the new sink, verify that it fits first. You can then modify the counters if needed and re-shape the dimensions.
• Next, you’ll need to attach the clips to the sink and then install the faucet and any other components that you have with the sink.
• The drain strainer will require some plumber’s putty, so place a dab on the underside and press firmly. Then tilt the sink and secure your rubber gaskets and threaded flange. This step repeats for non-disposal drains. Follow your manufacturer’s instructions for mounting the disposal bracket to the bottom of the sink.
• Next, to the edge of the basin, you’ll need to apply a bead of silicone. Then, lower your new sink onto the countertop opening and tighten the clips underneath.
• You’ll now need to reattach the water lines and piping. Make sure all connections are tight.
• You can now install the garbage disposal following the manufacturer’s guidelines. Also, the discharge pipe can be placed and the clamp tightened.
• Once you’ve reinstalled the dishwasher drain next, you can then connect the drain of the disposal to the sink drain and reattach the P-trap.
• Next, add a small dab of sealant to the outside perimeter of the new sink.
• Lastly, you can restart the power to your garbage disposal and turn the water on to your new sink.

Your desire to complete this job yourself is commendable and while it’s not impossible to remove and install a new sink as a DIY project, considering all the steps above its probably for the best that you call an experienced and reputable plumbing company in to complete the job; a lot can go wrong during this process.

Stone Counters and Sink Installation

So you've decided to upgrade your kitchen with a brand new stone counter and sink. If you're a Miami, FL homeowner, you should know several steps need to be taken to pull the project off without a hitch. A renovation like this comes with considerable investment, and it's important to get everything right.

Materials such as granite are expensive, and you need to hire help from a reputable kitchen plumbing company who will take all the necessary precautions to deal with this tricky material. Want to find out more about the process? Here's what you should know about stone countertops and sink installations.

All Measurements Must Be Exact

It might sound obvious, but the necessity of this step can't be stressed enough. All measurements made before cutting into the stone must be as precise as possible.

Even tiny mistakes can force you to begin again from raw materials, which is an unnecessary expense and setback.

When you're buying sinks think about a few things: do you want it mounted under or on top of the counter and do you want the faucet features included? Top-mounted sinks are fit exactly the way they're named; they have a rim that sits over the opening in the counter, so the hole you make should be slightly smaller than the sink.

Undermount sinks need holes exactly equal to its dimensions. If your new sink doesn't have pre-made holes for faucets and taps, these features will need openings as well. Accurate measurements are the key to your sink fitting and functioning as it was intended.

Purchase a Sink That's Best for Your Kitchen

Before purchasing a sink, you must know how much space you will have with your countertop. The new components you buy will have to fit comfortably in that space.

A sink that's too big could make cutting the stone a struggle, while a smaller one is rarely suitable for a kitchen's needs. Plan for space to fit your taps, too.

There will always be a handful of kitchen plumbing fixtures for homeowners at any major hardware store. Take your time to find the sink that's best for your kitchen.

Call a Company to Help You Out

Homeowners should always acquire the services of a professional before beginning this type of renovation project. Shaping and cutting stone countertops requires an assortment of specialized tools made exclusively available to contractors.

Trying to install a stone countertop and sink on your own can be dangerous. A kitchen plumbing specialist, however, has the equipment and experience necessary to get the job done safely. Find out if they offer a guarantee if mistakes are made while performing the installation to replace your countertop. Leave this job to an expert.

Major Pros of Using a Garbage Disposal

If you have never experienced having a garbage disposal in your kitchen, now may be the time. These units are experts at removing extra food waste that accumulates after meals.

They easily mount to the underside of your sink drain, powerfully chewing up food scraps that would otherwise reside within your pipes. Check out the three major pros of using a garbage disposal, and find out if it is right for your kitchen.

1 - No More Clogs With Clear Pipes

It’s no secret that clogs are an unwanted inconvenience. And they usually happen at the worst time.

Avoid clogs in your drain pipe by installing a garbage disposal. These devices inhibit food particles from entering your pipes, eliminating clogs for good.

Disposals have fast acting blades that break down food waste leftover from meal time, and force it down and out of your drain pipe. Combined with water, your excess food particles are flushed through your plumbing system and into the sewer, preventing clogs.

2 - Odorless Pipes

The less odor inside your house, the better. No one wants to come home to a smelly kitchen.

This is the case for those without a garbage disposal unit. Food scraps that occur after meals are prepared and eaten can sometimes sneak by that drain screen and make a home inside your pipes.

This produces a foul-smelling odor once the food starts to rot. A disposal unit stops this from happening by breaking down the food and getting rid of it, so it no longer lingers in your plumbing.

3 - Washing Dishes is Easier

If you find no one in your house wants to do the dishes, you may want to look at your sink. If it’s dirty, smells bad, and regurgitates water when you try to rinse your dishes, it’s no wonder.

Garbage disposals can help eliminate that unwanted dirty feeling in your sink. By removing clogs, and keeping the pipes clean and odorless, you won't have to worry about dirty water backing up when you’re trying to wash your dishes. No more cringing at the dirty dish pile after dinner.

Now, homeowners of Miami, FL are in the know when it comes to how beneficial garbage disposals really are. Anything that can do so much for you with a little push of a button is really handy to have around. With all of its qualities, you’ll be back in the kitchen and loving meal prep again in no time.

Do it Yourself Tips and Tricks for Installing a Refrigerator

Many fridges now come with ice makers and water dispensers built right in the door. This can be extremely convenient, and supply your family with clean, cool water and ice for your drinks right when you need it. Instead of battling with water jugs, filters and ice trays, a press of a button will get you what you need.

If you are curious about DIY, connecting the water line and ice dispenser are pretty easy DIY kitchen plumbing jobs if you know what to do. Luckily, we do! We’ve put together a step-by-step guide.

Would you Rather Have Professional Help?

While this doable by the home handyman, it might be preferable for you to get the job professionally done.

The reason is that if your water line isn’t well connected, you could suffer a great deal of water damage from leaks.

Having your Miami, FL plumber take care of this for you means that you are freed up to attend to other household items too.

How to Hook up the Water Line for the Water Dispenser

For both the ice line and the water dispenser, your first step is to turn the water supply off. You don’t want to get wet while doing this job.

First, find your water supply line. The cold water (the line that you’ll be using) is usually located on the right. Turn the valve so that that pipe is off.

Drill holes in the surrounding cabinetry (or in the basement ceiling, depending on where the piping is going). Wrap one end of the tubing that came with your supply kit into the valve and seal tight with thread-seal tape.

Thread the tubing through the cabinetry (or up through the floor) and make your way to the fridge, wrapping the tubing in big coils behind the fridge. Attach the other end of the piping the water dispenser valve, securing in place with a compression fitting.

How to Hook up Your Fridge Ice Maker

It is time to get those ice cubes going to cool your drinks. Identify the cold water line and determine where on the water line the valve for the ice maker is going to go. Drill a small hole in the line and attach the valve in place with clamps.

Thread the tubing through to the fridge, again leaving lots of extra coil, so that you can pull the fridge out without problems. Slide a compression nut and a ferrule onto the tubing and fasten in place to the fridge valve.

Be sure to discard the first round of ice cubes, just to make sure clean water has made its way through.It’s easy to take good care of your kitchen plumbing. Just ask us how!