The Anatomy Of A Kitchen Sink
A kitchen sink is a home essential for most people. These sinks facilitate many essential day-to-day functions in the home. These functions include dishwashing, wastewater disposal, producing drinking water, hand washing and many other uses. Kitchen sinks have most of the same standard parts you find on all standard sinks.
This means your will find a faucet, controls, shut-off valve, water supply lines, and basin. Additionally, because kitchen sinks serve many purposes and are complex, they often come with several parts that other sinks do not.
Here are some of the common parts of a kitchen sink assembly:
How To Make Dishwasher Drain Hose Connections
Aaron Stickley is a licensed plumber with 15 years of experience in commercial, new residential plumbing, and residential service and repair. He started his own residential service and repair plumbing business. Aaron’s articles about plumbing on The Spruce span four years.
The Spruce / Ana Cadena
- Working Time: 1 hr, 30 mins
- Total Time: 1 hr, 30 mins
- Skill Level: Intermediate
- Estimated Cost: $15 to 25
As part of the overall installation of a dishwasher, hooking up the drain is usually pretty easy, but it’s important to understand the different options when doing so, with or without a garbage disposal.
If you are removing a dishwasher and replacing it with a new one, it is usually easiest to simply copy the same drain hookups that were used on the old dishwasher. But if you are adding a dishwasher for the first time, you may need to install a special drain fitting known as a Y-branch tailpiece to give the dirty water a place to flow into your drain system.
The different drain variations you may encounter include:
- Drain line connected through an air gap to the garbage disposal
- Drain line connected through an air gap directly to the drain
- Drain line configured in a “high loop” to the garbage disposal
- Drain line configured in a “high loop” directly to the drain
Why Is My Sink Tailpiece Leaking
Tailpiece Leaks Running water through the sink drain and observing the tailpiece with a flashlight should help you determine if it is leaking. Leaking tailpieces usually allow water to seep out of its connections. Tightening the slip nuts or replacing the plastic slip washers should correct this problem.
Don’t Miss: How To Deep Clean Your Dishwasher
How Do You Install A P Trap In A Kitchen Sink
How to Install the P-Trap under a Sink
Plumbing A Double Kitchen Sink

Double sinks are convenient and are increasingly common. Plumbing a double sink isn’t too different from plumbing a single basin sink. However, you will need to be more precise with measurement so everything lines up. There will only be one connection to the drain, so you need to connect the two sinks together in the plumbing.
- 1Install your strainers Install and plumb your sinks using the steps above for a single basin sink, but remember to use a Tee fitting so you can install another connecting pipe.
- 2Connect your sinks As shown in the image below, use a connecting pipe to join up the plumbing. This should be above your P-trap and drain as all the water needs to flow down a single route. Connect the pipe between the kitchen sinks and secure it in place using a connector ring, nuts, and bolts.
- 3Test the connection Check the water flow and ensure that nothing is leaking. If everything is working, then it should be safe to use.
Recommended Reading: Whirlpool Dishwasher Top Rack Clips
What Kitchen Plumbing Consists Of
Kitchen Sink
This really is the centerpiece of your kitchen plumbing, and its hugely important in your home.
Your kitchen sink is made up of a number of different components with a metal strainer, a rubber gasket, a strainer nut, a tailpiece, a coupling, and then the trap. Its important to understand how these fit together in order to plumb your kitchen sink correctly.
Garbage Disposal
Your garbage disposal is used to help you get rid of food waste. The mechanism pulverizes the food and breaks it into smaller chunks to be washed through the system. This is really important because it stops your plumbing from becoming clogged with bits of food.
Garbage disposals typically fit directly into your sink plumbing and have several components, plus a motorized mechanism to break up the food waste. This then connects directly into your plumbing.
Dishwasher
Dishwashers are now in almost every home and make it much easier to clean large numbers of dishes quickly. Typically, dishwashers are plumbed directly into your drain, but they may be routed through your garbage disposal so food waste can be dealt with.
Refrigerator
Refrigerators are absolutely vital to modern life. Refrigerators are plumbed using a copper tube with a nut, a T fitting, and a shut-off valve. Refrigerators are connected to your cold water line so they can produce ice.
Plumbing A Kitchen Island Sink
Plumbing an island kitchen sink isn’t actually too different from plumbing a regular kitchen sink there’s just one key difference, the venting. A vent is typically installed 6 inches above the overflow level to ensure that air can flow in and the water pressure remains even. In an island sink, this isnt an option.
Instead, you need to install an island vent that goes as high as possible within the cabinet before flowing through the drain.
- 1Connect your P trap Use a pipe to connect your P trap to your venting. This will allow you to direct the water across to a tee connector, your vent, and your drain. Use connector rings to hold this in place, and use a wrench to tighten both ends.
- 2Attach your vent Attach your venting pipe above the pipe to allow air to flow into your water supply. The other end of the venting pipe should go down into the floor and connect to your drains. Again, use connecting rings to secure in place and then a wrench to tighten.
Don’t Miss: Are All Clad Pans Dishwasher Safe
How Do You Install A Branch Tailpiece On A Dishwasher
1-1/2″ X 8″ Dishwasher branch tailpiece recommended Procedure for installation direct connection:
What To Consider Before Buying Sink Tailpiece
Even deciding on an insignificant purchase can make you feel like choosing between the red pill or the blue one. But is the headache really worth it? Online shopping was meant to make our experience simpler, easier and enjoyable. But in reality it is quite easy to get confused on the decision which one to buy?.
This is where our efforts come in! This list of sink tailpiece will surely save you valuable time and effort. However another question remains, what makes our compilation the best? Or on what basis you should trust this sink tailpiece list.
Is it virtually possible to know every detail of a product for making a perfect purchase? The answer is definitely NO, its not! Then how do you make the correct decision while buying sink tailpiece? Well, the complexity of selecting a single product from a sea of them can be simplified taking into consideration a few key metrics regarding the product.
We feed thousands of data to our AI regarding these products through advanced algorithms. Based on the relevant data i.e. brand, features, specs, ratings and reviews and many others a list of best sink tailpiece has been prepared by the AI.
Don’t Miss: Is Yeti Rambler Dishwasher Safe
How To Add A Dishwasher Waste Line To An Existing Sink Trap
Built-in dishwashers pump out water through a hose, also known as a waste line. The line runs from the dishwasher to a nozzle on the garbage disposal. If this is your first dishwasher, or you don’t have a garbage disposal with a nozzle, you can set up the p-trap with a special section that has a nozzle for attaching the hose. The job requires basic do-it-yourself plumbing skills and a few everyday hand tools.
1.
Place a small plastic bucket under the p-trap to catch water in the trap. Using adjustable pliers, loosen and detach the slip-nut from the upper end of the p-trap that attaches to the tailpiece that extends down from the sink bowl.
2.
Loosen the slip-nut at the lower end of the p-trap. Rotate the trap to one side, empty out the water into the bucket and remove the bucket from under the sink. Remove the upper slip-nut and washer from the sink tailpiece, and save these.
3.
Unscrew and remove the slip-nut from the larger threaded end of a PVC dishwasher branch tailpiece, and set the nut and plastic washer aside. Slide the upper end onto the lower end of the sink tailpiece, and push it all the way up until it stops.
4.
Rotate the p-trap up, and mark the lower end of the branch tailpiece where it lines up with the upper end of the p-trap where the slip-nut was detached. Pull off the branch tailpiece, and measure the distance from the lower end to the mark.
References
How To Install A Tail Piece On A Kitchen Sink With A Dishwasher Drain
Dishwashers eject spent water with considerable force, so it’s important to connect them properly to the existing plumbing. On sinks with a garbage disposer installed, a connection is provided on the disposer for this purpose. But if you don’t have a disposer, the plumbing can get complicated. One of the easiest methods is to replace the existing tail piece on your kitchen sink with one that has a dishwasher drain connection, known as a dishwasher branch tail piece.
1.
Place a bucket under the sink beneath the drain trap to catch leaks.
2.
Detach the large nut holding the top of the old tail piece to the sink drain outlet. The tail piece is connected either directly to the bottom of the basket strainer or to an intermediate piece attached to the strainer with a slip-joint connector, depending on the type of sink and drain arrangement. Although drain line nuts should generally be installed hand-tight, it may be necessary to use a pipe wrench or adjustable wrench to remove them.
3.
Detach the lower slip-joint connector holding the bottom of the tail piece into the trap. Swivel the trap slightly so that the end of the old tail piece will pull up and out of the trap.
5.
Place a new slip-joint connecting nut on the bottom of the branch connector, followed by a new gasket. Slide the end of the branch tail piece into the trap and loosely thread on the slip-joint nut.
References
Tips
Writer Bio
Read Also: What Is Rinse Aid For Dishwasher
S For Installing A New Dishwasher
Question: How Do You Hook Up A Dishwasher Drain To The Sink

Air Gap to the Drain
- First, the dishwasher drain hose is connected onto the small side of the air gap, using a hose clamp.
- The larger side of the air gap is then hooked up to the Y-branch tailpiece on the sink drain with a 7/8-inch rubber hose.
- Connect both ends of the hose by using hose clamps.
Read Also: Frigidaire Gallery Dishwasher How To Start
Can A Dishwasher Tailpiece Be Installed Horizontally
This is a question our experts keep getting from time to time. Now, we have got the complete detailed explanation and answer for everyone, who is interested!
Asked by: Jeffery Emmerich
Yes, you can install a dishwasher ‘wye’ on horizontal pipe, but that is not a dishwasher ‘wye’. That is a dishwasher tailpiece that is made to attach to the basket strainer of the sink vertically.
How Dishwashers Are Connected
Because dishwashers drain into your kitchens plumbing system, it is possible that dirty water can move back into the dishwasher and re-contaminate the clean dishes therein. To avoid this, the creation of airspace is an important aspect of dishwasher installation.
There are numerous ways in which this airspace can be created, but you should always check local ordinances and plumbing codes to ensure that your installation falls within regulation. The two main options which are general requirements in most jurisdictions are a high loop or an air gap.
With a high loop connection, the dishwashers drain is looped up underneath the countertop as high as it possibly can be before running back down to connect into the drain. This method can work because the top of the loop is situated above the dishwashers flood level.
Incorporating a high loop will significantly decrease the chances of drain water moving back into the dishwasher.
Another alternative is the air gap method of connecting a dishwasher. This method employs the use of a fitting, usually made of metal or plastic, that is installed on the countertop or the sink. It usually features a decorative cap that somewhat disguises its primary purpose.
This device makes use of two hose fittings one that connects to the dishwashers drain hose and one that connects directly to the drainpipe or garbage disposal. The air gap functions by incorporating fresh air into the system.
Recommended Reading: Kitchen Aid Dishwasher Parts List
Considerations Before Installing Or Replacing A Kitchen Sink
Configuration
The layout and configuration of your kitchen sink will impact the type of sink you can install in your home. There are two main types of sink, and youll have to pick a model that will work in the space you have:
- Drop-in: drop-in sinks literally drop into a hole in the kitchen counter with a visible lip on the surface.
- Undermount sinks: these are fitted under the sink and look a bit more elegant but are more challenging to install.
There isn’t a great deal of difference in terms of plumbing, but drop-in sinks are the best option for DIYers.
Kitchen Size
The size of your kitchen will directly impact the size of the sink you select. Larger sinks offer some advantages, but theyre generally more expensive. Youll need to measure the space before you buy to make sure your kitchen sink and the plumbing can all be accommodated.
Traffic & Lifestyle
Every sink has slightly different requirements, and this is typically influenced by the amount of use they get. In a busy household, your sink will see considerable wear and tear, and you need a tough material that will stand up to it. You also might want to consider a double basin sink, so you have more space for active use. Select a kitchen sink that fits your needs.
Maintenance Requirements
Wrong Side Of The Trap
The first problem is the dishwasher drain is connected to the sewer side of the trap. Water always sits in the bottom of the P-trap, and this prevents sewer gases from coming into the house. The dishwasher drain must be connected before the P-trap, not after it, which is what was done here. With this improper installation, sewer gases have the potential to come back into the dishwasher. The diagram below right shows a proper installation.
The diagram below right shows a proper installation.
Read Also: Maytag Jetclean Dishwasher Eq Plus
Drain Connection With Air Gap And Garbage Disposal
If an air gap fitting is used, there will be two lengths of drain hose: the factory drain hose on the dishwasher, which runs from the dishwasher to the smaller of the two tailpieces on the air gap, and a 7/8-inch hose that runs from the other tailpiece on the air gap to the dishwasher nipple on the garbage disposal.
Why Does My Dishwasher Drain Into The Sink
One such reason for your dishwasher backing up into your sink may be that you have a clog in your garbage disposal. This usually only happens after your garbage disposal is newly installed, but it can happen even if you have had the disposal for a while. To fix the problem, simply remove the drain plug.
Also Check: Ge Dishwasher Orange Light Flashing
The Anatomy Of A Bathroom Sink
A bathroom sink is normally less complex than a kitchen sink. Bathroom sinks normally contain fewer parts than the standard kitchen sink. However, they still feature the same universal parts such as the basin, faucet, water supply lines, and controls. Additionally, there are parts found in bathroom sinks that are often missing from a kitchen sink design.
- Stoppers: Most bathroom sinks are equipped with a drain that can be closed when needed to keep water in the basin. The devices that allow you to close the drain are called stoppers. They consist of a fitting that is housed inside the drain and a lift rod to lift and lower the stopper valve. The mechanism is activated with the assistance of a clevis trap, spring clip, pivot rod, and relevant hardware.
- Valve Stops: Although these are also found on kitchen sinks, they differ slightly in the bathroom. Most bathroom sinks have separate shut-off valves for hot and cold water. By turning the respective handle, you can turn the water off without disrupting the toilet, shower, or other fixtures in your bathroom.