When to Replace Your Kitchen Sink

SHOULD I REPLACE MY KITCHEN SINK?

Are you thinking about replacing your kitchen sink?

If so, there are a few things that you should know before heading out to your local hardware retail outlet. Below is a list of items that you need to be aware of, before you put out the money. 

1) What is the story behind your tailpiece? This is important. Unless you plan on replacing all of your existing plumbing, you’ll need to ensure that your new sink will match up to your existing tailpiece and other plumbing fixtures.  If you aren't sure, contact a professional in order to ensure that you understand what sink will work for your particular needs.  

2) Is you new sink going to cover everything? Measuring your sink opening is necessary to ensure that you are buying the right sink for your needs.  The last thing you’re going to want to do is buy a new countertop to accommodate your new sink.  And having ugly gaps in your existing countertop is simply unappealing.  Measure twice and buy once in order to save time, money and a lot of frustration.  Once again, if you are concerned about your ability to measure and choose the right sink for your existing space, call in a professional who can help.  

3) Have you had water leaks in your old plumbing?  If so, your countertop and cabinetry may have become damaged due to water exposure and your new sink may not fit properly.  Look for water stains along the rim of the countertop and under the sink in the cabinet to see whether if there is evidence of previous water leaks.  If so, you should consider replacing your countertop and cabinet as well.  If not, you should be good to go.  

4) Buy new sealant for your new sink.  Many first timers and inexperienced DIYers will try to reuse old caulk and sealant to set the new sink.  But, this inevitably leads to leaking and faulty fitment in the new sink.  Buy new caulk and sealant and completely remove all of the old sealant before installing the new sink before installation.  

5) If you do install a new sink, take the time to inspect and flush out the existing plumbing.  It is a rare opportunity that you will get the option of cleaning your plumbing, so take it when you can.  Completely flush out your existing plumbing before hooking up new supply lines or other new plumbing.  This will ensure that you don’t wind up with clogs or leaks later.  

6) Do you have enough holes? Last but not least, when you are selecting your sink, you will need to ensure that the new sink has the same number of access holes as the old one.  Otherwise, you might not be able to reuse your existing hardware such as your faucet or sprayer.  Make sure that you have the same number of holes or plan to purchase the additional hardware you need to make it work.

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