You can't believe how many people ask me how do you fix a leaking P trap. The answer is simple; you can't. A leaking P trap dries out and becomes useless. If it doesn't dry out or get any worse, then it's probably just a case of replacing the P trap. If however, your P trap isn't drier than it should be, you're probably having more serious problems.

Every kitchen sink trap will leak.

It's a sad fact of life that most every sink trap will eventually leak. This happens because every kitchen is different, with different traps and washers, and different washers and traps working in different ways. I'll talk about some of the more common reasons why your kitchen sink trap is leaking.

Common causes of nuts and washers

One of the more common causes of leaks in kitchen sinks is compression nuts and washers. The compression nuts are used to secure the P trap in place. To remove the P trap from its location, you simply unscrew the compression nut and pull it out. If the washers are severely frayed, you may need more than one set of replacement washers to fix the problem.

Damage from the factory

Another common reason for a leaking sink P trap or straight from the factory is damage to the threads of the trap. As time passes, these threads become less tight. If you've had the same trap for a while, it's not difficult to notice a change in tightening of the threads. Most manufacturers advise to tighten all screws and washers using a screwdriver tip on the very first job after installation. It's rare that this has any effect on the longevity or usability of your kitchen sink.

Another problem with the compression nuts is that over time, the washers can become misaligned. When the threads get misaligned, they can come loose and start leaking. This can be easily fixed by running a few screws through the washers. You can also use an Allen wrench to tighten them. If you have misaligned washers, there's no need for a new set.

If neither of the above tips works, your leaking sink P trap may be coming loose from the bottom of the sink. This can be easily fixed using an adjustable wrench. First, remove the sink bolts and remove the P trap from the bottom of the sink. You can then tighten the compression nut using an adjustable wrench.