How to Install a PVC Sink Drain Using a P-Trap

Wipe the rim of the drain hole in the bottom of the sink with a clean, dry rag. Roll a piece of plumber's putty into a pencil shape long enough to encircle the rim of the drain hole. Lay the bead of putty around the rim of the hole.

Open the package containing the drain parts. Disassemble the assembly, wipe each piece clean and lay each one on a clean rag. Push the strainer section into the drain hole in the sink. Hold the strainer in place in the hole.

Reach under the sink and slide the rubber washer from the drain kit onto the neck of the strainer. Slide the paper washer onto the neck. Twist the lock nut onto the threads of the neck of the strainer. Turn the lock nut as far as possible by hand. Snug the lock nut in place with a pipe wrench. Wipe the excess putty from around the strainer inside the sink with a clean rag.

Slide the tailpiece washer onto the neck of the strainer. Wrap the exposed threads on the neck of the strainer with Teflon plumber's tape. Twist the tailpiece onto the Teflon-coated threads. Snug the tailpiece with your pipe wrench.

Cut a piece of three-quarter-inch PVC with your hacksaw. Wipe the debris from the pipe with a dry rag. then slide one end of the pipe into the open connector in the drain pipe in your wall.

Slide the horizontally facing outlet of the P-trap union onto the pipe coming from the wall. Loosen the nut holding the two pieces of the P-trap together so that the lower part swings freely.

Cut another piece of PVC pipe long enough to go from the tailpiece on the bottom of the strainer assembly to the inlet of the P-trap. Wipe the cut end of the pipe with a rag to remove any debris. Slide the pipe in place on both ends to check the fit of the entire drain assembly.

Disassemble the drain assembly. Unscrew the nut in the middle of the P-trap and take the two pieces apart. Sand the ends of both pieces of pipe. Sand the inside of both the inlet and outlet openings of the P-trap pieces. Wipe away the debris from each sanded area with a dry rag.

Apply PVC primer to each sanded area. Apply glue to the ends of the pipes and slide the assembly back together leaving the P-trap pieces separate. Wrap Teflon tape around the threads of the P-trap union. Twist the nut onto the threads to connect the P-trap. Hold the P-trap with one hand and snug the nut with your pipe wrench to complete the assembly.