Search
Close this search box.

How To Fix Bathroom Sink Drain Leaking Around Threads

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. This means that at no cost to you, we may receive a small commission for made purchases.

A leaking bathroom sink drain is an incredibly inconvenient problem that can happen at almost any time.

Leaking is very difficult to deal with and it can cause a lot of damage if it isn’t sorted quickly.

Leaving a leak to worsen can cause irreversible damage, so it is always important to deal with it as soon as you notice it. 

Checking for leaks is important as you don’t want to miss one that may have been there for longer than you thought.

When the leak is in your bathroom, there is a lot that can be damaged like the floor and your cabinets.

Fixing a leak from your bathroom sink (see also ‘What Is My Bathroom Sink Made Of?‘) is very important for reducing the amount of damage, but how can you fix it?

This article will show you how to fix your bathroom sink drain leak to make sure that there is no further damage. You can find out more below. 

How Does A Sink Drain Leak Around The Threads?

When you have spotted a leak in your bathroom, it is important to work out where the leak is coming from.

If you are unsure about how the leak has started, you won’t be able to repair the leak as you won’t know what the root cause is. 

When you spot a leak around the threads, there are usually 3 main causes of this issue.

They can include damage to your drain, loose sealing between the thread and the pipe, or a loose drain.

They are usually the main causes of leaks around the threads, but how can you work out which one has caused the leak? 

See If The Nut Is Loose

If the nut around the threads is loose, as if it is, this could be what is causing the leak.

If the nut is even slightly loose, water will still be able to leak out of the area, however small the gap is. 

How To Fix Bathroom Sink Drain Leaking Around Threads?

To check if the nut is loose, you can use an adjustable wrench to make sure that it is secure.

This will tell you where the leak is coming from and if the nut needs to be tightened to prevent any more water from leaking into your bathroom. 

Check The Thread

You can then begin to check the thread to check if you can see any signs of a leak.

It is important to look for any signs of leaks or cracks in the threads to make sure that there is no water leaking into the bathroom. 

If a plumber has attached tape to the threads previously, you need to make sure that they have not become loose.

If the tape has been used for a long time, it will become weaker and it won’t be able to hold. This could also be the cause of the leak. 

Look For Any Damage

Checking your drain for damage is important as it will need to be repaired to prevent future leaks.

The drain can become damaged either at the seal or the rubber gasket, so it is important to check those to see if they need to be replaced to prevent leaks. 

It is also important to check the sink for any cracks as there may be water leaking from there.

Checking the entire area of the sink for damage is important for making sure that you find the correct cause of the leak. 

How To Fix Bathroom Sink Drain Leaks Around The Threads

When you have found the cause of the leak, you can then begin to fix the leaks to make sure that the problem is solved.

The instructions below will help you to make sure that you correctly fix the sink drain and prevent any more leakages in your bathroom!

Turn Off The Water

Before you begin to fix the leak, you need to turn off the water to make sure that there are no further leaks.

Put a bucket underneath the thread to make sure that no more water leaks onto the floor, but turn off the water to prevent this from happening. 

Check If The Nut Is Loose

The nut is an important part of the sink as it helps to secure both the sink and the drain.

If the nut is loose, it can cause water to leak out of the gap, so it is important to check that it hasn’t come loose and that it is tightened. 

To check if the nut is loose, you can put the wrench over the nut and see if it moves.

If the nut does move, this indicates that it does need to be tightened as it is too loose.

Once it has been tightened, you can check that the problem has been solved by turning the water on and seeing if the water has stopped running out of this gap. 

Check The Drain For Damage

How To Fix Bathroom Sink Drain Leaking Around Threads?

If your sink drain is still leaking after tightening the nut, you will need to check the drain for any damage that could be causing a leak.

Go through all of the parts of the drain and carefully check them over for cracks that could be the cause of the leak. 

If you do find a part that is cracked or damaged, you will need to replace it.

This could be the main cause of the leak, so broken parts should never be left in the drain as they could cause the leak to worsen. 

Reseal The Drain

If you have not found any cracks or damage to the parts of the drain, you should check if the drain needs resealing.

You need to make sure that you reseal the drain properly to make sure that there are no more leaks around the seal. 

When you go to apply the new seal on the drain, you need to make sure that the old seal has been completely removed.

You can then reseal the drain so that the seal is no longer loose, which should help stop the leak if the seal is the issue. 

Use Plumbers Putty

Although plumbers putty is not an adhesive, it can work very well at making sure leaks are stopped between the sink and the metal drain flange.

To use it, you need to clean and dry the surfaces, roll the putty, and wrap it under the piece at the top of the drain. 

Use Silicone Caulk

When you are using plumbers putty, you can combine silicone caulk with it.

The silicone caulk hardens and secures the putty around the drain hole, so there are no leaks.

It is important to use the silicone caulk to further secure the drain hole. 

How To Prevent The Sink Drain Leaking Around The Threads

When you are fixing your bathroom sink, there are a few things you can do to prevent the sink from leaking again.

Fixing the sink is important, but overdoing it can cause more leaks to happen.

Make Sure The Silicone Caulk Is Hard

If you do not let the silicone caulk harden before using the sink, this could cause the leak to worsen as the silicone won’t be hardened.

This means that it will not be stopping any leaks and the silicone will be soft, so it won’t be preventing any other leaks. 

Always Check All Parts Of The Drain

How To Fix Bathroom Sink Drain Leaking Around Threads?

It is advised that you do take the drain apart to check for any damage to the drain part as this could affect the leak.

If there is a broken part, it needs to be replaced to prevent the sink from continuing to leak.

Without taking the drain apart, you will not be able to tell if a part needs replacing. 

Keep Checking For Leaks

Even if you think that you have completely fixed the sink, still keep checking that there are no other leaks.

You should regularly keep checking the sink to make sure that the problem has been fixed and there is no more water leaking from the sink.

Keep a bucket or a piece of paper underneath the sink and keep checking if there is any water in it. 

Call A Plumber

If you have continuously tried to fix the leak around the threads and nothing is working, you will need to call a plumber.

They are professionals, so they will be able to find out what the problem is and stop the sink from leaking. 

Final Thoughts

To conclude, you can fix the sink drain leak around the threads once you have found out where the leak is coming from.

This is important because you need to make sure that you are fixing the right problem and not allowing the leak (see also ‘Beginner’s Guide To Detecting And Fixing Slab Leaks‘) to worsen. 

You need to check the nuts, the parts of the drain, the seal, and the sink to make sure that there is no leaks present.

If you do find where the leak is coming from, you can then focus on fixing that area and preventing any other leaks.

You can call a plumber if you are unsure and need some advice.

Share:

On Key

Related Posts

Is Drano Bad for Pipes? The Truth Revealed

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. This means that at no cost to you, we may receive a small commission for made purchases. When it comes to dealing with clogged drains, many homeowners turn