How To Install A Kitchen Sink Drain (with Pictures) - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Install a Kitchen Sink Drain PDF download Download Article Co-authored by David Balkan

Last Updated: March 10, 2025 Fact Checked

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  • Inserting the Basket Strainer
    • |
  • Connecting the Drainpipes
    • |
  • Video
    • |
  • Q&A
    • |
  • Things You'll Need
|Show more |Show less X

This article was co-authored by David Balkan. David Balkan is a Professional Plumber, CEO of Balkan Sewer and Water Main Service, and President of Balkan Sewer and Drain Cleaning. As a hands-on owner of these companies for over 40 years, David is knowledgeable about water service lines, sewers, and drain line issues. David is a Committee Chairman of the Master Plumbers Council and has sat on the Executive Committee of the Sub Surface Plumbers Association of New York for over 30 years. His knowledge and solution-oriented approach contributed to Balkan Sewer and Water Main Service being the largest and most trusted service in New York City and the recipient of the 2017 Angie’s List Super Service Award. There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 224,519 times.

If your kitchen sink drain is corroded and leaking, installing a new basket strainer is an easy way to solve the problem. Start by adding plumber’s putty to the underside of the basket strainer and fit it into the drain hole at the bottom of the sink. Then, tighten the nut with a basket wrench to secure it in place. You can then fit a brass tailpiece onto the bottom of the basket strainer, reconnect the drainpipes, and you’re done!

How to Install a Kitchen Sink Drain

  1. Disconnect the drainpipe and take out any existing strainer.
  2. Wind a rope of plumber's putty on the underside of the basket strainer.
  3. Insert the basket strainer into the sink hole and fit the rubber washer and friction ring beneath.
  4. Screw and tighten the nut to the bottom of the basket strainer.
  5. Connect a brass tailpiece and put a rubber compression gasket in the drain pipe.
  6. Attach the drainpipe using the connector ring.
  7. Tighten the connector ring and test the drain.

Steps

Part 1 Part 1 of 2:

Inserting the Basket Strainer

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  1. Step 1 Choose a drain... 1 Choose a drain assembly kit that fits your sink. A drain assembly kit will contain a basket strainer, locking nut, rubber washer, friction ring, and a brass tailpiece to connect the drain to the drainpipes. Make sure you have all of the pieces you’ll need to install your drain and make sure the drain fits into the drain hole at the bottom of your sink.[1] [2]
    • Measure the drain hole to make sure you choose a basket strainer that fits.
    • If your sink has an existing basket strainer, use it as a model to help purchase your new one so you know it will fit.
    • Make sure the tailpiece fits your drainpipes as well, and choose a brass tailpiece so it lasts longer.
    • You can find sink drain assembly kits at your local hardware store, at department stores, and online.
  2. Step 2 Disconnect the drainpipe and remove the existing strainer if there is one. 2 Disconnect the drainpipe and remove the existing strainer if there is one. Use a pair of pliers to turn the metal fittings on the drainpipe and then separate it from the tailpiece on the underside of the drain. Then, unscrew the nut on the underside of the basket strainer with a basket wrench and pull out the strainer from the drain hole at the bottom of the sink.[3]
    • If you’re installing a kitchen sink drain onto a sink that’s already installed and has drainpipes hooked up to it, you need to disconnect them before you install the drain.
    • Be careful not to damage the pipes with the pliers when you separate them.
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  3. Step 3 Form a rope with a piece of plumber’s putty. 3 Form a rope with a piece of plumber’s putty. Take a small amount of plumber’s putty from the container and knead it in your hands for a minute or so to warm it up and make it more pliable. Then, use the palms of your hands to roll the putty into a cylindrical rope shape about 4–5 inches (10–13 cm) long.[4]
    • Guage how long the rope needs to be by wrapping it around the bottom of the basket strainer.
    • Form the rope of putty with an even diameter.
    • You can find plumber’s putty at hardware stores, at department stores, and online.
  4. Step 4 Apply the putty to the underside of the lip of the basket. 4 Apply the putty to the underside of the lip of the basket. Flip the basket strainer upside down and use your fingers to press the plumber’s putty onto the underside of the lip. Wrap the putty around the entire basket strainer, pressing it into place.[5]
    • Don’t press the putty is hard that the rope is spread thin and the putty hangs over the lip of the basket.
    • If the rope of putty is too long, simply pull off the excess length and connect the two ends of the putty.
  5. Step 5 Press the basket into the drain hole at the bottom of the sink. 5 Press the basket into the drain hole at the bottom of the sink. Hold the basket strainer over the drain hole and gently push it into place so it’s even and the lip of the strainer is flush against the edge of the drain hole. The plumber’s putty will expand in the space between the lip of the basket strainer and the drain hole as you press down to create a watertight seal.
    • Push straight down to create an even seal.
    • The putty will dry and form a washer, so don’t press so hard that it’s forced out of the sides of the basket strainer.
  6. Step 6 Wipe off the excess putty on the underside of the sink with a cloth. 6 Wipe off the excess putty on the underside of the sink with a cloth. The plumber’s putty will have expanded and an excess amount may be hanging or pooling at the bottom of the basket. Use a clean cloth to wipe away the excess putty so the seal is clean and consistent.[6]
    • Open the cabinet doors and access the space beneath the sink if you’re working on a pre-installed sink.
    • A little bit of excess putty is fine, but if too much is hanging out of the sides of the basket strainer, it can affect the seal.
  7. Step 7 Fit the rubber washer and friction ring onto the underside of the basket. 7 Fit the rubber washer and friction ring onto the underside of the basket. Slide the black rubber washer over the bottom of the basket strainer. Then, slide the thinner, white friction ring over the bottom so it’s pressed against the rubber washer.[7]
    • Hold the 2 pieces in place with 1 hand.
    • Put the rubber washer on first to create an additional layer of a watertight seal, then the friction ring to protect the washer from the nut.
  8. Step 8 Screw the nut onto the basket strainer. 8 Screw the nut onto the basket strainer. Take the nut, which looks like a large metal ring, and line the threads up with the threads on the bottom of the basket strainer. Turn the nut clockwise, or to the right, to screw it on. Continue turning it until it’s as tight as you can get it.[8]
    • Use your hands to turn the nut as much as you can.
  9. Step 9 Use needlenose pliers and a basket wrench to tighten the nut. 9 Use needlenose pliers and a basket wrench to tighten the nut. Take a pair of needlenose pliers and grip the slots of the bottom of the strainer to hold the basket still. Fit a basket wrench over the nut and turn it as far as you can to create as tight of a seal as possible.
    • It’s important that you tighten the nut with a wrench so the basket strainer is sealed properly and water won’t leak out of the drain.[9]
    • You can find basket wrenches at home improvement stores, at department stores, and online.

    Tip: If you don’t have a basket wrench, use an adjustable wrench with jaws that you can widen enough to fit over the nut.

  10. Step 10 Remove the excess plumber’s putty from the sink. 10 Remove the excess plumber’s putty from the sink. Use your fingers to pull off the plumber’s putty that has been pressed out between the basket strainer and the drain hole. Remove all of the excess putty so the drain looks clean and consistent and the seal is watertight.[10]
    • There will always be a little bit of putty squeezed out from tightening the nut with the wrench.
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Part 2 Part 2 of 2:

Connecting the Drainpipes

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  1. Step 1 Attach a brass tailpiece to the bottom of the basket strainer. 1 Attach a brass tailpiece to the bottom of the basket strainer. Take a brass tailpiece and line up the threads with the threads on the bottom of the basket strainer. Screw on the tailpiece as tightly as you can with your hands.
    • You can find brass tailpieces at hardware stores and home improvement stores.
  2. Step 2 Place a rubber compression gasket inside of the drain pipe. 2 Place a rubber compression gasket inside of the drain pipe. A rubber compression gasket is a small, flexible gasket that creates a watertight seal. Insert a compression gasket into the top of the drainpipe of the sink. It should fit snugly into place.[11]
    • Rubber gaskets come in many different sizes. Choose one that fits the diameter of your drain pipe.
    • You can find rubber compression gaskets at hardware stores, at home improvement stores, and online.
  3. Step 3 Hold the top of the drainpipe against the bottom of the brass tailpiece. 3 Hold the top of the drainpipe against the bottom of the brass tailpiece. The drainpipe that you disconnected will be just below the brass tailpiece of the sink drain. Move the drainpipe so it’s touching the bottom of the brass tailpiece and the 2 edges are aligned.[12]
    • Don’t force or jerk the drainpipe or you could break it.
  4. Step 4 Slide the connector ring on the drainpipe up the brass tailpiece and tighten it. 4 Slide the connector ring on the drainpipe up the brass tailpiece and tighten it. The drainpipe has a small plastic ring that is threaded to fit onto the tailpiece. Slide it up the drainpipe and align the threads with the threads at the bottom of the brass tailpiece. Screw the connector onto the brass tailpiece.[13]
  5. Step 5 Tighten the connector with a wrench. 5 Tighten the connector with a wrench. Take an adjustable wrench and fit it over the connector you screwed onto the brass tailpiece. Turn the wrench to tighten the connector so the drainpipe is connected to the tailpiece and is sealed.[14]
    • Be careful not to overtighten the connector or you could crack the plastic.
  6. Step 6 Turn the sink on to test the drain. 6 Turn the sink on to test the drain. Test the drain to make sure the water is flowing through the basket strainer and into the drain pipes by turning on the water. Check beneath the sink to make sure water isn’t leaking out and the drain is working properly.[15]

    Tip: If there is water leaking out of the basket strainer, one of the connections may be loose. Turn off the sink, tighten the brass tailpiece and the plastic connector, and test the water again.

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Community Q&A

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  • Question Does a kitchen sink require a vent pipe?? Drew Hawkins1 Drew Hawkins1 Community Answer Not if you're using a basket strainer, which is slotted to allow air to flow through so gravity can drain the sink. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 5 Helpful 6
  • Question How do I remove a drain to clean it when it's full of hair? Drew Hawkins1 Drew Hawkins1 Community Answer It will be easier to unclog the drain rather than remove it and clean it. Check out our helpful article about how to unclog a drain! Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 4 Helpful 8
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Things You’ll Need

  • Basket strainer
  • Plumber’s putty
  • Needlenose pliers
  • Basket wrench
  • Brass tailpiece
  • Rubber compression gasket
  • Adjustable wrench

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References

  1. ↑ David Balkan. Professional Plumber & CEO of Balkan Sewer & Water Main. Expert Interview
  2. ↑ https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/how-to-replace-a-kitchen-sink-basket-strainer/
  3. ↑ https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/how-to-replace-a-kitchen-sink-basket-strainer/
  4. ↑ https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/how-to-replace-a-kitchen-sink-basket-strainer/
  5. ↑ https://www.thisoldhouse.com/kitchens/21016523/how-to-install-a-kitchen-sink
  6. ↑ https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/how-to-replace-a-kitchen-sink-basket-strainer/
  7. ↑ https://youtu.be/xra7T5x4swc?t=125
  8. ↑ https://youtu.be/xra7T5x4swc?t=130
  9. ↑ https://youtu.be/xra7T5x4swc?t=155
More References (6)
  1. ↑ https://youtu.be/xra7T5x4swc?t=194
  2. ↑ https://youtu.be/HDWxn4kHzwY?t=304
  3. ↑ https://youtu.be/HDWxn4kHzwY?t=320
  4. ↑ https://youtu.be/HDWxn4kHzwY?t=318
  5. ↑ https://youtu.be/HDWxn4kHzwY?t=348
  6. ↑ https://youtu.be/HDWxn4kHzwY?t=369

About This Article

David Balkan Co-authored by: David Balkan Professional Plumber This article was co-authored by David Balkan. David Balkan is a Professional Plumber, CEO of Balkan Sewer and Water Main Service, and President of Balkan Sewer and Drain Cleaning. As a hands-on owner of these companies for over 40 years, David is knowledgeable about water service lines, sewers, and drain line issues. David is a Committee Chairman of the Master Plumbers Council and has sat on the Executive Committee of the Sub Surface Plumbers Association of New York for over 30 years. His knowledge and solution-oriented approach contributed to Balkan Sewer and Water Main Service being the largest and most trusted service in New York City and the recipient of the 2017 Angie’s List Super Service Award. This article has been viewed 224,519 times. 15 votes - 80% Co-authors: 11 Updated: March 10, 2025 Views: 224,519 Categories: Drains Article SummaryX

To install a kitchen sink drain, you’ll need a drain assembly kit that fits your sink, pliers, a basket wrench, plumber’s putty, and a brass tailpiece to attach the basket strainer to the main drainpipe. You’ll need to disconnect the drain pipe and remove the existing strainer if you haven’t already. Once it’s removed, you’ll need to apply some plumber’s putty to the underside of the new basket strainer to connect it to the drain hole. You’ll then need to tighten the nut on the bottom of the basket to create a watertight seal. When everything’s in place, you can take a brass tailpiece and use a connector ring to attach it to the main pipe. For more advice, like how to test your new drain, read on! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Yes No Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. David Balkan Co-authored by: David Balkan Professional Plumber Co-authors: 11 Updated: March 10, 2025 Views: 224,519 80% of readers found this article helpful. 15 votes - 80% Click a star to add your vote Patrick R.

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