Troubleshooting with
Kitchen Sinks
Most kitchens have a fairly simple plumbing setup that includes hot and cold water supply lines, a waste line for the sink (or sinks) and, for kitchens with a gas range, a gas supply pipe. Many kitchens also have hookups for dishwasher, disposer, ice maker, water treatment system and/or instant hot water, but these are generally tied-in to the sink's plumbing.
The visible part of the sink's plumbing is nearly always located directly below the sink, inside the sink's base cabinet.
Beneath the sink, you can generally see two small valves: one for the hot water supply, the other for the cold. Turning these valves clockwise stops the flow of water through the flexible supply tubes that route water to the faucet.
On the faucet side of the cold-water shutoff valve, there may be other water connections too-sometimes by way of a saddle valve. This is generally where connections are made with flexible copper or plastic tubing to serve a water treatment device, ice maker or instant-hot water dispenser.
Shutoff valves serve the hot and cold water supplies to the faucet, though some older houses don't have these. Flexible supply tubes connect the valves to the threaded tailpieces of the faucet. Faucets with a separate or integral sprayer have a sprayer hose that connects onto another tailpiece at the center of the faucet body.
As the central fixture in the most active room of the house, the kitchen sink sees plenty of action. Day in and day out, it is the focal point of food preparation and cleanup. Accordingly, kitchen sinks are made to be both attractive and extremely durable.
And of course, modern sinks no longer consist of a simple faucet and bowl. They have multiple bowls of various sizes and shapes and are designed with integral drainers, cutting boards, soap dispensers, instant hot water dispensers, purified water taps, sprayers and more.
Sinks are made of stainless steel, enameled metal, solid surfacing (countertop-type) materials and quartz composites.
Stainless steel sinks are made in many sizes and several thicknesses, measured by gauge. (The lower the number, the thicker the material.) For durability and resistance to denting, scratching and staining, 18-gauge or thicker is best.
Enamel on cast iron or steel sinks are made in an assortment of colors. They're easy to keep clean but their heavier weight calls for strong countertops. Cast iron is preferred over pressed steel.
Some solid-surface countertop materials may be formed to include rimless, seamless sinks that are a perfect match. Because the color and pattern goes all the way through the material, scratches can be buffed out.
Quartz composite sinks come in a variety of colors and patterns. These are an attractive, stylish alternative to more conventional materials.
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