Leak under kitchen sink

[jimbodicko]

Hi all

The tenant of our flat just emailed me this picture of the very slow leak under the kitchen sink. The colour and location suggests it is to do with the pipe above. Any suggestions as to the cause and how I fix it? I'm at good DIYer level and don't really have the change to call a plumber out.

Sorry, image got rotated in uploading and don't know how to fix!

Many thanks,
James

Untitled

• jimbodicko
• 12 Jan 2013
• 1

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[joe-90]

You'll need more than change to get a plumber out.

Someone has to find the leak, no-one can do that but you.

 

[jimbodicko]

You'll need more than change to get a plumber out.

Someone has to find the leak, no-one can do that but you.

Exactly why I would like to fix it myself!

It is quite a journey to get to the flat and I am going today to look myself: I just hoped someone might be able to offer guidance so I can take the right tools with me and find the cause and solution

 

[joe-90]

We can't tell by looking whether it is plasterboard, stud wall etc. Or whether the fittings are compression, solder etc. Just take the whole lot with you, and even then you'll still have to nip to B&Q.

 

[jimbodicko]

We can't tell by looking whether it is plasterboard, stud wall etc. Or whether the fittings are compression, solder etc. Just take the whole lot with you, and even then you'll still have to nip to B&Q.

It's a breeze block wall behind. For long-winded reasons I will be going on the tube and can't carry my whole tool box with me.

As you suggesting that the leak could be emanating from behind the rear of the cupboard carcass?

 

[joe-90]

I doubt anyone can tell until you get there. Can't the tenant look to see where the leak is coming from? It may be something that needs sealing or a bit of a tighten up.

 

[yerino]

1) Check the washing machine hose connection. (The big white nut going onto the blue tap fitting). It might just need nipping up.

2) Fill up the bowl to the top and let the water down it could be leaking on the waste somewhere and again just need nipping up.

 

[joe-90]

The last two leaks I've seen like that were simple fixes. One was the overflow pipe leaking at the sink connection and the other was the screw in the plug hole that needed a bit of silicone and a tighten.

Both five minute jobs.

 

[Charnwood]

How many leaks are there?
Looks like one clear water, one green stuff.

 

[chapeau]

Ok so you have demonstrated there is a leak.

To narrow it down, wrap kitchen roll around the various pipes in various locations. Eventually you will track it back to one piece of paper getting wet and that will point to where it's coming out. Then hope it's simple to get to and as simple as tightening something up. It almost certainly will be (the latter, could be a pig to get to).

If the under sink cupboard is full of junk, which is again almost certainly will be, these might press against these cheap plastic waste pipes and cause leaks.