How to fix a glued sink drain pipe
Sink drain pipes are often joined with PVC cement rather than slip joints, meaning they cannot be unscrewed for maintenance or retrieval of dropped items. This lack of removable fittings stops people from clearing traps or replacing broken parts without cutting the existing pipework.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Unscrewing specific union nuts or slip joint nuts on the assembly to remove the trap as one section rather than taking apart every joint.
- 2cutting the pipe directly behind the fitting and cementing on a trap adapter
- 3using a pull saw or hacksaw to cut the pipe and installing a new tubular p-trap
- 4Hiring a plumber to handle the installation and modifications
- 5Cutting the glued pipe, removing the trap, and replacing it using new fittings, a replacement P-trap, and glue.
- 6Apply a penetrating lubricant or anti-seize and let it soak
- 7Jam a stick or screwdriver handle in the pipe and rotate the assembly while applying outward force
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I made a post somewhere else about dropping a miniature part down the sink into the trap and it being unreachable.”source ↗
“People suggested the tube were glued as I suspected since nothing will unscrew down there.”source ↗
“I'm checking out all the bathrooms here and nothing seems serviceable to me.”source ↗
“Now I'm removing the disposal and hoping to simplify the plumbing to leave more room under the sink for other things.”source ↗
“I'm not sure if I need both "drains" or if I can cap one off, and if so what is the best way to do so?”source ↗
“I went through exactly this same thing a few weeks ago: the slip ring nut broke into pieces while I was getting it off.”source ↗
“Can I do this myself or should I get my plumber to help? (Trying to keep this cheap…) and if I can DIY it, any recs for what I need?”source ↗
“Looks to me like all the pvc is glued in place and thus I won't be able to drop the P-trap to remove the drain.”source ↗
“Having never done any plumbing work before I just want to make sure I'm right before I plan to cut it out and replace it this weekend.”source ↗
“Sink drain pipe is so rusted that I can’t remove it.”source ↗
“I tried to unscrew the PVC but won’t budge.”source ↗
“Considering cutting off the metal pipe but do t know what to do then.”source ↗
“Thought I would try and clear a slow leak and empty the trap of a bathroom drain. But the pvc pipe broke as I was loosening the nut. Now I need to replace the whole thing. Sure I could do that.... but can't work out how to get this off. Is this a connection to remove? (See red circle). Do I have to cut this off?”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 4Why do kitchen sink slip joints keep coming loose?
- 5How to remove a broken toilet flange yourself
- 4How do you take apart push-to-connect plumbing fittings?
- 4Does every sink need a P-trap?
- 4How to connect a sink drain to existing glued PVC pipes
- 7Why is a newly installed sink drain leaking above the trap?