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 the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- The most recent one is from October 2026.
- This comes up 18.9× more often in r/Plumbing than across the site as a whole.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Unscrewing specific union nuts or slip joint nuts on the assembly to remove the trap as one section rather than taking apart every joint.Did this help you?
- 2cutting the pipe directly behind the fitting and cementing on a trap adapterDid this help you?
- 3using a pull saw or hacksaw to cut the pipe and installing a new tubular p-trapDid this help you?
- 4Hiring a plumber to handle the installation and modificationsDid this help you?
- 5Cutting the glued pipe, removing the trap, and replacing it using new fittings, a replacement P-trap, and glue.Did this help you?
- 6Apply a penetrating lubricant or anti-seize and let it soakDid this help you?
- 7Jam a stick or screwdriver handle in the pipe and rotate the assembly while applying outward forceDid this help you?
- 8Try tightening the collars firstDid this help you?
- 9Replace new gaskets or seals on the pipeDid this help you?
- 10Swap for a p-trap and an AAVDid this help you?
- 11shoving the detached pipe back in temporarilyDid this help you?
- 12using duct tapeDid this help you?
- 13Using a basin wrench or a crescent wrench to loosen the brass nut on top.Did this help you?
- 14Cutting out the old glued plumbing and replacing it with a new coupling, tee, auto vent, and tubular P-trap setup.Did this help you?
- 15cutting the PVC pipe and adding trap adaptersDid this help you?
- 16unscrewing the lower half of the pop up assembly to create roomDid this help you?
- 17Hand tightening the slip nut as much as possible and testing for leaksDid this help you?
- 18Using a correctly sized 1.25 to 1.5 reducing washer instead of a mismatched sizeDid this help you?
- 19Using a proper 1.25 extension without a reducer washerDid this help you?
- 20Using a basin wrench or specialized faucet toolDid this help you?
- 21Cutting the nut off using a multitool oscillating saw or cutting torchDid this help you?
- 22Breaking or cracking the plastic nut using a hammer and screwdriverDid this help you?
- 23Drilling a hole into the nut with a drill bit to split itDid this help you?
- 24Making a custom socket tool out of a notched PVC pipeDid this help you?
- 25Applying heat to loosen the plasticDid this help you?
- 26Replacing the threaded tailpiece with a new extension tubeDid this help you?
- 27Replacing the complete pop-up drain assemblyDid this help you?
- 28Using a Fernco fitting on the drain lineDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“didn't realize until after unscrewing some things that this entire p trap section underneath is glued together”source ↗
“i'm concerned i don't have enough space to do anything. i want to be able to remove the old drain since the back piece that controls the stopper broke, so it was leaking when water was coming down”source ↗
“They seem to be glued. I can't move 'em a mm. Even with some taps with a hammer.”source ↗
“Was recaulking an old sink and suddenly it broke at pipe beneath. I'm not sure what components I need or how to fix.”source ↗
“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 ↗
“So recently bought a house and noticed that the double sink after running a bit of water it was backing up into the other sink. I looked under to check the trap and clean it out but it looked like someone has already tried and broke it and glued it on.”source ↗
“Installed a new delta pop up drain on my vanity. I am trying to install a p trap from Dearborn. Seems that when I use the slip connection I can easily pull the drain right off.”source ↗
“That's a threaded tailpiece. The threads broke off inside the upper piece. You can replace it with the piece in the link below. You'll need to get the old threads out first”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 ↗
“The drain pipe under the sink feels loose by the bottom of the sink. It moves up and down. I can’t see under the vanity, so I’m not sure what the pipe leads to or if anything is not connected properly.”source ↗
“I shoved it back in in the second pic but how do I permanently fix it so it doesn't detach again?”source ↗
“Right now I'm just panicking because I have a toddler and we need to use the sink asap”source ↗
“I've tried a few things but can't tell if it's moving.”source ↗
“How tight should it be? Won’t it leak if it’s not super tight?”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 ↗
“I take it this faucet is not removable from this sink, is it? It seems somewhat cast or sealed into the porcelain”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 4Why do kitchen sink slip joints keep coming loose?
- 4How to get a stuck broken plumbing drain piece out
- 15How to remove a broken toilet flange yourself
- 3How to loosen bathroom water lines in extremely tight spaces
- 10How do you take apart push-to-connect plumbing fittings?
- 13Does every sink need a P-trap?