Installing a New Sink: 11 Things to Watch Out For

Measure the Tailpiece First

When installing a new sink, you can choose one with a deeper basin than the existing one, but if it hangs down too low, it won’t drain properly, and you’ll have to lower the sanitary tee connection in the drain line inside the wall. You’ll definitely want to avoid this task if the connection is metal and ends up being behind base cabinets. Plastic pipe is easierif you can get to it easily. The actual tee connection may be several studs over from where the waste arm enters the wall.

Measure the sink tailpiece between the basket strainer and the tee. That measurement is the extra depth that can be added to the sink bowl without lowering the drainpipe going into the wall. Also, be aware that a new disposer may have a lower drainpipe than your existing onebut it can’t be lower than the tee. If the disposer drainpipe will be too low, consider a sink with different depth bowls. You’ll have a deep bowl for dishes and a shallow one for the disposer.