Difficulty
Moderate
Steps
13
Time Required
45 minutes - 1 hour
Sections
1
- Kitchen Basket Strainer Assembly
- 13 steps
Flags
Featured Student Guide
This guide has been the hard work of our awesome students and is found to be exceptionally cool by the iFixit staff.
BackPlumbing
Full Screen
Options
History
Save to Favorites
Download PDF
Edit
Translate
Get Shareable Link
Embed This Guide
Notify Me of Changes
Stop Notifications
Introduction
Cracks, old washers, and parts can wear over time. If not dealt with, the leaks under your sink will become worse. The quicker you use this guide, the better.
Inspect your current plumbing under the sink to determine how much space you have to work with. Whether or not you will need a wrench to loosen some of the parts. Draw a diagram if needed. You will also have to purchase a new kitchen strainer assembly that has similar dimensions to your current strainer.
Technically, this entire guide does not require a wrench. But if the lock nuts are too tight to loosen, then a wrench is not just recommended - but required. Please do not hurt yourself or break anything by using too much force. Make it easy on yourself.
Before you use this guide, make sure you clear all materials under the sink and place a safeguard (cloth, towel) to make sure the water does not damage your sink cabinet.
What you need
Step 1
Kitchen Basket Strainer Assembly
- Inspect the strainer under the sink and inspect the basket over the sink. Take out the basket from the top.
Inspect the strainer under the sink and inspect the basket over the sink. Take out the basket from the top.
1024
Step 2
- Loosen the bottom lock nut under the sink with your hands. If your hands are not enough, use a 12" pipe wrench to loosen the bottom nut out.
- Twist the bottom lock left when loosening it.
- Get ready to take out the old flange that sits on top of the tailpiece as shown.
Loosen the bottom lock nut under the sink with your hands. If your hands are not enough, use a 12" pipe wrench to loosen the bottom nut out.
Twist the bottom lock left when loosening it.
Get ready to take out the old flange that sits on top of the tailpiece as shown.
Step 3
- Take out the old flange and clean the inside of the tailpiece with a paper towel. Trust me, the tailpiece will be very dirty.
Take out the old flange and clean the inside of the tailpiece with a paper towel. Trust me, the tailpiece will be very dirty.
Step 4
- Loosen the top lock nut that sits below the strainer, take the lock nut out.
- Twist the top lock nut left.
- At this point, the top strainer should be loose after removing the second lock nut.
Loosen the top lock nut that sits below the strainer, take the lock nut out.
Twist the top lock nut left.
At this point, the top strainer should be loose after removing the second lock nut.
Step 5
- The top strainer easily comes off now due to no nut holding it in place.
- If there is resistance from prior washers or gaskets, give the strainer a pull to take it out.
The top strainer easily comes off now due to no nut holding it in place.
If there is resistance from prior washers or gaskets, give the strainer a pull to take it out.
Step 6
- Clean the top of the sink engrave of putty, washer residue, or water with a paper towel.
Clean the top of the sink engrave of putty, washer residue, or water with a paper towel.
Step 7
- Prepare and roll up the putty with your hands.
- Roll the putty into a hotdog shape and use enough so that you can cover the top of the sink engrave where the strainer must be placed.
Prepare and roll up the putty with your hands.
Roll the putty into a hotdog shape and use enough so that you can cover the top of the sink engrave where the strainer must be placed.
Step 8
- When placing the putty, follow the trace of the indent for the strainer outlined in the sink.
- Slightly press down, but not completely so that the putty sticks. Prepare to place the new top strainer.
When placing the putty, follow the trace of the indent for the strainer outlined in the sink.
Slightly press down, but not completely so that the putty sticks. Prepare to place the new top strainer.
Step 9
- Place the new top strainer on to the grave of the putty.
- Slightly press with your finger so that the putty sticks to the top strainer.
Place the new top strainer on to the grave of the putty.
Slightly press with your finger so that the putty sticks to the top strainer.
Step 10
- Press down the top strainer until the putty squeezes out from the sides.
- Clean the excess putty with your hands and paper towels.
Press down the top strainer until the putty squeezes out from the sides.
Clean the excess putty with your hands and paper towels.
Step 11
- The placement of the washers on the bottom strainer is as follows from bottom to top: (1) paper gasket, (2) rough washer, (3) soft washer.
- Place the washers and the new strainer in the order shown.
- Place the strainer with the washers before putting the top lock nut.
The placement of the washers on the bottom strainer is as follows from bottom to top: (1) paper gasket, (2) rough washer, (3) soft washer.
Place the washers and the new strainer in the order shown.
Place the strainer with the washers before putting the top lock nut.
Step 12
- Tighten the lock nut under the strainer with your hands.
- When tightening, twist the top lock nut right.
- Extra tighten the locknut with a wrench if necessary.
- Putty from the top will likely squeeze out as you tighten the lock nut. Simply clean off the putty after you’re done.
Tighten the lock nut under the strainer with your hands.
When tightening, twist the top lock nut right.
Extra tighten the locknut with a wrench if necessary.
Putty from the top will likely squeeze out as you tighten the lock nut. Simply clean off the putty after you’re done.
Step 13
- Place a new flange if needed (depending on the condition of your old flange).
- Tighten the bottom lock nut that connects the tailpiece with the strainer. Use a wrench for extra security.
- Twist the bottom lock nut right.
Place a new flange if needed (depending on the condition of your old flange).
Tighten the bottom lock nut that connects the tailpiece with the strainer. Use a wrench for extra security.
Twist the bottom lock nut right.
By the end of this guide, you should now know the ins and outs of the kitchen strainer and how to replace it.
Cancel: I did not complete this guide.
Author
with 1 other contributor
Shahnawaz Chodhry
Member since: 09/10/2021
217 Reputation
1 Guide authored
Badges:
3
Team
YORK-SHAHNAWAZ-F21SEG3
Member of YORK-SHAHNAWAZ-F21SEG3
Community
1 Member
1 Guide authored
