Covered on a Rosemead visit
- Leaking or cracked P-traps replaced in PVC or chrome brass
- Slip nuts and washers renewed on loose drain joints
- Corroded tailpieces and trap arms swapped to the wall
- Kitchen basket strainers reset with fresh putty
- Bathroom pop-up drains and stoppers replaced
- Slow traps opened and cleaned at the sink
Outside what we take on
- Gas piping of any kind past the existing flex connector.
- Roof, foundation and structural repairs.
- Tearing out and rebuilding a whole bathroom or kitchen.
Drains in older Rosemead houses
Rosemead’s housing stock has a median year built of 1959, so a lot of sinks still drain through chrome-plated brass traps that thin out and pit from the inside. They often look fine until a fingertip pushes through the bottom of the bend. Swapping the whole trap assembly at once is usually better than chasing one joint at a time.
The California Plumbing Code, in section 1001.2, requires every fixture to have its own liquid-seal trap, and section 1005.1 sets that seal at 2 to 4 inches of water. That small pool is what keeps sewer gas out of the kitchen, which is why a dry or leaking trap can show up as a smell before it shows up as a puddle.
How a drain repair goes
Find the drip
We dry everything, fill the sink, pull the stopper, and watch each joint with a light.
Take it apart
The trap comes off into a bucket so we can see the washers, the threads and how far the arm reaches into the wall.
Replace and align
New parts go in lined up straight; joints that are forced at an angle are the ones that leak later.
Flood test
We fill both bowls and drain them at once, then check every joint again.
Bigger jobs, free estimate
A drain line clogged past the wall, a broken pipe inside the wall, or a main sewer backup is a bigger plumbing job with its own free estimate. We handle everything from the sink to the wall. Drips that continue with the faucet off come from the supply side and are covered under under-sink leak repair.
While we’re out for this, Rosemead customers often add shower drain cleaning, under-sink leak repair, garbage disposal repair and replacement, faucet repair and replacement, shutoff valve replacement or dishwasher installation.
What to text
Clear out the cabinet and text a photo of the drain parts under the sink, plus where the water collects.
P-trap and drain questions
Why does my P-trap keep leaking after I tighten it?
Over-tightened plastic slip nuts crack, and worn washers will not seal however hard you turn them. We replace the washers or the whole trap so it seals hand-tight plus a little.
How much does it cost to replace a P-trap?
A trap swap under an accessible sink is a short job. Old metal tailpieces that are corroded into the drain take longer. Send a photo under the sink and we price it before coming.
Why does my sink smell like sewer?
Often the trap seal has dried out or leaks. Running water refills it; a leak needs a repair.
Plastic or metal trap?
PVC does not corrode and suits most kitchens. Chrome brass looks better under an open pedestal sink.
Can you fix just one slip nut?
Yes, if the rest is sound. If the trap is corroded, we replace the set.
Why does my basket strainer leak?
The putty under the rim dries out over the years. We reset it with fresh putty and a new gasket.
Will you clear a slow drain?
At the trap, yes. Clogs beyond the wall need a drain machine.
Do you install double-bowl drain kits?
Yes, matched to the bowl spacing and the disposer if you have one.
How much water does a small leak waste?
The EPA’s Fix a Leak Week page says household leaks average more than 9,300 gallons a year.
Can I use the sink right after?
Yes. Nothing needs to cure except plumber’s putty, which is ready right away.
What if the trap arm is too short?
We fit an extension so the trap lines up without strain.
Do you fix pop-up stoppers that won’t stay up?
Yes, by adjusting the rod or replacing the assembly.
Why does the sink smell when it isn’t clogged?
A dry or loose trap lets sewer gas through. A sink that rarely runs, like a guest bath, can dry out; running water refills the trap.
Plastic or metal trap?
Old chrome traps corrode thin from the inside. We usually swap them for PVC, which won’t rust, unless the trap shows and you want metal.
Worth a read: what our under sink leaks and supply lines guide says about p-trap and sink drain repair.
Nearby: clogged sink repair in Alhambra, and sink drain and p trap repair in San Gabriel for homes on the San Gabriel side.
Plumbing tips for Rosemead homes
- Tracking down a leak under the sinkLeak under your kitchen or bathroom sink? Find out if it’s the supply line, shutoff, faucet or drain, and text a photo for a free estimate in Rosemead.
- When the garbage disposal hums, leaks or quitsHow to clear a humming or dead garbage disposal, when to replace it, and what to expect when we swap one in a Rosemead kitchen.
Jobs like this one are everyday work for our Rosemead handyman service, from the blocks off Garvey Avenue to the streets near Rosemead Park. A photo by text gets you a quote first.
Part of plumbing repairs. You can also browse all our services or read about repairs in postwar Rosemead homes.