Now you connect the pieces. Screw the nuts on by hand until they stop. Don’t use a wrench yet. As you tighten, you’ll feel resistance. That’s the washer compressing. If you force it past that resistance with a wrench, you crack the plastic nut. Trust me, a cracked nut means a trip to the store at 8 PM on a Sunday.
After hand-tightening, give each nut a quarter-turn with a wrench—no more. That’s it. Over-tightening is the #1 cause of leaks in DIY plumbing. The goal is a snug seal, not a destroyed pipe. If you see the nut start to deform or feel it binding, back off immediately.
How To Connect Pvc Pipe Under Kitchen Sink – Things In The Kitchen
A Quick Word on the Supply Lines
While you’re down there, you might see the two braided hoses connecting your faucet to the shut-off valves. Those need to be tight, but not incredibly tight. They use a rubber gasket inside the nut. Just hand-tighten them, then give them a gentle quarter-turn with a wrench. If you overtighten those, you can strip the valve threads, and then you’ll need a plumber. Don’t ask me how I know this.
