Slide the slip nut and a rubber washer onto the tailpiece. Connect it to the sink strainer above. Hand-tighten the nut, then give it a quarter-turn with the pliers. Not tighter. Plumbing is about gentle persuasion, not brute force.
Attach the P-trap to the tailpiece and the wall pipe. It should form a lazy, elegant U-shape. If it looks crooked, twist it. Slip joints allow for a surprising amount of play—like a yoga instructor who’s had a glass of wine.
Fun fact: the P-trap is also a sink for lost earrings and wedding rings. Check it before you call a plumber. You might get your jewelry back.
The Water Test: Your Moment of Truth
Turn on the hot water. Yes, hot. It softens the rubber washers and seals everything like a hug. Listen for the sound of dripping. If you hear nothing, you have achieved plumbing nirvana. If you hear a drip, tighten the nearest slip nut by a hair.
Run cold water for two minutes. Then flush a handful of baking soda and vinegar down the drain—it’s the kombucha of pipe cleaning, and it neutralizes any lingering griminess. Your sink will smell like a clean, wholesome field.
