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Kitchen Sink Plumbing Considerations when Installing a New Sink

When choosing a kitchen sink there are plenty of design features to decide on, but what about plumbing considerations? What should you pay attention to from a plumbing perspective when replacing your kitchen sink?

Countertop Holes

When you buy a kitchen sink and faucet, pay attention to how many holes it has. You will want to find one that matches the number of holes that currently exist in your counter. If you find a sink and faucet that fewer holes, you can still use it because it will cover over other existing holes, but if you find one that has more holes, you’ll have to pass unless you want to drill additional holes. For instance, if your faucet currently uses two holes, you can utilize one that has one hole if the base will cover over the second hole, but you shouldn’t pick one that has three holes unless you’re prepared to pay a professional to drill another hole in your countertop.

Faucet Clearance

When you get a sink with a matching faucet, ensure that there is enough room for the faucet to swivel and pull out comfortably. Make sure the same is true for the faucet handle as well. Some kitchens have window ledges, cabinets, textured backsplashes, and other design elements that restrict the available space around your sink and faucet. The last thing you want is to install something that isn’t functional.

Undercounter Space

It may seem strange to say that you should check under your sink to ensure there’s room for a new sink, but it never hurts to measure! This is especially true if you’re changing sink styles or if you have an older home and are buying a more modern sink. There is a wide variation in how much room different types of sinks take up both above and below countertops. Basin sinks and farmhouse sinks, for instance, tend to take up more room because they’re deeper. Additionally, if you’ll need to reinforce your counter to accommodate a much heavier new sink, you’ll need to account for the space for these supports underneath. This is one reason why homeowners choose to use a professional plumber when installing a new sink.

Garbage Disposal

If you plan on adding a garbage disposal underneath the sink or if the sink you picked out comes with a garbage disposal, allot for that when measuring. A garbage disposal will not only need to have room to attach to the plumbing under your sink, but also be able to get to an outlet for power. Check this all out before buying a new sink to avoid a headache later. You want to be sure that you can get everything you want with your new kitchen sink installation.

Pipe Size

Kitchen plumbing is fairly standardized these days, but sometimes you will still find some funky pipe sizes on specialty stuff or older items. Double check that the sink you’re planning to install will be compatible with what is already under your sink. Otherwise, you’ll have to replace or retrofit plumbing to work together.


Additional resources:
How to Replace an Old Kitchen Sink
Fixing a Leaky Faucet
The Most Common Reasons for Sink Repair
Installing a Bathroom Sink
Do Plumbers Install Kitchen Sinks?
When Should You Replace a Kitchen Sink?