A sink is one of the most versatile and frequently used plumbing fixtures in the home. A sink varies in shape, size, materials, and style. The two most popular materials for kitchen sinks are cast iron and stainless steel. Cast iron is durable and long-lasting, while stainless steel has a contemporary design and is usually painted or stained to blend in with the rest of the kitchen. There is also a third material available called pebble shell which can be colored any way you wish but doesn’t conduct heat well, making it an excellent choice for high use areas like bathrooms. A dishwasher sinks generally use ceramic tile, but some manufacturers still use cast iron due to its durability and heat conductivity.
Sink types range from single vessel sinks to double vessel sinks, from undermount to drop-in style basins, from narrow to wide basin styles, and from above-mounted to below-mounted spouts. Sink designs include bakers’ rack, slanting bar, single vessel, double vessel, sloping bar, inset nook, raised edge, straight edge, single and half hung, recessed panel, rounded center, angled edge, and many more. The style and design you choose will depend on the overall appearance of your countertop and vessel sink, your bathroom design, your hand washing or dishwashing habits, your available space and budget, and the installation options available at your place of construction and choice. Some sinks come with installation options pre-built so you don’t have to do it yourself, but you can still do a little handy work to ensure your new sink is installed properly by the pros. This includes measuring angles, cutting measurements, and choosing the right countertop materials, if you’re not doing the installation yourself.
Your kitchen sink’s location will affect the plumbing system that delivers your plumbing wastewater back into your home. For example, the kitchen sink usually has a direct water supply line going to the kitchen faucet, which allows for a sanitary water supply. Another option is an indirect water supply line, which allows for the wastewater from your sinks and toilets to go through a septic tank, before being pushed back into your home through a separate garbage disposal unit. If your sink is close to the garbage disposal unit, you may need a garbage disposal unit with a water hookup to your main sewer line, which may be more expensive.
Most kitchen sinks are accessible from the top or sides, but some sinks require digging down into the floor. If your kitchen sink is on the top or side, make sure there’s room for the plumbing tied to your main sewer line, before installing a garbage disposal unit. In some cases, your sink may only need a minimal amount of work. These examples include kitchen sinks that sit next to a water heater or a wall-mounted stove. If your sink is not in an accessible area, you may still want to install a garbage disposal unit, as it helps to keep your bathroom floor clear of sink debris.
Cast iron is popular with people since they’re a little easier to clean than other types of material, including granite or marble sinks. However, cast iron can be quite heavy, making it difficult to move around. Also, these types of kitchen or bathroom sinks can become discolored over time, if they’re not regularly maintained.
The best solution for these types of sinks is to find a sink that doesn’t require much digging. For example, cold water pipes that run through your house can’t be run under or behind your sink, since the pipes are attached to the floor, and pipes come in all shapes and sizes. If your sink is directly connected to your hot water supply lines, then you could install a closed-off or “cold water lock” faucet, which stops your sink from using hot water when the water is too cold. These types of faucets are sold at most home improvement stores. These types of the sink without a “cold water lock” are a little bit more complicated to install, but they can make your entire plumbing system run more smoothly, reducing the risk of backflow or other problems.
Plastic strainer kits can also be installed into your sink. These strainer kits are fairly easy to install, but they do come with some disadvantages. First, you can’t use a garbage disposal unit underneath the sink, since the strainer will trap the garbage before it can be removed. Second, these kinds of plumbing kits are limited in the size of the opening for the garbage disposal. And, finally, the plastic tends to wear down more quickly than other kinds of strainers or stoppers. These kits are also a good choice for homeowners who want an economical way to clean their kitchen or bathroom sink parts.
One final kind of kitchen or bathroom sink fixture is the basin drain, which connects to a drain or shower pan. These drain fixtures usually come with an installation kit, so you don’t need to hire a plumber. The basic design of the basin drain resembles the shape of a bowl, but it features two holes, one in the middle and one on each side. The drain holes must line up with the holes in the bowl, which ensures that all sewage gases that would otherwise flow out of your sinks are trapped instead.
