Leak that reaches the unit below
In a condo or apartment a sink leak can show up as a stain on the neighbor's ceiling. We trace it to your sink, the wall or the shared line.
Serving Arlington Heights & nearby Mount Prospect, Palatine
Kitchen Sink Leak & Drain Repair in Arlington Heights, IL
Leaks under the kitchen sink in Arlington Heights traced to the source and fixed, from the strainer to the drain in the wall.
- Repairs across Arlington Heights ZIP 60004, 60005
- We find the cause, not just the symptom
- Parts and labor quoted before work starts
Sink leaks and drain problems we repair in Arlington Heights
Water in the sink cabinet means something is loose, cracked or worn out: a trap nut, a strainer gasket, a dishwasher hose or the drain pipe in the wall. We find which one in your Arlington Heights kitchen and repair it so the cabinet floor stays dry.
Cracked or corroded drain pipe
Rust spots, crusty buildup or a hairline crack on the drain mean the pipe is failing. Replacing it costs far less than a ruined cabinet.
Musty smell under the sink
If the sink base smells damp, water is getting somewhere. Finding a small leak early saves the cabinet and the floor below.
Drain sealed with tape or putty
If someone wrapped the pipe to stop a drip, the joint under the wrap is failing. We cut it out and rebuild it.
Leak right after a new dishwasher install
If the sink cabinet got wet right after the dishwasher was put in, the drain connection is the first place we look.
Old S-trap or wrong parts
An S-shaped trap with no vent can siphon dry and let sewer odor into the kitchen. When we repair the drain, we bring it up to a vented P-trap where the setup allows.
Leak at the drain in the wall
Water behind the sink base often starts at the wall connection. We open what we need to reach it and replace the failed fitting.
Dishwasher drain hose leaking
Leaks that show up only when the dishwasher drains are usually at the hose connection. We replace the clamp or the hose and set a proper high loop or air gap.
What the repair visit covers
- Dry and inspectWe empty the cabinet, dry every pipe and look for corrosion, cracks and stains.
- Locate the leakWater run in stages: faucet, full bowl, disposal, dishwasher drain.
- Basket strainer resealA new basket strainer if the old one is corroded or cracked.
- Trap and tailpieceThe trap assembly rebuilt with matching parts and a proper seal.
- Dishwasher and disposal connectionsDishwasher hose rerouted with a high loop or air gap where needed.
- Cabinet floor repairDamaged sink base floor cut out and replaced once the plumbing is dry.
- Leak testSink filled and drained, dishwasher run and every joint checked dry.
Repair options
Transition couplingsFittings rated for connecting new drain pipe to older metal pipe.
Plumber's putty and gasketsPutty or rubber gaskets seal the strainer to the sink; stone sinks often need a putty that won't stain.
Dishwasher hose and air gapA new drain hose, clamps and a high loop or counter air gap where required.
Chrome-plated brass trapsBrass with a chrome finish, a sturdier choice than thin chrome-plated steel.
PVC traps and tailpiecesStandard white or black PVC drain parts with slip-joint connections.
Kitchens like yours in Arlington Heights: before and after
Problem
Fixed
DetailBefore and after: a 1990s two-story colonial in Arlington Heights
A 1990s two-story colonial in Arlington Heights, a typical kitchen for Arlington Heights. The kitchen as it was: white cast-iron double sink. The reason for the call: a corroded trap under an old sink. The result: the drain rebuilt with new fittings and a dry cabinet floor. On site this meant dry and inspect, basket strainer reseal, plus trap and tailpiece.
Before
AfterKitchen Sink Leak & Drain Repair in a two-story colonial from the 1990s, Mount Prospect
The site: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Mount Prospect. Before: solid-surface integrated sink. What bothered the owners most: a water-stained cabinet floor. The result: the drain rebuilt with new fittings and a dry cabinet floor. The job covered locate the leak, basket strainer reseal, plus trap and tailpiece.
Kitchen Sink Leak & Drain Repair in Mount Prospect →
Before
AfterKitchen Sink Leak & Drain Repair in a 1990s two-story colonial, Des Plaines
A 1990s two-story colonial in Des Plaines, a typical kitchen for Des Plaines. The kitchen as it was: white double sink. The reason for the call: a leaking trap under the double sink. After: the drain rebuilt with new fittings and a dry cabinet floor. The job covered locate the leak, trap and tailpiece, plus cabinet floor repair.
Kitchen Sink Leak & Drain Repair in Des Plaines →
Before
AfterAn Arlington Heights 1950s ranch: before and after
Finished: cabinets in dark teal with brushed nickel bar pulls, charcoal concrete-look quartz counters, a white 2x8 tile in a vertical stack backsplash, hickory luxury vinyl plank flooring and recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips.
Kitchen Remodeling in Arlington Heights →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a postwar bi-level in Arlington Heights
What changed: the same doors sprayed in pale sage, new polished nickel pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Arlington Heights →How the repair goes
- Call or send a photoTell us what you see; a photo of the cabinet helps us bring the right parts.
- Find the sourceWe dry the area and test each connection to locate the leak.
- RepairFailed parts replaced, usually in the same visit with parts from the truck.
- Test and dryWater run through every path and the cabinet left clean and dry.
Kitchen Sink Leak & Drain Repair questions from Arlington Heights homeowners
Can you fix water damage to the sink cabinet?
We can cut out the swollen bottom and install a new panel in the sink base.
Is it safe to keep using the sink?
Small leaks can wait a day; ongoing water damages the cabinet and floor quickly. Shut off the valves if it's the supply side.
Do I need to replace the whole drain?
Rarely. Usually one part failed: a washer, a trap, a strainer seal or a section of pipe.
Will tightening the nuts fix it?
Sometimes, briefly. If the washer is worn or the pipe is cracked, tightening won't hold and can crack plastic fittings.
How long does it take to fix a sink leak?
Usually a short visit. Leaks inside the wall or old corroded pipe take longer.
Arlington Heights plumbing code: who can do the plumbing for sink leak repair?
Plumbing permit application must include a Letter of Intent and an IDPH 055 license. Our plumbing connections are made by licensed plumbers.
Do Arlington Heights condo associations need to approve sink leak repair?
Associations usually set rules for work hours, elevators, deliveries and insurance, and many require approval for plumbing, electrical or structural changes. We provide the certificate of insurance and follow the building's rules.
Does sink leak repair need a Arlington Heights building permit, and who files it?
Permits go through Building & Life Safety Department, phone (847) 368-5560. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
Do I need a permit for sink leak repair in Arlington Heights?
It depends on the scope. Arlington Heights's rule in short: Remodel permit applications (shown here via a basement remodel checklist dated 2020) require a building permit application, plans and a contractor proposal; plumbing and electrical permit applications are added if applicable. We handle the permit when one is needed with Building & Life Safety Department.
Do you work in my part of Arlington Heights?
Yes. Our crews work across Arlington Heights — ZIP 60004, 60005 — and nearby Mount Prospect, Palatine, Buffalo Grove.
Working in Arlington Heights
- A lot of Arlington Heights kitchens date from the 1970s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Condo or townhome? We follow association rules on work hours and elevators and bring the insurance certificate your board asks for.
- We know how Building & Life Safety Department handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60004ZIP 60005
Kitchen Sink Leak & Drain Repair nearby
Other kitchen services in Arlington Heights
Kitchen Sink Installation & ReplacementNew sinks, undermount and farmhouse styles.
Kitchen Faucet InstallationFaucet swaps and new pull-down faucets.
Garbage Disposal Installation & RepairDisposals unjammed, repaired or replaced, with the drain connected right.
Kitchen RemodelingFull kitchen remodels, from layout to last cabinet pull.
Kitchen Cabinet PaintingFactory-smooth painted cabinets without replacing them.