I recently encountered a problem with my undermount kitchen sink after my wife put several bags of ice in it. Now, it seems like the sink might fall into the cabinet below. I attempted to re-calk it, but it only worked for about a year before it started sagging again due to the heavy items we put in it, like large bowls and full ceramic coffee mugs. I'm thinking of hiring someone to professionally reattach the sink and perhaps install a backflow prevention device as well. Should I just contact a plumber for this? I'm not really knowledgeable about these types of repairs, and unfortunately, it's not covered by our home warranty. How much do these services usually cost? Also, I hear people saying a setup like this should handle heavy items better, but that's not been the case for us. By the way, I'm sorting out the issue of overloading soon!
3 Answers
It's possible the caulk isn't the issue; it may just be that the sink isn't secured properly. Ideally, it should be attached with some undercounter clips and caulk used just for sealing. You could take a look beneath the sink to see if there are any clips or holes where they might have been installed. And don’t forget to check out some options for undermount sink supports!
For the backflow prevention, are you talking about installing a P-trap? I think a handyman could probably handle reattaching your sink since you wouldn't want to pay plumber rates for just that. But if you need to install a trap, then that’s where a plumber comes in. Usually, sinks can handle quite a bit of weight, like heavy bowls or ice, so I’d check how it’s installed under the countertop. What kind of countertop do you have? Pics are always helpful!
Your sink definitely needs some extra support. My plumber used 2x4s to brace mine from underneath, and it’s solid now. If you have any makeshift supports like a bucket or a metal pipe, it might not be doing enough. You could also think about getting a screwjack for better stability.