Sink plumbing supply lines are normally found on the back wall under the sink or on the side of the cabinet wall beneath the sink, though they can sometimes be found directly under the sink in the center of the vanity or cabinet. Any one of these places will suffice. It's feasible to transfer the plumbing to the middle of your sink if it's on the back or side walls. Cutting and rerouting the old pipes to the center of the vanity or cabinet is required to relocate the plumbing. Sink drains can't be changed since they require P-traps to keep sewer gases from escaping.
HOW TO MOVE SINK PLUMBING?
Follow the steps below:
- Step 1: Shut off the main water valve in your house. Typically, the valve is found in a basement or crawl area. While you work, this will turn off the water supply to all of the plumbing in the house. Open all of the faucets in the house to drain as much water as possible from the system.
- Step 2: Place an adjustable wrench around the valves on the hot and cold water pipes under the sink. Remove the valves from the supply lines by turning them counterclockwise.
- Step 3: Take a measurement from the side of the sink to the center. Under the sink, on the bottom of the cabinet or vanity, measure that distance and mark two points separated by two inches. For example, if the sink's center is 13 inches from the side, measure 13 inches from the cabinet's underside toward the sink's center and make two markings 2 inches apart. This is where the two supply lines will emerge from the cabinet's floor.
- Step 4: Bore through the cabinet material using a 3/4-inch drill bit over each of the markers on the bottom. The pipes for the hot and cold water will be relocated here.
INSTALLING NEW SUPPLY LINES
- Step 1: Locate the piping on the underside of the sink cabinet or vanity. If required, gain access from a basement or crawl space, or take off the baseboard under the sink cabinet.
- Step 2: With a hacksaw or a pipe-cutting tool, cut the hot and cold water lines so that there is at least 3 inches of clearance between the pipes and the bottom of the sink cabinet.
- Step 3: Connect the hot and cold water lines with 90-degree compression elbows, pointing the fittings toward the center of the sink.
- Step 4: Cut two pieces of supply pipe to fit between the elbows and the holes for the new supply line connections. In the elbow fittings, press the pipe parts in.
- Step 5: Connect the ends of the supply pipes with two extra 90-degree elbow fittings.
- Step 6: Make two 5-inch-long pieces of pipe. Insert the pieces into the elbow fittings and through the holes in the sink cabinet's center.
- Step 7: Tighten the old supply valves with a wrench over either end of the supply lines.
Most experienced homeowners can handle moving a sink a short distance from its original location. However, if you need a lot of alterations made to the drain and vent, you'll probably be better off hiring a professional plumber. It won't drain well if the sink isn't properly vented or the drain has insufficient pitch. Repairing this could mean ripping open your freshly remodeled walls, ceilings, and floors, so be sure it's done correctly the first time.