# A minor (but frustrating) plumbing crisis **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 8, 2012, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-minor-but-frustrating-plumbing-crisis/618151 "2012-04-08T04:34:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2012, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-minor-but-frustrating-plumbing-crisis/618151/1 "2012-04-08T04:34:23Z")
The pipe under my kitchen sink has become detached from the bottom of the sink drain. There’s a threaded flange around the pipe that should screw back onto the threaded projection at the bottom of the sink drain. There’s also a little plastic piece that sits atop the now-open pipe. No matter what I do, the flange will not screw onto the threaded projection, with or without the little plastic piece. It goes up around the threads, but won’t “catch.” I just keep turning it, but it won’t catch the threads. It’s obvious that this is the only way for it to go back on, but it won’t. I even tried rotating it in the “wrong” direction, to no avail. So what the hell am I doing wrong? I won’t even try to find a plumber on Easter. And duct tape is useless. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2012, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-minor-but-frustrating-plumbing-crisis/618151/2 "2012-04-08T05:11:07Z")
Hard to tell from your description, but you’ve either got the parts misaligned or the threads are stripped out. Try wrapping some plastic wrap around the threads and see if the fitting will thread on. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2012, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-minor-but-frustrating-plumbing-crisis/618151/3 "2012-04-08T05:15:22Z")
the nut can have trouble threading on due to the pipes not aligning straight on. you need to gently push and pull the pipes straight (not to stay that way) to get the nut to thread. it can take two people, one to hold pipes and one to turn the nut. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2012, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-minor-but-frustrating-plumbing-crisis/618151/4 "2012-04-08T05:16:06Z")
Got pics? If not, is the little plastic piece threaded inside, by any chance? That’s a slip nut, and it’s supposed screw onto the drain. If the nut is what you mean by “flange,” it sounds like you need a new drain pipe. Also, now is a good time to replace the washer(s). ---
**Author:** ![jacobsta811](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jacobsta811/32/2893_2.png) [@jacobsta811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacobsta811)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2012, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-minor-but-frustrating-plumbing-crisis/618151/5 "2012-04-08T13:55:44Z")
You probably should just get a whole new drain kit from the big box store - they aren’t expensive and you probably have stripped out one or more of the plastic nuts - it happened to me as well. Some of the plastic nuts can be replaced with metal ones - I did that on my drain when I fixed it so it wouldn’t happen again. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2012, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-minor-but-frustrating-plumbing-crisis/618151/6 "2012-04-08T14:08:31Z")
you take a 5 gallon bucket and put it under the open sink drain. be sure to not try to put more than 5 gallons into it. when it is about full take it out and put an empty 5 gallon bucket under the open sink drain. take the bucket with water in it and pour it down the drain. repeat as needed. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2012, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-minor-but-frustrating-plumbing-crisis/618151/7 "2012-04-08T17:20:34Z")
WAG…is there a rubber gasket on one fitting? If so, sometimes if they are inserted upside down, it won’t allow the connection to be made to the threads. Try turning it the other way and see if it screws on. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2012, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-minor-but-frustrating-plumbing-crisis/618151/8 "2012-04-08T17:34:31Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > you take a 5 gallon bucket and put it under the open sink drain. be sure to not try to put more than 5 gallons into it. when it is about full take it out and put an empty 5 gallon bucket under the open sink drain. take the bucket with water in it and pour it down the drain. repeat as needed. Do not empty the bucket into the sink just above it. Ask me how I know this. ---
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2012, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-minor-but-frustrating-plumbing-crisis/618151/9 "2012-04-08T17:51:02Z")
HAH! I laugh because I’ve done it too. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2012, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-minor-but-frustrating-plumbing-crisis/618151/10 "2012-04-08T17:57:27Z")
> [@jacobsta811](#): > > You probably should just get a whole new drain kit from the big box store - they aren’t expensive and you probably have stripped out one or more of the plastic nuts - it happened to me as well. Some of the plastic nuts can be replaced with metal ones - I did that on my drain when I fixed it so it wouldn’t happen again. Yep. Just replace the whole thing. It’s only hard to install because access can be tight due to the size of the cabinet and the placement of the plumbing. Other than that, it’s a piece of cake as a DIY home repair project. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2012, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-minor-but-frustrating-plumbing-crisis/618151/11 "2012-04-08T17:59:38Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > Do not empty the bucket into the sink just above it. > Ask me how I know this. I’ve done that too! I think I invented new profanities when the water was cascading around my feet. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2012, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-minor-but-frustrating-plumbing-crisis/618151/12 "2012-04-08T18:09:51Z")
Yup file that under how to feel like an idiot (plumbing)