Plumbing help - I just broke something

TPSou

The sink in our bathroom wouldn't drain properly, even after using drain unblocking stuff, so I took apart the u bend just underneath it to try and scrape out the goop. The U-bend turned out to be fairly clean other than soap scum on the sides, but the actual plug was blocked on the underside, so I took apart the bottom of that and cleared it out. Now this is a rented place but we didn't want to bother the landlord ( a mistake I know) and when I took off the black ring that was holding the plug down firmly into the sink, loads of half rotten sealant type stuff flaked away. I cleared out the bottom of the plug, then put everything back together, but when I turned the tap on some water dripped out from where the black ring is. I tried tightening it more with a wrench, and ended up cracking the damn thing, now it drips more than a bit when the tap is on, but at least the water drains away!

Anyway, anyone know how easy it is to get the bit I broke, whether I need to buy new sealant or not, or any other advice? Shops are shut now but I want to go first thing in the morning. Here's a photo in case it helps. The bit I broke is just the black ring bit at the top, not the screw cylinder that it goes around.

iRevert

The gasket and jamb nut are the parts your looking for I believe

Edit:

I'm wanting to say the gasket is called a mack washer for some reason but I might be mistaken, you may also want to add some dope in there when you replace the parts.

Barrakketh

iRevert wrote: »

I'm wanting to say the gasket is called a mack washer for some reason but I might be mistaken

I'm not sure about proper names, but if you had to ask around a hardware store then "basket" or "flange" might be helpful terms to go with when inquiring about the gasket and nut.

iRevert

Assuming I'm looking at the correct part if he walked into a hardware store asked a clerk in the plumbing section for a new under sink mack washer and jambnut for the drain he'd get the parts he needed once he told them the correct size.

Around three dollars and change worth of parts depending on the store, more if he grabs a tube of pipedope.

TP bring the part in with you when you head in, also clean the threads off before you put the new one on. I'm willing to bet there is a bunch of crud in there and that is whats causing things not to snug down enough, along with the old disintegrating gasket.

TPSou

Cheers for the advice guys, although some of those names sound made up. If I go into a shop in England and ask for dope I might get arrested. Yeah I'm going to take off the U-bend (it's not very big) and the bit you can see in the picture so I can make sure everything fits. Should it need any putty/sealant or if it all works should it be fine without?

MichaelLC

Since the whole thing is apart already, I'd recommend it.

Also put some tape and a big sign over the sink so no one uses it while it's in pieces.

curly haired boy

TPSou wrote: »

Cheers for the advice guys, although some of those names sound made up. If I go into a shop in England and ask for dope I might get arrested. Yeah I'm going to take off the U-bend (it's not very big) and the bit you can see in the picture so I can make sure everything fits. Should it need any putty/sealant or if it all works should it be fine without?

yeah, you'll definitely need fresh plumber's putty (at least that's what it's called here in the states). be liberal with it when you do apply it, it's there to make a seal around the seated drain. ideally, you want the drain to tighten through the plumber's putty for the best seal. you can then take a butter knife and scrape off the excess.

Afty

In the UK it's called plumbers mate. If you take that picture into a B&Q they'll be able to give you exactly what you need.

Donovan Puppyfucker

Just take the broken part in to the hardware store.

"Yo I need a new one of these."

zepherin

chrishallett83 wrote: »

Just take the broken part in to the hardware store.

"Yo I need a new one of these."

I have done that so much. Really though any hardware store should be able to hand you the part or get it in a couple days. I'm a big fan of making the landlord fix stuff though, I remember when the paradigm shift came. I was clearing out a p trap and was dry heaving, because it was nasty to a spectacular extent, and I thought, this sucks someone else is going to be doing this next time.

TPSou

nowhere had the part but I managed to get it from a set with some other stuff, also using that sealant is harder than I thought it would be, especially to make it look good. But it's all fixed now, thanks everyone for all the help!

Afty

You can use some very light grain sandpaper to take off the excess sealant if you are so inclined