"RogerT" wrote in message
...
Dave wrote:
. . . . . Have emptied the space below the sink and cut away a
portion of the back panel to reveal a moldy expanse of sheetrock
centering around the passage of the drain. Can anyone give me an
idea as to what might lie behind the sheetrock, and what I might do
about it.

P.S. Since you already cut out a portion of the back panel of the
cabinet, it doesn't seem like it would be much of a big deal to also cut
out some of the sheetrock and see what is going on back there. Maybe
you'll be able to see what's leaking and it will give the plumber an idea
of what's going on.


Hey Roger-

Indeed, and that is exactly what I did. Mystery solved. The 2" pipe that
the sink drain eventually connects to, which itself attaches to the verticle
member that becomes the line out was screwed into it's T-joint (forgive my
ignorance, I don't know what it is actually called) without the benefit of
thread compound or teflon tape. And apparently wasn't screwed in too
tightly either. When the water runs, it leaves via the drain and some of it
takes a side trip down to the bottom of the wall between the kitchen and
living room. Leaks at a prodigous rate, in fact. And apparently has been
doing so for the last four or so years, until everything became so saturated
that it could no longer be contained by sheetrock or the ten feet of space
between the line out and the end of the wall behind the counter.

I am tempted to try to fix it, but think I will let the plumber do the job,
just in case it turns out to be more than meets the eye. We have a home
warranty which we have kept up for 27 years, and it is about to pay for
itself again this year. The offending member is up against the outside wall
of the house, and I don't think I want to tackle that. Suspect the plumber
will have to replace the rusted T-joint as well as the loose and rusting
pipe. And that is not something I want on my hands.

Thanks for the reply though. Was beginning to think I must be the total
fool, but just couldn't let it rest another 24 hours.

Dave