What is the metal thing next to my kitchen faucet?

Author: Owen Morar  |  Last update: Thursday, March 13, 2025

What Is That Metal Thing? The metal thing in question is a small, cylindrical metal tube that sits next to the faucet on your kitchen sink. Reddit user @dominostracker wondered the exact same thing, and according to a few wonderful human beings who took the time to answer, that thing is an air gap.

What is the thing next to my kitchen faucet?

The valve is actually for the dishwasher and is commonly known as the dishwasher air gap. An air gap's purpose is to prevent drain water from the kitchen sink backing up into the dishwasher, contaminating your cleanly washed dishes. Now that you know what it is, how does it actually work?

What is the small thing next to kitchen faucet?

The dishwasher air gap is a chrome or stainless steel cylinder fitting that can be found at the back of the sink near the faucet.

What is the vent on my kitchen sink?

Essentially, kitchen sink vents allow air to circulate, and as a result, equalizes pressure in the kitchen drain pipes. This helps sewage flow more effectively by reducing clogs. The kitchen sink vent also prevents odors from flowing back into the kitchen, thereby keeping it smelling clean and fresh.

What is a faucet escutcheon plate?

An escutcheon is a pretty metal piece used to hide a hole in your wall where a pipe comes through. They can be found behind your faucets, showers, toilets, and under your sink.

Fixing a Loose Kitchen Faucet

What does an escutcheon look like?

Escutcheons (pronounced 'uh-skuht-shn'), are a flat plate of metal that fits around a keyhole.

Do you have to use the plate that comes with a kitchen faucet?

Kitchen faucets can be mounted with or without a deck plate, which contains the faucet's spout and handles in one mounting plate. These units cover up to three holes in your sink. Kitchen faucets can be mounted with or without a deck plate, which contains the faucet's spout and handles in one mounting plate.

What happens if a sink vent is clogged?

If your plumbing vent is clogged, the vacuum inside the pipes can cause water to get trapped inside of them instead of draining out through your sewage line. Since the water has nowhere else to go, it will eventually start to back up inside your sinks and drains.

What does an air admittance valve do?

The air admittance valve (AAV) is a device designed to allow air to enter the drainage system to balance the pressure and prevent siphonage of the water trap when negative pressure develops in the system.

What is the thing in the kitchen sink called?

Basin: The basin is the part of the sink that holds water from the faucet. It has a drain in the bottom that allows water to escape.

What is the silver thing next to the kitchen faucet?

What Is That Metal Thing? The metal thing in question is a small, cylindrical metal tube that sits next to the faucet on your kitchen sink. Reddit user @dominostracker wondered the exact same thing, and according to a few wonderful human beings who took the time to answer, that thing is an air gap.

Should water come out of the air gap?

Your dishwasher does more than clean your dishes; it is an important part of maintaining your family's health. One way it does that is by draining away wastewater through the air gap. When your air gap leaks, it indicates a problem.

What is a plumbing tailpiece?

The tailpiece, or sink tailpiece, is the straight section of pipe that connects to the bottom of the sink drain fitting. If the sink has a pop-up drain, the lever rod of the drain assembly connects to a port on the back of the tailpiece.

What is the thing on the faucet called?

A faucet aerator is a device normally placed at the tip of the spout on a faucet and designed to introduce a mixture of air to the water stream.

What is the purpose of a kitchen air gap?

Air gaps entirely separate the hose running dirty water from the hose running to the drain. Since these two paths never intersect, there is no risk of wastewater creeping back into your clean appliance. The space between your kitchen faucet and the rim of your kitchen sink is a perfect demonstration of an air gap.

What does a kitchen faucet aerator do?

The purpose of an aerator is to conserve water while using the faucet longer, and without it, a stream of water can flow faster and more freely. Sink aerators are standard components on nearly all kitchen and bathroom faucets, but like any other piece of equipment, they need to be maintained every once in a while.

Can water come out of an air admittance valve?

In order for a liquid to come out, air must come in. All DWV plumbing systems require at least one vent penetration through the roof line, which allows air to enter the system, while also permitting sewer gas to escape.

What is the downside of the air admittance valve?

The other potential problem with using an AAV instead of a vent pipe is that if you ever get a blockage in the system that prevents the gasses from being pushed down into the sewer, those gases will have nowhere else to go.

How to unclog a kitchen sink vent pipe?

How to Clean and Clear Your Vent
  1. Climb onto your roof. ...
  2. Have an assistant flush a toilet while you hold your hand over the vent. ...
  3. Use a plumber's snake of electricians fish tape to unclog the stoppage.
  4. If you can't entirely remove the clog with your “snake,” use a garden hose to flush out remaining debris.

How do I know if my drain vent is bad?

Your plumbing system will display a few telltale signs:
  1. Gurgling Toilets and Drains. If you've heard a gurgling sound coming from your toilet or drains after flushing, this could be a sign that your plumbing vent is clogged. ...
  2. Strong Sewage Smells. ...
  3. Slow Moving Drains.

How do I know if my air vent is clogged?

Signs of an air duct clog include: One room in your house is hotter than all the others. Dirty air coming from vents. Unusual spikes in electric bills.

Why spray WD-40 up faucets?

Just take a can of WD-40 (preferably one with a long flexible hose) and spray it inside of your faucet. The WD-40 will loosen up the hard water and make the diverter work as smoothly as day one. The same goes for a hard to turn shower knob, a sprits of WD-40 and it will work like brand new.

How much does Home Depot charge to install a faucet?

For a basic kitchen sink faucet installation by a pro plumber or a qualified handyperson, you can expect the installation cost to be anywhere from $119 for faucet installation through Home Depot, $92 for faucet installation through Lowe's to $400+ on a complex project.

What is an escutcheon plate?

An escutcheon (/ɪˈskʌtʃən/ ih-SKUTCH-ən) is a general term for a decorative plate used to conceal a functioning, non-architectural item. Escutcheon is an Old Norman word derived from the Latin word scutum, meaning 'a shield'.

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