How to Replace a Kitchen Sink Drain Strainer with a Permanent Sink Screen

By SemperScreen®. We own residential and commercial real estate properties across the United States, and we built the permanent sink screen for our own buildings before we sold it to anyone else.

Kitchen sink drain replacement does not require a new sink. Disconnect the tailpiece, unscrew the compression nut from below, push the old strainer and flange up through the drain hole, and clean off every trace of old putty or silicone. Then seat the new drain assembly, tighten it from below and reconnect the tailpiece. We recommend a licensed plumber for installations and have flags below to help guide you to seek professional help when needed.

Most people get here after the old drain has made the decision for them. It leaks where the flange meets the sink, the body spins when you turn the compression nut, the finish has worn through, or the pop-out screen that belongs in it went missing months ago. The removal steps are the same whatever goes back in, so the real choice is the part you put in the hole. If the sink has a garbage disposal, start with how to change a garbage disposal to a regular drain instead.

Does the drain in a kitchen sink have to be removable?

No. None of the three codes below requires the part in a kitchen sink drain to be removable. Under IRC § P2714.1, A strainer, crossbar or other device shall be provided to restrict the clear opening of the waste outlet, and the section says nothing about removability.¹

The removability requirement in the California code sits in the next section, which covers floor sinks.³ Nothing in the kitchen sink provisions asks that the part come out. SemperScreen® recommends that you always refer to local building codes when modifying a building's plumbing system.

Renting the unit out? Our guide to clogged drain maintenance tickets covers whether a non-removable screen is allowed in a rental unit.

Why replace the whole drain instead of just the basket?

Because the parts that fail are the ones a replacement basket does not touch: the seal under the flange, the threads on the drain body, and the finish. In TheDIYGuyDOTnet's walkthrough, the drain being replaced had lost its finish and its stopper and was leaking underneath.⁴ In HUD-assisted housing, the remote video inspection procedure directs the camera at the kitchen sink's basket strainer.⁵

What you find under the sink tells you what went wrong:

What do you need before you start?

• A bucket and old towels for the water in the trap
• Plumbing drain wrench, a spud wrench, or channel locks for the compression nut
• Slip-joint pliers and a flat screwdriver to hold the drain body still
• A plastic putty knife and a clean rag
• Plumber's putty or silicone (either works)
• The new drain assembly. We recommend the SemperScreen® permanent sink screen, pick up one from your local store (Find a Store or Plumber) or order one in our online store (Shop SemperScreen®).

Check that your drain opening is the standard 3½" size before you buy. If the sink is older and unusually thick, read the fit question in the FAQ first.

How do you remove the old kitchen sink strainer and flange?

To remove a kitchen sink strainer, hold the body still from above, turn the compression nut counterclockwise from below, then push the old strainer and flange up and out.

1. Empty the cabinet under the sink and set a bucket and towels under the trap.
2. If a dishwasher drain hose connects to the tailpiece, loosen its clamp and pull the hose off.
3. Loosen the tailpiece nut that joins the tailpiece to the bottom of the old drain, then swing the tailpiece and trap out of the way.
4. Hold the drain body still from above: set the handles of a pair of pliers into the crossbars and slide a screwdriver between the handles.⁶
5. Turn the compression nut counterclockwise with plumbing drain wrench or a spud wrench. If it is rusted tight, spray it with penetrating oil, then tap it loose with a hammer and an old chisel.⁶ If it still will not turn, see when to call a licensed plumber, below.
6. Take off the compression nut and the rubber gasket.
7. If the old drain was set in silicone, break that seal before you push. Silicone holds tighter than plumber's putty, so work a plastic putty knife under the edge of the flange from above until it lets go.
8. Push the old drain up and lift it out of the sink. Take care not to damage the sink.
9. Scrape off every trace of old putty or silicone with the plastic putty knife, then wipe the opening clean and dry. All of it has to come off before the new drain goes in.

How do you install the new drain assembly?

Installing a kitchen sink drain assembly means sealing the flange with plumber's putty or silicone, fitting the rubber compression gasket, compression cup and compression nut below, then connecting the 1-1/2" tailpiece.

These steps follow the installation instructions for the SemperScreen® permanent sink screen, which arrives as a complete kitchen sink drain assembly in one part: flange, tailpiece connection and permanent screen. The how to install a permanent sink screen instructions and video are on our support page.

1. Disassemble the new assembly: remove the compression nut, the compression cup and the rubber compression gasket from the drain body and set them aside.
2. Run a rope of plumber's putty or a bead of silicone around the underside of the flange. Either works.
3. Set the drain body in the opening from above and press it down firmly.
4. From below, slide on the rubber compression gasket, then the compression cup, then thread the compression nut on by hand. 
5. Hold the drain body still from above while you snug the compression nut from below, so the body does not spin.⁴ A second set of hands makes this easier; finish with pliers and stop short of overtightening.⁷
6. Connect the tailpiece to the bottom of the drain with the tailpiece bushing and tailpiece nut, reconnect the trap, and put the dishwasher hose back if you took one off.
7. Wipe away any putty or silicone that squeezed out around the flange.
8. Fill the sink, let it drain all at once, and check the flange and both the compression nut and tailpiece nut underneath with a dry paper towel.⁶
9. For abnormally thick sink basins, check installation instructions and video for additional modification recommendations.

When should you call a licensed plumber?

Some jobs should go to a plumber partway through. Stop and call one if any of these come up:

• The old flange will not come out, or it is too rusted or corroded to turn. Bending or cutting it out can damage the sink.
• Drain pipes have to come out, or one breaks when you loosen it.
• The drain pipe is too short or too long to properly connect to the tailpiece, and you do not have the tools to cut or extend it. 
• You cannot get all of the old putty or silicone off the sink.
• The drain pipe does not line up, which often happens when the old drain was never aligned in the first place. A misaligned drain pipe that is forced to connect with the tailpiece may lead to leaks.
• You see a leak at the flange or the tailpiece connection after installation.
• Anything else stops the job partway.

To find a plumber or a store near you, use Find a Store or Plumber.

How much does kitchen sink drain replacement cost?

The cost is the part plus the labor. Installation of the SemperScreen® permanent sink screen is ~15 minutes per drain, retrofit, no plumbing modifications. Our published figure for a plumbing service call is $250+ per call. Current pricing for the part is on the product page: Shop SemperScreen®.

What should go back in the drain hole?

Whatever goes back in, the code asks for something that restricts the opening. The difference between the options is whether the person at the sink can take that part out. A pop-out screen or removable cover gets lifted out to drain a pot, set on the counter and thrown away with the scraps, and from then on the drain is unprotected. Apartments.com states in their Rental Manager resource guide, "In theory, sink strainers prevent food scraps from going down the drain. In reality, not every tenant uses them consistently."⁸ That is human error that no training program fixes.

The SemperScreen® permanent sink screen is the only non-removable permanent sink screen. SemperScreen® replaces the complete kitchen sink drain assembly in one part: flange, tailpiece connection and permanent screen. It is polished stainless (304 stainless steel), uses a custom tailpiece nut for 1-1/2" tailpiece (more thread contact), and was tested and COMPLIED with ASME A112.18.2-2020 / CSA B125.2-20. The test reports are on our site. It carries a Lifetime residential warranty, and cleaning is one step. Just scoop it out!

If you are still weighing a removable part against a permanent one, what a sink screen is and how to choose one lays out the trade-off, and how the permanent sink screen works covers the design.

"Our house has old drain lines buried below the concrete. We were constantly getting clogged pipes until we installed a SemperScreen® sink screen. Thanks to this product, we have probably already saved thousands of dollars in maintenance and repair."

Rob and Giuliana, Homeowners

Shop SemperScreen® →

For rental and property teams: We know you have at least one drain that keeps clogging (we have experience with those). Contact us and let's discuss testing our permanent sink screens in those bad drains.

Commercial properties (restaurants, hotels, retail breakrooms, hospitals, senior care facilities, office breakrooms, industrial warehouses) have some of the same issues with food waste. Find out what we recommend in these larger facilities.

Frequently asked questions

Should I use plumber's putty or silicone?
Either works. Seal the underside of the flange with plumber's putty or silicone. Before the new drain goes in, remove every trace of the old putty or silicone from the drain opening.

Are kitchen sink drains universal?
Most kitchen sinks take a standard 3½" drain, and the SemperScreen® permanent sink screen fits standard 3½" drains. Some older properties have abnormally thick sinks, with basins made of materials like ceramic and older cast iron. For those, our modification instructions have worked well in most cases, and the modification takes ~5 minutes additional per screen.

What about a double-bowl sink?
Each bowl has its own drain assembly and its own tailpiece. Replace them one at a time, with the same steps for each.

How do I hold water in the sink afterward?
The permanent sink screen stays in the drain, so holding water takes a separate sink stopper. Ours is the SemperStopper™.

References

1. "Section P2714.1 Sink waste outlets." 2021 International Residential Code, Chapter 27 Plumbing Fixtures. International Code Council. 2021. Retrieved from https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/IRC2021V3.0/chapter-27-plumbing-fixtures
2. "Section 422.2 Sink waste outlets." 2021 International Plumbing Code, Chapter 4 Fixtures, Faucets and Fixture Fittings. International Code Council. 2021. Retrieved from https://codes.iccsafe.org/s/IPC2021P3/chapter-4-fixtures-faucets-and-fixture-fittings/IPC2021P3-Ch04-Sec422
3. "Section 420.4 Waste Outlet and Section 421.2 Strainers." 2025 California Plumbing Code, California Code of Regulations Title 24, Part 5. International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials. 2025. Retrieved from https://epubs.iapmo.org/2025/CPC/
4. "How to Replace A Kitchen Sink Strainer." TheDIYGuyDOTnet, YouTube. 2014. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQaDgfc-MYI
5. "Alternative Remote Video Inspection SOPs." HUD Exchange, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Retrieved from https://files.hudexchange.info/course-content/remote-video-inspections-general-health-safety-common-areas-elevators-and-site-and-neighborhood/Alternative-Remote-Video-Inspections-SOPs-Common-Areas-Elevators-Site-Neighborhoods.pdf
6. "How to Replace a Kitchen Sink Basket Strainer." Family Handyman. 2023. Retrieved from https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/how-to-replace-a-kitchen-sink-basket-strainer/
7. "How to Replace a Kitchen Sink Strainer." This Old House. Retrieved from https://www.thisoldhouse.com/kitchens/how-to-replace-a-sink-strainer
8. "Should I Install a Garbage Disposal in My Rental?" Apartments.com Rental Tools. Retrieved from https://www.apartments.com/rental-manager/resources/maintenance/should-i-install-garbage-disposal-my-rental