How to Connect a Lavatory to a Copper Stub-Out

Press an even layer of plumber's putty to the underside of the lavatory's drain body. Insert the drain body through the hole in the bottom of the sink bowl. Tighten the compression nut on the drain body's threads under the sink using a wrench and wipe away any plumber's putty that squeezes out.

Wrap pipe tape around the threads on the drain body, and then thread the tailpiece onto the drain body. Turn the tailpiece so the opening points toward the faucet, accommodating the drain stopper assembly.

Drop the stopper into the drain body, pointing the opening in the stopper so it lines up with the hole in the side of the tailpiece. Insert the ball end of the stopper's pivot rod into the opening in the tailpiece, and then thread the compression nut on the pivot rod onto the threads on the tailpiece's opening.

Position a spring clip so its holes line up with one of the holes on the stopper's clevis strap. Insert the free end of the pivot rod through the holes in the spring clip and the clevis. Slide the lift rod through the hole in the top of the faucet and insert the end of the rod through the holes in the C-shaped end of the clevis strap. Tighten the screw on the end of the clevis strap by hand to secure the lift rod to the clevis.

Tighten a 90-degree pipe elbow onto the copper stub, pointing the open end of the elbow up.Thread a pipe trap piece onto the open end of the pipe elbow. Measure the gap, if any, between the open end of the pipe trap and the sink’s tailpiece. Cut a straight length of pipe to fit in the gap and thread it onto the tailpiece and trap piece to ensure it fits properly.

Remove the drain pipe sections one at a time. Brush PVC primer on the connecting pieces and wait for the primer to dry. Brush PVC cement onto the connecting pieces of the pipes, and then thread the pipes back together, tightening the connections by hand.

Run water down the drainpipes for at least five minutes as you observe the pipes. If you see leaks at the joints, tighten the joints a quarter turn with a pipe wrench until the leaking ceases.