I’ve seen the same thing—dedicated lines definitely help with those nasty backups, but the space tradeoff is real, especially in older kitchens. I’ve had tenants complain about losing under-sink storage after a retrofit, and honestly, some folks just end up piling stuff around the new pipes anyway. One thing I’d add: if you’re renting or planning to sell, a dedicated line can be a selling point (less maintenance calls down the road), but it’s not always worth the headache if you’re not having regular issues. Have you noticed if your clogs are seasonal or tied to heavy use? Sometimes it’s just a matter of what you’re putting down the disposal...
One thing I’d add: if you’re renting or planning to sell, a dedicated line can be a selling point (less maintenance calls down the road), but it’s not always worth the headache if you’re not having regular issues.
That’s pretty much my experience too. I get why people like the idea of a dedicated drain—it’s tidy and you don’t have to worry as much about backups—but honestly, in my last place, the extra piping made it a pain to get to the shutoff valves when I needed to fix a tiny leak. Plus, I’m always a little wary about folks cramming cleaning supplies around new plumbing. One bottle tips over and suddenly you’ve got corrosion or worse.
Curious—has anyone actually had a leak or water damage because of stuff getting knocked into their pipes under the sink? I feel like that’s one of those things you don’t think about until it happens... Maybe I’m just overly cautious, but I’d rather have less storage than risk a slow drip turning into a mess.
Honestly, I’m with you on the “less is more” approach under the sink. I haven’t had a disaster (yet), but I did once find a bottle of bleach wedged up against a pipe and the metal was looking a little sad. It’s like a game of Tetris down there—one wrong move and you’re mopping up. You’re not being overly cautious at all... sometimes peace of mind is worth losing a bit of storage.
I totally get the “Tetris” vibe under the sink. I used to cram everything in there—cleaners, sponges, random tools—and then I had a slow leak from my dishwasher hookup. Didn’t even notice until I pulled out a soggy box of trash bags and realized the bottom of the cabinet was starting to warp. That was a fun weekend project...
Honestly, after that, I started leaning toward a dedicated drain line for the dishwasher. It’s just less clutter and fewer connections to worry about. The under-sink hookup is convenient, but it always felt like one more thing that could go wrong, especially with all the stuff shifting around down there. Plus, if you ever need to work on the plumbing, it’s way easier when you’re not dodging bottles and pipes at weird angles.
Not saying the under-sink method is bad—plenty of folks use it without issues—but for me, peace of mind won out over squeezing in another bottle of glass cleaner.
Dedicated drain line is definitely the way I prefer to go, especially in rentals. Fewer connections under the sink means less risk of leaks, and honestly, tenants tend to use that cabinet for everything—I've seen everything from paint cans to pet food crammed in there. All it takes is one bottle getting wedged against a hose and you’ve got a mess.
I get why people stick with the under-sink hookup—it’s cheaper upfront and you don’t have to mess with extra plumbing. But long term, I’ve found it’s just not worth the hassle. If there’s ever a clog or leak, you’re not pulling out half a cleaning aisle just to get access. Plus, if you ever need to replace the dishwasher, it’s a lot more straightforward.
Not saying the under-sink method is a disaster waiting to happen, but in my experience, fewer moving parts and less clutter always wins out. The peace of mind is worth the extra bit of work up front.
