Funny you mention the gunk—when I started helping out with installs, I was surprised by how many high loop setups had that same gross buildup. One time, I had to snake a drain line and what came out looked like something from a sci-fi movie... It didn’t smell great either. I get the “out of sight, out of mind” thing, but after seeing that mess, I’m kinda leaning toward air gaps or even dedicated lines if you’ve got the option. Just seems like less chance for weird stuff to build up over time, you know?
One time, I had to snake a drain line and what came out looked like something from a sci-fi movie...
- Had a similar moment when I pulled apart the old kitchen drain—never realized how much sludge builds up in those loops.
- Air gaps seem like extra hassle but honestly, after seeing that, I’d rather deal with an extra hole in my sink than that kind of mess.
- Dedicated lines sound neat but not always possible in older houses. High loop’s the minimum, but if you can swing an air gap, it’s probably worth it for peace of mind.
Air gaps seem like extra hassle but honestly, after seeing that, I’d rather deal with an extra hole in my sink than that kind of mess.
Totally get this. I’ve seen some gnarly backups where the high loop just wasn’t enough—especially if the sink drain’s already slow. Air gaps aren’t pretty, but they’re a solid insurance policy. Dedicated lines are great in theory, but like you said, older houses just don’t have the space or layout for them half the time. At the end of the day, anything that keeps you from snaking out a biohazard is worth considering...
I get the air gap argument, but honestly, I’ve never been a fan of punching extra holes in the sink unless it’s absolutely necessary. I know they’re code in some places, but if you’ve got a proper high loop and your drain isn’t sluggish, I feel like it’s usually enough. Maybe I’m just lucky, but I’ve had dishwashers hooked up this way for years and never had a backup or any grossness coming up.
That said, I’m pretty obsessive about keeping the trap clear and running hot water down the drain every so often. If you’re the type who lets stuff build up in the pipes, then yeah, maybe an air gap is worth the hassle. But for me, I’d rather avoid drilling into a perfectly good countertop or sink if I can help it.
Dedicated drain lines sound great, but like you said, most older houses just aren’t set up for that. I looked into it when we remodeled the kitchen, but the plumber wanted to tear up half the wall, so that was a hard pass. Sometimes you just have to work with what you’ve got.
I guess it comes down to how much risk you’re willing to take. I’d rather keep things simple and just stay on top of maintenance. But I get why some folks want the extra insurance, especially if they’ve seen a backup firsthand. Still, I think a lot of the horror stories come from people ignoring slow drains until it’s too late...
You’re preaching to the choir here. I’ve owned a handful of rentals over the years, and honestly, I’ve never once had an issue with a high loop setup—assuming the drains are kept clear. Like you, I’m not eager to start drilling holes in perfectly good sinks unless it’s absolutely required by code. Most tenants don’t even notice the difference, but they sure notice if you leave a weird chrome thing sticking up where it doesn’t match anything else.
I get that air gaps are technically “safer,” but in practice, if you’re on top of maintenance and don’t let gunk pile up, high loop does the job just fine. The only time I’ve ever seen a backup was in a place where someone was shoving potato peels down the drain for months. That’s not a plumbing issue—that’s just bad habits.
Dedicated drain lines sound nice on paper, but unless you’re gutting the kitchen anyway, it’s usually more trouble than it’s worth. Sometimes simple is better, especially if you’re willing to keep an eye on things.