I switched to a high loop setup after my third “midnight mop-up,” and honestly? Way less drama under there now.
Funny thing, I actually had the opposite luck. Tried the high loop route for a while, but still ended up with water pooling under the sink—turns out my drain line was just too low. Swapped back to an air gap and, yeah, it’s a pain to clean, but at least I’m not chasing leaks into the cabinet anymore. Guess it really depends on how your plumbing’s set up.
- Totally get where you’re coming from.
- Air gaps are a pain to keep clean, but they’re code in a lot of places for a reason.
- High loop only works if your drain’s high enough—otherwise, you’re just asking for trouble.
- I went with a dedicated drain line when we remodeled, and honestly, it’s been the most hassle-free option yet.
- Less water waste from leaks, and no weird smells creeping up from the sink... worth it for me.
I hear you on the air gap thing—those little chrome hats are like magnets for gunk. I swear, every time I check under a kitchen sink, there’s always some weird science experiment going on in there. But yeah, code is code, especially around here. The city inspector would probably have a heart attack if he saw a dishwasher without an air gap.
High loop is one of those “it works until it doesn’t” deals. I’ve seen folks just zip-tie the hose up as high as possible and call it good, but if your sink’s not deep enough or you’ve got a shallow cabinet, you’re basically rolling the dice. One time, I saw a high loop held up with duct tape and a chopstick... creative, but not exactly confidence-inspiring.
Dedicated drain line is definitely the gold standard if you can swing it. Not everyone’s up for tearing into walls or cabinets, though. When my aunt remodeled her kitchen, she went with the dedicated line and hasn’t had a single issue since—no more mysterious swamp smell wafting out of the sink at 2am. Meanwhile, my place still has the classic high loop setup and, knock on wood, it’s been fine... but I’m just waiting for the day I get that dreaded backup.
If you’re already remodeling or have easy access to plumbing, dedicated line all the way. Otherwise, high loop is better than nothing—but don’t skip the air gap if your area requires it. Trust me, cleaning out a backed-up dishwasher is not how you want to spend your Saturday afternoon.
One time, I saw a high loop held up with duct tape and a chopstick... creative, but not exactly confidence-inspiring.
That’s hilarious—also kind of terrifying. I’ve seen some “innovative” solutions under sinks too, like someone using a bungee cord to keep their drain hose up. Makes you wonder what else is going on behind the walls.
I’m still on the fence about air gaps. They’re code here, but man, they do get gross fast. Is there any way to make those things less of a grime magnet? I’ve tried cleaning mine out but it always seems to collect gunk no matter what.
As for dedicated lines, I’d love to have one but tearing into cabinets is above my pay grade right now. High loop has worked for me so far, but every time I hear that gurgle in the sink, I start questioning my life choices. Anyone ever had issues with the high loop causing odors or is that more of a myth? My neighbor swears it’s fine if you run hot water regularly, but I’m skeptical.
Also, does anyone actually check their air gap regularly? Or do most people just let it ride until something smells funky?
I get the air gap frustration, but honestly, I think it’s still the safer bet long-term. High loops are fine until something backs up in the sink and suddenly you’ve got a mess. As for odors, I’ve never had an issue with a proper high loop, but once the hose sagged and—yeah, not pleasant. Air gaps are a pain to clean, but at least you know when they’re clogged instead of finding out after water floods your cabinet. I check mine every month or so, but I’m probably in the minority.