I’m right there with you on the paranoia about hidden leaks. I’ve had nightmares about water slowly seeping behind the cabinet and not noticing until the floor starts buckling. One time I swapped out a kitchen drain for PVC, followed every step—primer, glue, the whole deal—and still found a tiny drip a week later. Ended up tightening everything again and adding some plumber’s putty just for peace of mind. Sometimes I think the old metal pipes are ugly but way more forgiving if you need to tweak something. I get tempted to upgrade, but unless it’s actually leaking, I usually just clean up what’s there and keep an eye on it. Less stress that way...
I get the temptation to swap out old pipes, but honestly, I’ve stuck with the metal ones for exactly that reason—they’re just easier to adjust if something’s off. Had a similar situation with a bathroom sink last year. Tried PVC for the first time, followed all the eco-friendly guides, but still ended up with a slow leak. Eventually just reused the old metal trap and sealed it up tight. Less waste, less hassle, and I can actually sleep at night without worrying about water damage. Sometimes “if it ain’t broke” really does apply...
Metal traps definitely have their perks—I've seen plenty of PVC setups that just never quite seal right, especially if the cuts aren't perfect or the threads get cross-threaded. When I swap out a drain, I usually go step-by-step: dry fit everything first, check alignment, then tighten up connections by hand before using tools. Sometimes a little pipe dope on metal threads does wonders for leaks. Curious—when you reused the old metal trap, did you clean it out or just reseal and reinstall? Some of those older pipes can get pretty gunked up over time...
Honestly, I gave the old metal trap a quick rinse—nothing too fancy. There was some serious gunk in there, but I wasn’t about to buy a new one if it still had some life left. Scraped out the worst of it, checked for leaks, slapped on some fresh pipe dope, and called it good. Maybe not plumber-level perfection, but hey, it’s holding up so far and my wallet’s happy.
I’ve always wondered if those flexible rubber couplers are worth trying for tricky fits or if they’re just asking for trouble down the line. Anyone here ever used them on old metal traps?
I’ve used those rubber couplers a couple times when nothing else would fit, but I’m always a little suspicious about their long-term durability. They’re handy for awkward spots, sure, but I worry about them breaking down after a few years. For old metal traps, if the threads are still good, I usually just clean and reuse like you did—less waste, less hassle. If I do have to use a coupler, I make sure everything’s super tight and double-check for leaks after a few days. Sometimes old-school methods just feel more reliable, you know?