PVC with the right fittings really does make life easier under the sink. I’ve seen those accordion traps clog up in just a few months, especially if anyone’s got long hair in the house. If you ever have to offset the drain, a couple of 45-degree elbows usually do the trick without all that flex tubing mess. Copper looks great, but honestly, nobody’s crawling under there to admire it... unless you’re into that kind of thing.
Copper looks great, but honestly, nobody’s crawling under there to admire it... unless you’re into that kind of thing.
Yeah, I hear you on copper—looks sharp, but it’s overkill for a spot that’s just gonna collect dust and maybe the odd spider. I’ve had my fair share of those flex traps turning into hair magnets too. Ever run into issues with those PVC elbows leaking after a year or two? I’ve seen some cheap ones warp if things get too hot under there, like if you’ve got a steamy dishwasher drain tied in. Just curious if that’s been a thing for anyone else or if I’m just getting the bad batches.
Ever run into issues with those PVC elbows leaking after a year or two?
Honestly, yeah—seen plenty of those cheap PVC joints sweat or warp, especially with hot dishwasher drains. I started using schedule 40 for anything near heat, even if it’s hidden. Costs a bit more but saves headaches down the line. Copper’s nice, but I’d rather have something that just works and doesn’t need babysitting.
I hear you on the schedule 40—definitely worth it for peace of mind. I’ve had a couple tenants complain about slow leaks under the bathroom sink, and it’s almost always those flimsy elbows or the cheap slip joints. Ever notice if the off-center sinks make it worse? I swear, every time the drain isn’t lined up, the stress on those joints just seems to speed up the leaks. Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like I’m chasing these little drips way more often in those setups.
Yeah, I’ve noticed the same thing with off-center drains. It always feels like those slip joints are just barely holding on when you have to angle the trap weird. I started using flexible tailpieces in those cases—seems to help a bit, but not perfect.