Ever try using an offset tailpiece instead of flex? Sometimes that can get you just enough wiggle room without having to go full-on with the flex trap. I get why folks reach for those flexible ones—they’re quick and forgiving when things don’t line up—but yeah, they’re a pain for maintenance. Curious, did you have to cut into the vanity or wall at all, or was it just a matter of creative pipe angles? I’ve seen some setups where people end up notching out the back of the cabinet just to make things fit, which always feels like a last resort. Wondering if anyone’s found a clever workaround that doesn’t involve tearing stuff up or using flex...
I’ve wondered about this too, especially since I try to avoid flex traps whenever possible—they just seem like a magnet for gunk over time. I’ve used an offset tailpiece once, but it only gave me about half an inch of play, which wasn’t quite enough in my case. Ended up having to get creative with the angles, but I managed to avoid cutting into the vanity (barely).
Has anyone tried using rigid PVC with a couple of 22.5-degree elbows to “cheat” the alignment? I’ve heard some folks say it works if you’re careful with your measurements, but I’m not sure how reliable that is long-term. Also, does using extra fittings impact the risk of leaks or make future maintenance harder? I’m always thinking about how easy it’ll be to clean or swap things out down the line...
Curious if there’s a more eco-friendly material or method people have found that doesn’t involve flex or hacking up cabinets. Maybe there’s something obvious I’m missing?
- Ran into this exact headache last year when I swapped out our old sink. The drain was off by about an inch and a half—enough to make everything a pain.
- Tried flex at first, but yeah, it turned into a lint and hair trap in no time. Cleaning it was gross, so I ditched that idea.
- Ended up piecing together rigid PVC with two 22.5-degree elbows, like you mentioned. It worked, but I had to dry-fit everything a bunch of times to get the alignment right. The more fittings you use, the more spots you’ve got for leaks, but if you’re careful with the glue and let it cure, it’s pretty solid.
- Downside: if you ever need to swap out the trap or clear a clog, it’s trickier than just unscrewing a flex or slip-joint. I keep a bucket handy just in case.
- As for eco-friendly options, I haven’t found much besides sticking with PVC and minimizing waste. Metal traps are durable but not as forgiving for weird angles.
- Honestly, if you can avoid cutting into the vanity, it’s worth the extra hassle. I’d rather spend a little more time now than patch up a cabinet later...
if you ever need to swap out the trap or clear a clog, it’s trickier than just unscrewing a flex or slip-joint. I keep a bucket handy just in case.
Yeah, that’s the one thing that bugs me about glued PVC. I had to snake mine last winter and it was a pain—ended up cutting and re-gluing. Still, I’d take that over dealing with a flex pipe full of gunk any day. Cutting into the vanity is my last resort too... patching laminate never looks right.
Cutting into the vanity is always a last resort for me too, but honestly, I’ll take a flex pipe over glued PVC any day.
Been there, done that, and my knees still hurt just thinking about it. At least with flex, you can swap it out when it gets gross—no hacksaw required.I had to snake mine last winter and it was a pain—ended up cutting and re-gluing.
