Thread: The Day of the Bad Traps

Yesterday's inspections were both interesting, plumbing-wise. I will henceforth call it the Day of the Bad Traps. Two of these were in the same house.

Similar Threads:

• Sediment traps
• S Traps
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Originally Posted by Welmoed Sisson

Yesterday's inspections were both interesting, plumbing-wise. I will henceforth call it the Day of the Bad Traps. Two of these were in the same house.

They all look bad but the Flex pipe always gets me no matter when and where i find it...
I always question why the home centers sell it...

"To trap or not to trap. That is the question." - "Then to suffer the sling and arrows of outrageous rejection."

"If you can't be with the trap you love love the trap you have."

I'm amazed at how many S-traps I see in new home construction in the rural areas.

Originally Posted by Jeff Zehnder

They all look bad but the Flex pipe always gets me no matter when and where i find it...
I always question why the home centers sell it...

I'll bite........why do you dislike flex?

Originally Posted by Lon Henderson

I'll bite........why do you dislike flex?

I'll bite ... that implies that you find flexible drain tailpieces and pipes 'likable'?

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

I'll bite ... that implies that you find flexible drain tailpieces and pipes 'likable'?

Ok, I'll take the bait.

"Like" would be far too strong a term for how I feel about flex tail pieces. I don't think there is some default that flex tail pieces are always bad. I have seen them misused as I judge misuse, but when used in gentle turns, I've never seen one being any more problem that rigid pipe in similar use. I've seen them used to create a P-trap which I judge to be a misuse. I've seen multiple flex pieces joined to make an extended connection which I've judged to be improper and likely to cause drainage problems.

Flexible tailpieces are not approved by the code, therefore there is a default 'not allowed' status for them.

Originally Posted by Jerry Peck

Flexible tailpieces are not approved by the code, therefore there is a default 'not allowed' status for them.

Yes......and in the end that settles it.

Originally Posted by Lon Henderson

I've judged to be improper and likely to cause drainage problems.

Not self scouring. Therefore prohibited.

Originally Posted by JeffGHooper

Not self scouring. Therefore prohibited.

Also has ridges and crevices. Therefore prohibited ... unless may by Lay's, then ridges make Ruffles!