A messy under-sink setup shown by a new homeowner drew more than aesthetic criticism on Reddit. Though nothing was leaking, users said it still deserved attention.
Commenters zeroed in on the drain arrangement, saying that kind of improvised plumbing can collect grime, create odors, and let sewer gas into a home.
Here's what to know
The homeowner asked where the sink issue belonged on a list of repairs. A photo showed a flexible drain tube and visible damage on the cabinet floor, and the original poster said the garbage disposal hummed but didn't work.
"It's not leaking today. Did the paper towel test all week while using it," they wrote in a comment.
One user focused on the disposal hookup, warning it had "no stab depth" and could fail because disposals vibrate during use.
Another user said, "I'd rank this as a high priority."
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
Code and drainage concerns also came up. One person wrote, "You'll need an AAV installed as high as possible above the main vertical pipe, otherwise you currently have an S-trap, which is against code but can also cause a siphon and allow sewer gases to come up through the sink."
More background
To convey how off-standard the installation was, commenters used descriptions including "abomination" and "Monty Python contraption."
A lot of the disgust centered on day-to-day performance rather than just the risk of a dramatic break. The accordion-style flex pipe was a frequent target.
"Never use the accordion pipes. They trap all the slime and stink," one user said. After spotting a small box on the side of the cabinet, another said, "That baking soda doing lord's work because that has to stink."
Even with no active leak, users still treated a fix as a relatively cheap way to avoid more damage, odor, or clogs.
What can be done?
The advice boiled down to a short repair list, beginning with removal of the flex tubing and a proper rebuild of the trap using rigid tubular piping.
Users said the pipe coming up from the floor should be reworked so it continues to a sanitary tee, with an air admittance valve placed above that point.
Other practical suggestions included running the dishwasher drain line in a high loop and temporarily covering the damaged cabinet floor with painted plywood or 1/4-inch melamine.
Across the thread, users said the repair was straightforward, inexpensive DIY work that was worth handling before the setup caused an expensive plumbing mess.
The homeowner appeared to agree, writing, "This seems like this is moving up the to-do list."
Where can I learn more?
Bad plumbing can lead to various problems.
• One homeowner was told to glue the P-trap in place, and users balked.
• A sewer smell under the kitchen sink persisted even after a plumber's visit.
• After a bathroom vanity swap, plumbers said the fix went from illegal to worse.
• A $220 laundry-sink snaking turned into a $491 bill for one hour.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
