How Flexible Drain Parts Function
Flexible drain parts can flex to one side or the other and from back to front or even extend to help make up the difference that is missing to make the drain trap or other drain parts line up. There are fittings for a bigger trap swing, couplings to put between two pipes that are not lined up all the way, and flexible extension couplings for vertical or horizontal adjustments on one side of the pipe.
Installation
Installing flexible drain fittings is just as easy as installing any of the other tubular piping under the kitchen, bathroom and laundry sink. They are held together with the slip joint nuts and washers that make installing and removing them quick and easy. These flexible drain connectors are easily accessible if they have to be removed to clear a clog or to make an adjustment to the drain system below the sink, such as when adding a larger garbage disposal.
Adjusting Flexible Drain Parts
Flexible drain traps are taller than most other traps, so it may be necessary to shorten the pipes above the continuous waste fitting to give the longer trap room to flex over the span. Take your time when installing flexible drain parts and play around with the many adjustments and positions that are possible until you find the one that is right for your installation. When installing flexible drain fittings, the trap arm does not have to be tight to seal up correctly. When it was overtightened, the nut did not work well, so it may be a good idea to try hand tightening it at first and adjust from there if necessary. When all of the drain fittings are connected together and properly tightened, run water and check for leaks. Make sure to test for leaks under the pressure of a large volume of water by filling the sink and then releasing the water to drain all at once.
Plumbing Codes
When using flexible drain parts, keep building and plumbing codes in mind. Just because you can flex these fittings into odd configurations doesn’t mean that you should. Flexible fittings should be used to make up a small misalignment while still following the basic standards of drain system design. This means no uphill drains or funky loops.
