Bathroom sink trap: PVC or Polypropylene

[AdrianMariano]

I'm removing some badly constricted steel pipes that drain my bathroom sink and tub and replacing with PVC. The existing trap under the bathroom sink is a heavy weight 1.5" sched 40 PVC and screws together with metal nuts. I can't reuse all of it because the end piece is glued to some ABS, though perhaps I can just replace that one part.

Now it seems there is another option for traps: a lighter weight "slip" joint trap made of polypropylene instead of PVC. This might be easier to install because the slip joint provides more flexibility when making the final connections. I think this is 1.25" pipe, so it's a bit smaller.

My question is, does it matter which type of trap I use? Is one of the two types superior? Or should I just pick my trap based on what turns out to be the easiest to install?

 

[Dj2]

No it doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is "no leaks".

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Terry]

Now it seems there is another option for traps: a lighter weight "slip" joint trap made of polypropylene instead of PVC. This might be easier to install because the slip joint provides more flexibility when making the final connections. I think this is 1.25" pipe, so it's a bit smaller.

I prefer tubular traps over the solvent weld traps. It's also easier to remove them when needed, in case you need to run a hand snake through the drain.

 

[AdrianMariano]

I prefer tubular traps over the solvent weld traps. It's also easier to remove them when needed, in case you need to run a hand snake through the drain.

Thanks for the advice.

I would say there's a second thing that matters beyond "no leaks", which is that water actually drains. Or to be more succinct: no clogs. And of course I'd like it to work properly for a long time, so no leaks or clogs in 20 years. My existing piping doesn't leak...but it also doesn't drain very well. There's a temptation to think that the heavier built product is better, that it will last longer, and so on. But it doesn't have to be true.