Elbow joint on CI pipe (kitchen sink) -- odd angle?

Hi there,

Here is a picture of the drain's current hook-up in our kitchen sink.

I have been wondering--if it is a good hook-up.



The reason is that

1. The CI elbow is a 45 degree elbow. Is that a correct elbow--or should it be a 90 degree elbow?

2. And then the extension used by the installer is a flexible plastic pipe. That turn is also an odd turn. Perhaps it's due to the 45 degree CI elbow joint.



I wonder if there is a better way this can be done, like

- changing the CI elbow to a 90 degree, or
- just make a cut on the CI pipe before the elbow, do a coupling to change out to plastics, and make a 90 degree turn


BTW, is the CI elbow joint a lead joint?


Thx... .

quote; I wonder if there is a better way this can be done, like

What an abortion. A better question would be, "Is there any way it could have been done WORSE?" The 45 IS the correct turn, but everything ahead of it is WRONG. IF the pipe from the disposer to the tee flows DOWNHILL, then it is a simple matter of cutting off the trap's outlet tube and positioning the trap UNDER the tee. Then cut an "extension tube" to size and place it between the trap and the tee.

That flex pipe is disaster waiting to happen as well. Just because a store sells them doesn't make them acceptable. Your question tells me that you have zero knowledge about how do connect a drain. My best advice to you is to call a plumber to redo this mess properly.

That connection was done by whoever hired by the seller to fix things up before selling the property to me 10 years back. And the property inspector didn't raise any red flags (this tells me how much I can trust them).


I am a new DIYer. Definitely have no knowledge about codes. That's why I come here to ask. If this forum isn't for newbies let me know... .


The fix shouldn't be difficult to do. Just need to know what the right way is.


So now that I know the 45 deg. elbow is correct.

I thought the person did that because the p-trap's outlet to the CI elbow's distance was too long to get a pipe to work with and hence this really odd setup.


I'm going to try to remove that flexible plastic extension and replace with a straight rigid extension and see if I can get that crown from the plastic pipe coming from the CI to meet the p-trap's outlet. I just realize there's a 45 degree plastic elbow in the store so looks like that should take care of the odd turn from this current setup... .

Shorten the trap arm and swing the trap to get rid of the offset. I would get rid of the entire set up and redo it with glued fittings though. Garburators tend to loosen those connections with the vibrations over time.

Replaced the flexible extension with a rigid one. Looks better now.




BTW, another newbie question... :

Is this the right way to hook up the p-trap outlet to the CI elbow (slip joint)?



What'd be the right way if this is not?


Thx... .

Shorten the trap arm and swing the trap...

Click to expand...

Shortened the p-trap's outlet arm a bit further so it won't protrude to the left front (a bit more room now in that area... ).

No idea why the installer had that flexible extension like that in such an odd way. Anyway, should look ok now?





Assuming that the outlet arm's slip-joint to the CI elbow joint is good. Looks like there's an adapter right there so to match up to connect to the slip-joint (2nd pic in previous post)... . Metal thread to the plastic slip-joint's nut is ok?


Let me know if anyone spots anything else not right... .


Thx... .

What you have done is what I would have done, so it looks just fine to me!

quote; I thought the person did that because the p-trap's outlet to the CI elbow's distance was too long to get a pipe to work with and hence this really odd setup.

That was becauses whoever installed it must not have known how to cut off the trap, the way you did. My only changes would have been to use a metal slip nut on the 'trap adapter" instead of a plastic one, and eliminate that double slip joint coupling and use conventional long extension pieces like the one you used between the trap and the tee.

k9mlxj said:

No idea why the installer had that flexible extension like that in such an odd way.

Click to expand...

My guess is that is was being used as a straight extension but the trap sagged and rolled due to a lack of support.

whoever installed it must not have known how to cut off the trap

Click to expand...

Possibly so. Or perhaps the person forgot to bring his saw and he was in a hurry. The whole kitchen counter cabinets and the sink were installed just before the sale of the property. In fact the installer didn't even set up electrical connection for the sink disposer(!) and I had to bug my real estate agent to get that set up... .


Anyway thx so much everyone--got another plumbing issue taken care of... .

k9mlxj said:

... got another plumbing issue taken care of... .

Click to expand...

"It's always sumpthun ..." --Rosanne Rosanna Dana