How to connect a sink drain to existing glued PVC pipes
Replacing a kitchen sink often leaves the new drain misaligned with a rigid, glued floor drain system. Because the existing pipes cannot be easily shifted, connecting the trap without making mistakes on the main sewer line becomes a nerve-wracking guesswork project.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1cutting the glued connection and using a shielded coupling to transition to slip-joint
- 2Using a Fernco coupling instead of a slip coupling
- 3Reducing the shower drain size to match existing fittings
- 4Moving the pipe to a different bay and splicing in a new wye
- 5Using push-fit fittings like SharkBites
- 6Using adapter fittings with compression or cinch rings
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“How do I connect the sink drain to the existing floor drain bits? I presume I'll need an s-trap but don't really understand how to connect the trap to the final end?”source ↗
“I am looking for recommendations on how to connect to the sewer line, including:”source ↗
“which makes me nervous on the main sewer line.”source ↗
“There is no ideal way to connect quest pipe to other piping systems.”source ↗
“Problem is the pipes are coming in at such an angle from under the house the pipe is cocked too much for my comfort in the shark bites.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 2Washing machine drain pipe keeps leaking after putting back on
- 5Best way to seal gaps around pipes under the sink?
- 51How to fix a leaking water pipe in a tight space
- 2How to fix a sink drain pipe that is too short
- 6How to connect a faucet and pipe with different sizes
- 12How to figure out confusing plumbing and water flow directions