Home Depot Should STOP SELLING This P-Trap, Don't Buy It

Go down the home depot plumbing aisle, you'll see many plumbing parts for sale, including transparent p-trap parts. But we have noticed an alarming rate of cracked p-trap with the Home Depot Everbilt brand, and we're trying to get to the bottom of it. Until we do, we are advising for these clear ptrap, Home Depot Should STOP SELLING them, and You STOP Buying them.

If you have a p trap leaking under your sink shortly after installing a transparent ptrap from Home Depot, you'll often find the p-trap cracked at the nut threads where the central compression joint is, in the middle of the trap seal on the output of the P-Trap.

Not only have we seen this plumbing disaster, but others have reported to us about a p trap leaking at threads, when they did not over tighten, or use tools, they only hand tightened, just like us. Please note, this cracked P-Trap/leaking ptrap plumbing fail does not happen with the white poly P-traps, those have been perfect for us over the years. This problem only plagues the transparent P-traps, which are made of ABS plastic, rather than the poly plastic. Even the manufacturers of these P-traps have admitted the transparent P-traps are more brittle than the white Poly P-traps.

As mentioned in this video:

[ifixdit_PnD]

I'm a plumber, never used them out in the field but purchased one from home depot (liked how it looked) and installed it in my bathroom sink. It's been installed over 4 years ago and have never had a problem with it leaking or any sort of failure. The instant I saw your video, I ran to check the p trap but it is still in perfect working condition...but good, informative video. 👍👌

[edwardcucurello]

I had just ordered the clear P trap on Amazon after watching the initial video. Very glad to have found this. Thanks for updating, Jeff

[smattt]

Thanks for this video! I just swapped out the transparent p-trap in my parent's kitchen with a white one. There was a slight leak in the transparent p-trap a few weeks after it was installed but it wasn't so bad that I had to reinstall it. This week the leak got so bad that I was mopping up water off the cabinet floor. I recalled watching this video last year and didn't even look for a transparent set to replace the broken one. Thank you!

[humbughumbughumbug]

Any updates on the washtub submersion?

[adamsmith]

GOOD INFO Jeff!
No different than the saddle valves. I argued with my licensed general contractor about that. Thanks to your videos I knew better. He thinks just because Home Depot and Lowe's sell something it's legit.

[DidNotReadInstructions]

Amazing that this invention wasn't perfected decades ago. Cool looking trap.

[nomore]

I love the manufacturer's response shown at time index 5:10 -- "...rest assured it cannot break passively. The only way for it to break is for an external force to be applied to it while it is in installed position." Its explicit job is to operate while under external forces -- the forces of water flowing into and through it, the forces of heating/contracting due to water temperature, etc. Even the pressure applied by the nut can be considered "external force" since the nut is external to the part that cracked. The only time that trap is ever passive is when it is not installed.

While it's easy and appropriate to blame the actual manufacturer (whatever company in China physically created the parts), it is also necessary to blame the selling/brand company (Everbilt, in this case) because THAT is the company that has approved the product for sale, is ultimately selling the product, and is claiming the product is of sufficient quality for its intended purpose.

Lastly, I tried searching your videos for "P-trap" to find any follow-up videos, but couldn't find anything. What was the outcome of the testing?

[MyFortressConstruction]

Yep, installed one and it lasted 6 months and then failed at the threads, but it wasn't from a crack that I can remember. Replaced with regular white and it's been fine for a year now. I haven't seen the clear ones available at my local HD for a while.

[rickbolger]

Fernco and clear plastics, good fun! Seriously now, clear plastic piping is inherently brittle. Even UV resistant schedule 80 PVC is brittle. Most common problem is a result of impacts during shipment, which create stress points that will crack later on. Personally I can't stand any of this quick cheapo p-trap stuff. It certainly has its appeal, but the best thing about cheap is, it's cheap. I start with a trap adapter and go to schedule 40 PVC trap/street elbow and solvent cement the whole shebang. Twice the material cost but no leaks, bullet proof.

[jacksplumbingvideos]

Coincidentally I made a video about that yesterday about shaming the clear ptrap I’ve seen your previous videos about the clear p trap.
Also that homedepot comment at 5:00 I made that comment I always say to use a sch 40 p trap.

[veo]

What is this Weir height 3:33 concept? Is there a certain height we need to be mindful of when installing the long pipe that connects to the plumbing in the wall?

[ar]

Great job and great explanation. I almost bought that one but your video saved me.

[crashinc]

Great vid, from what I remember, some abs doesn't like heat, some can't handle chlorine. But with this cracking at the threads, this looks to be weight issue with a mix of heat and maybe chlorine. Clear abs tends to be more porous, so it could be drying out the connection. But still leaning towards weight. For insurance sometimes when you wash stuff in your sink pots or bowls that's a sudden change in weight. Could be over thinking this though.

[chizo]

Thank you so much for that video I was just about to go buy one only because they look cool.

[martinrps]

I watched this and then went and got it. Been struggling and need to see if my new setup works…..whenever I figure out the dishwasher drain. Today is day three of getting beat by the kitchen sink plumbing. Both sink strainers were leaking when we bought the house. Step one of my plan was to delete the garbage disposal and get rid of the universal tubing that is too long and just traps water everywhere.

I cannot figure out how to connect the dishwasher drain. They always go to the garbage disposal and now we don’t have that. Plumber came by today and quote was $600 for him to do it🤣

[hoptag]

I believe its the heat and cool from hot to cold water that causes the issues. I think making it clear removed the pliability and made it brittle.

[charleyweinhardt]

okay, my new 1 1/4" bathroom sink drain comes down and is 2" height from my old 1 1/2" threaded p trap-
( but the p trap is back 1/2". )
there has to be a simple and safe way to attach these. the sink drain could be cut back for a smoother transition. what's a good attachment?

[JasonHoningford]

Ya I saw this and thought how do they keep it from cracking, is there some new clear plastic that got invented that doesn't turn hazy, crack, and crumble after a few years? The answer is no.

[mirror]

ABS isn't naturally clear; that seems just silly. Maybe they modified it or used something known as MABS which seems different for thermal and impact properties. Have you tried also placing the joint under stress or are you sure no joints were stressed at all in the original install?

[dldennis]

I can't find what pvc cement you use on any of your videos. Please advise.