This Idea belongs in a generic "Sink" category, since bathrooms usually have sinks, also.

If you look under the average sink, you will see some solid pipe-work that goes straight down, and then curves like a "U", and then bends toward the wall.

For anyone who doesn't know, the purpose of that "U" is to hold some water, to prevent sewer gases from coming up the pipes and entering your kitchen (or bath) through the sink drain-hole.

I propose we replace the "U" with some flexible tubing or hose. That way, the next time a clog forms in the "U", all you need do is bend it so that first the clog breaks up, and then the pieces can flow inside the hose downward/away toward the wall. When done, let the "U" sag again, and add some water to fill it again.

No harsh chemicals, much less effort needed than plunging, and you don't even get your hands dirty (assuming no leaks at the hose clamps).
-- Vernon, Jun 20 2012

Peerless 1-1/2" Flexible Sink Trap http://www.walmart....-Sink-Trap/21009184
I don't know if this is what [afinehowdoyoudo] saw, but seems to be different from the idea. [Klaatu, Jun 22 2012]

Not exactly baked, but a friend of mine who couldn't be arsed to fix the undersink pipes would just run out to the auto parts store and buy a radiator hose and two clamps.
-- normzone, Jun 20 2012


Weird. I saw, at wal-mart, about 20 minutes ago, for the first time in my life, exactly what you describe. Takes up up to 2" of misalignment, the package said.
-- afinehowdoyoudo, Jun 20 2012


It probably breaches building regulations to do it as you describe, [Vernon], not that that's a bad thing, unless you get caught.
-- UnaBubba, Jun 21 2012


This idea is simple, practical, and would work well… what's it doing on the 1/2B ?
-- 8th of 7, Jun 21 2012


This is actually a very good idea, [Vernon]!
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Jun 22 2012


What, no peristalsis?
-- swimswim, Jun 22 2012


//Weird. I saw, at wal-mart, about 20 minutes ago//

I saw something similar, but it seems different from the brief [thank-you] idea.

[+]
-- Klaatu, Jun 22 2012


(+)
//What, no peristalsis?//
[marked-for-tagline]
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Jun 22 2012


|+|

I, too, share the concerns that this is too sensible an idea too leave unaltered. Could the flow of watery clog matter be used too power a small set of tiny musical instruments that play an unblocking song? Preferable if the instruments could be muted via Bluetooth.
-- not_only_but_also, Jun 24 2012


Eerily practical
-- hippo, Jun 24 2012


[Klaatu], that does look like the thing I saw... and I guess it is slightly different than the idea. The flex part is not in the "U". But I think that's better... having all the wrinkles in the trap part would encourage clogging, no?
-- afinehowdoyoudo, Jun 24 2012


"all the wrinkles" ???
No, that's not the kind of flexible tubing I had in mind. think "garden hose" or "firemen's hose". It can be smooth and flexible (garden hose may not be flexible enough) --if there are any wrinkles, they will be at the top part of the "U", not the bottom part.

I did happen to think of one possible problem with this Idea, as described. The part of the hose that attaches to the sewer infrastructure (not the part that attaches to the sink drain) is, with respect to an ordinary hose clamp, on the outside of the solid pipe-work. Meanwhile, debris flowing through the hose will encounter an internal "lip" at the place where the hose attaches to the solid pipe. This will discourage free flow.

The answer may be a slightly specialized hose that has a gradually thicker-wall construction toward one end. Then the thicker wall, at the actual end, is thinned out from the inside. Now, when the outside of this end is clamped to/outside the solid pipe, the interior thicker wall of the hose butts up against the edge of the pipe, allowing debris to make the transition smoothly.
-- Vernon, Jun 25 2012



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