How wrong is this

[Triman8654]

Ok we bought this house few months ago. Wife said we had a small leak under the sink. Ok the leak is very small drips, but the first thing that sticks out to me is the location of electrical box and water line. I’m not any kind of electrical guru by any means, but this can’t be right. First thought was why didn’t the inspector catch this.

 

[Zick]

To be honest, that looks exactly like mine and it pasted inspection.

except mine has a GFI outlet there that the garbage disposal plugs into.

 

[ddawg16]

Electrically, it looks to be to code.

"Best Practices"? No...But I don't think anyone will get shocked.

A GFCI would be a good idea. Even better would be putting the switch above counter.

Is this a manufactured home? It has double wide written all over it.

I have more issue with all those holes....

 

[Turbo]

Electrically, it looks to be to code.

"Best Practices"? No...But I don't think anyone will get shocked.

A GFCI would be a good idea. Even better would be putting the switch above counter.

Is this a manufactured home? It has double wide written all over it.

I have more issue with all those holes....

Most definitely not to code, exposed wires need to be inside conduit. I am guessing that the disposal was an add-on, and not originally installed when the house was built. If it is code, well. Terry

 

[teamextreme]

Proximity of the electrical equipment to water lines is not a code violation.
The romex running exposed, unsupported and the sharp 90 out of the box are certainly sloppy and depending on your AHJ's definition of "exposed to physical damage", may be a code violation. Nothing I'd be that concerned about, however.

 

[teamextreme]

Most definitely not to code, exposed wires need to be inside conduit. I am guessing that the disposal was an add-on, and not originally installed when the house was built. If it is code, well. Terry

So which one is it? If you're not sure, why start out the statement that's it most definitely not?

 

[ripperd]

odd that the water line isn't the same water line that goes up to the sink?

And the against code S trap.

The electrical doesn't look that bad to me though.

 

[TRWham]

The electrical doesn't look as bad as the plumbing, at least from a code perspective. That S trap is a no no, and that horizontal out of the disposer will feed discharge back up the other sink.

We almost always do air switches and receptacles for disposers now, and with the current NEC requirement (indirect though it may be) to provide a receptacle under the sink for the dishwasher, it's pretty easy just to install a duplex for both under the sink.

 

[Triman8654]

House was built in early 70’s. Not a manufactured, the previous owners watched to much DIY on HGTV. Their other “repairs “ are borderline..

 

[Norcal]

You can call them manufactured homes, or mobile homes, but a trailer by any other name is still a trailer. The whole thing under the sink looks like a mess to me.

 

[Old Man Roger]

You can call them manufactured homes, or mobile homes, but a trailer by any other name is still a trailer. The whole thing under the sink looks like a mess to me.

Except you can get concrete and steel manufactured homes. I've never seen a concrete mobile home.
And most prefab or manufactured homes are set on a concrete slab, most mobile homes I've seen are on a trailer type frame, sitting on concrete blocks.

 

[alfredeneuman]

Proximity of the electrical equipment to water lines is not a code violation.
The romex running exposed, unsupported and the sharp 90 out of the box are certainly sloppy and depending on your AHJ's definition of "exposed to physical damage", may be a code violation. Nothing I'd be that concerned about, however.

Flexible Metal Conduit, MC cable, AC cable, and cords are subject to the same physical damage rules as NM.

 

[mrVanagon]

Doesn't the NEC say the switch for a disposal can't be behind a door? It's been a long time since I looked this one up.

 

[marineman]

I used to own a trailer, the little bit of copper line left told me it wasn't a trailer.

Not a plumber, don't play one on TV and didn't stay at a holiday inn last night so anyone care to give more details what's wrong with the S-trap?

 

[Jim greengo]

The box itself doesnt bother me as much as the exposed romex under the sink,depends on your local codes I guess.
That bootlegged drain under the sink with the s trap on the other hand,looks like a clog waiting to happen to me.

 

[TRWham]

I used to own a trailer, the little bit of copper line left told me it wasn't a trailer.

Not a plumber, don't play one on TV and didn't stay at a holiday inn last night so anyone care to give more details what's wrong with the S-trap?

With high flow, like draining a full sink, it can generate a siphon that will drain the trap and leave no seal. It basically flushes like a toilet, but when a toilet refills the seal is reestablished. You can do that manually with an S trap, but it is better to repipe it if possible.

 

[850xpeps]

With high flow, like draining a full sink, it can generate a siphon that will drain the trap and leave no seal. It basically flushes like a toilet, but when a toilet refills the seal is reestablished. You can do that manually with an S trap, but it is better to repipe it if possible.

Should be a vent as well.

 

[TRWham]

Should be a vent as well.

Yes, but that is part of the repiping and there is not enough information given to get into the options for that. We would use an AAV under that sink as part of the solution, but I know they are not allowed in some areas. You might be able to loop vent it if a vent is available nearby.

 

[Mongo68]

At least turn the cover screws the same way! That should be a code violation...

 

[850xpeps]

At least turn the cover screws the same way! That should be a code violation...

Lol I’m not an electrician but wired my whole house and I had all mine the same way.

Yes, but that is part of the repiping and there is not enough information given to get into the options for that. We would use an AAV under that sink as part of the solution, but I know they are not allowed in some areas. You might be able to loop vent it if a vent is available nearby.

I don’t like those kind of vents an not sure they are aloud here anymore.

 

[Jim greengo]

Lol I’m not an electrician but wired my whole house and I had all mine the same way.





I don’t like those kind of vents an not sure they are aloud here anymore.

Well compared to what he has a trailer vent would be an improvement in my book anyway.

 

[casmurbax]

At the risk of being chastised on here for not google'ing it and then risking not seeing an accurate description or photo, could someone please tell me how that S trap is not correct?

I don't stare at the kitchen sink piping all that much, but that looks pretty much the same as the one on at my parent's house where I grew up.

 

[Norcal]

S traps are prohibited by plumbing codes.

 

[The Cobbler]

s traps were very "normal" in kitchens many years ago. no longer permitted , reasons given above.
siphon, no vent, etc .
does that mean there aren't many thousands still in use? no
does it mean the end of the world if you have an S trap? nope.
should it be put on the TDL to be replaced ? yup.

 

[Hot Rod Grampa]

It is a double bowl sink. One side vents the other. How else should it be? Double p traps with vents?

 

[850xpeps]

It is a double bowl sink. One side vents the other. How else should it be? Double p traps with vents?

The vent goes after the trap not before.

 

[alfredeneuman]

It is a double bowl sink. One side vents the other.

Only if 1 bowl of the sink is empty

 

[casmurbax]

Ok thank you fellow members for replying.

So I may have my plumbing like that on a single bowl kitchen sink. What it is the proper way to fix this?

Sorry Triman8654 I didn't mean to hijack your thread.

 

[Triman8654]

It’s all good. I’m just sitting here with some popcorn.

 

[Jim greengo]

It is a double bowl sink. One side vents the other. How else should it be? Double p traps with vents?

Wrong side of trap

 

[TRWham]

This is the best reference I can find on-line to using an AAV to vent an S trap. Many of the "solutions" you see on the web are wrong either because they vent the wrong side of the trap or because they do not have enough horizontal run before the sanitary tee.

https://terrylove.com/forums/index.php?threads/basement-bar-sink-with-s-trap.71150/

 

[casmurbax]

Thanks TRWham...

 

[Rob_b]

In my area, the only time a plastic cover can be used on a box is when flush mounted on wood or drywall, otherwise it has to be a metal cover. I believe only because that plastic cover cane be easily broken by catching one of the corners and snapping it exposing the wiring behind it.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

In my area, the only time a plastic cover can be used on a box is when flush mounted on wood or drywall, otherwise it has to be a metal cover. I believe only because that plastic cover cane be easily broken by catching one of the corners and snapping it exposing the wiring behind it.

What is the code reference for this?

 

[Norcal]

In my area, the only time a plastic cover can be used on a box is when flush mounted on wood or drywall, otherwise it has to be a metal cover. I believe only because that plastic cover cane be easily broken by catching one of the corners and snapping it exposing the wiring behind it.

What is the code reference for this?

In addition to Wyliesdiesels comment above, putting a metal cover on a plastic box is a bad idea since it would ungrounded in the event of a fault.

 

[alfredeneuman]

In addition to Wyliesdiesels comment above, putting a metal cover on a plastic box is a bad idea since it would ungrounded in the event of a fault.

I can see it if it were a blank cover, but if a device was installed it would be grounded through the device.

 

[jd_1138]

Ugh, garbage disposals. I am not a fan. I just scrape food into the garbage and then use a strainer at the bottom to catch any scraps.

 

[Jim greengo]

This is the best reference I can find on-line to using an AAV to vent an S trap. Many of the "solutions" you see on the web are wrong either because they vent the wrong side of the trap or because they do not have enough horizontal run before the sanitary tee.

https://terrylove.com/forums/index.php?threads/basement-bar-sink-with-s-trap.71150/

If you plumb a trailer vent into it I'd eliminate the s trap,convert to a p trap.

 

[Norcal]

I can see it if it were a blank cover, but if a device was installed it would be grounded through the device.

The OP's box is a blank.

 

[TRWham]

If you plumb a trailer vent into it I'd eliminate the s trap,convert to a p trap.

That is what this does. The drain still goes through the floor so I call it an S trap but I suppose you could just as well call it a P trap.