Step 5 · Assemble and Dry-Fit the P-Trap

This is the step most people slow down on. Take it one move at a time — there’s no rush, and you can rewind the clip as many times as you need.

The P-trap assembly consists of a J-bend (the U-shaped piece) and a wall bend (the L-shaped piece that connects to the wall). First, attach the wall bend to the drain pipe in the wall (the trap adapter). Slide a slip nut and a tapered washer (taper facing the trap adapter) onto the straight end of the wall bend and push it into the adapter. Hand-tighten the nut. Now, align the J-bend between the sink tailpiece and the wall bend. You may need to trim the sink tailpiece or the wall bend to achieve a good fit. Use a hacksaw or tubing cutter for clean, straight cuts. Slide the necessary slip nuts and washers onto the pipes, connect the J-bend, and hand-tighten all the nuts. The P-trap should have a slight downward slope from the sink tailpiece to the bend.