What is a drip leg?

A drip leg is a small capped pipe pointing in a downward direction. Drip legs are found primarily on gas line connections for hot water heaters or furnaces in houses. A major disadvantage of a drip leg is that the design could allow debris to collect and cause damage.

A solution to the potential problems a drip leg could cause is to install a sediment trap in place of the drip leg. A sediment trap forces the gas to change direction, which allows sediment or debris to fall out without causing damage. This solution can be easily applied by a professional with the proper training and tools.