A p-trap is a basin waste with a pop-up drain stopper. It’s designed to keep sewer gas and odors from escaping your drain. The “p” in p-trap stands for “plugged,” meaning that this trap has a water seal that prevents sewer gas from passing through. P-traps are also known as bottom traps because they are located at the lowest point in your drainage system. Water flowing down your sink’s drain fills up the p-trap and creates a water seal that blocks sewer gas from entering your home.
P-traps are an essential component of any sink drainage system, and they can be made from various materials, including PVC, ABS, brass, and chrome-plated metal. If you’re having trouble with your sink’s drainage, it might be due to a clogged or damaged p-trap. In most cases, you can clean or replace your p-trap yourself. However, if you’re unsure how to proceed, it’s always best to call a professional plumber for assistance.
What Is a P-Trap
A p-trap is the u-shaped bend in the waste pipe that connects a sink’s drain to a home septic tank or municipal sewer system. P-traps always contain water, forming a seal that prevents sewer gases from entering the home. Sewer gas can be dangerous, so p-traps must be installed and maintained correctly.
There are different p-traps, but the most common is the basin waste p-trap, used with a pop-up drain stopper. The bottom trap, or dictum siccum, is another type of p-trap often used in commercial applications. Bottom traps are not as common in residential settings because they require more maintenance than basin waste p-traps.
What is a P-Trap Used For
You will commonly see a p-trap installed under a sink to form a basin waste. This type of trap is also known as a pop-up drain stopper. The drain lines include it from the sink, which then goes into a “J” shape before going down the drain pipe. This “J” shape is meant to retain some water at all times. This water acts as a barrier against harmful gases that may be present in the sewer line. When you use your sink, the water in the “J” is displaced and flows down the drain. However, once the water is gone, the gas-proof barrier is re-established.
P-traps can also be used in floor drains. It’s a bottom trap in this example. The main difference is that instead of being installed under a sink, it is installed in the floor drain. The function is still the same; however, because it is on the floor, these traps must be able to handle more water than those installed under sinks. Bottom traps are often used in commercial applications such as restaurants where large amounts of water are drained regularly.
No matter where they’re installed or called, p-traps are essential in keeping harmful gases out of your home and business.
Problems You’re Likely to Encounter
There are a few potential problems that you may encounter with your P-trap, but fortunately, they are all relatively easy to fix.
- The most common issue is the accumulation of debris in the bend of the P-trap. This can cause water to drain slowly or even back up into your sink.
To fix this, remove the P-trap and clean it with a wire brush. If your P-trap is clogged regularly, you may want to switch to a basin waste with a pop-up drain stopper.
- Another potential problem with P-traps is that they can eventually vent sewer gases into a living area. This is usually caused by a poor seal between the P-trap and the drainpipe. The best way to fix this is to install a bottom trap, which creates an airtight seal between the two surfaces.
P-Trap Cleanout
Most homeowners don’t think about their P-trap until there is a problem. The P-trap is an essential component of your plumbing system. It is under your sink and is responsible for trapping debris and preventing sewer gas from entering your home. If your P-trap is clogged, it can cause your sink to drain slowly. There are several ways to clean a clogged P-trap.
You can use a drain cleaner or a snake or remove the P-trap and clean it by hand.
If you have a pop-up drain stopper, remove the plug before accessing the P-trap. The P-trap is the U-shaped pipe that is located under the sink.
After you take the P-trap off, use a brush and boiling water to clean it. Be sure to put the P-trip back in place before you run any water through the sink.
If you have basin waste, you must remove the entire assembly to access the bottom trap.
The bottom trap is similar to the P-trap but located at the drainpipe’s bottom.
Once you have removed the bottom trap, you can clean it with a brush and some hot water. Before running water through the sink, keep everything back in place.
What is a Water Seal?
A water seal is a device that eliminates gas smells where the gas may try to enter a home. This is usually done by preventing the gas from entering in the first place or by absorbing it so it cannot be smelled.
Water seals are most commonly used on rarely used plumbing fixtures, such as those for outside hose bibs or laundry tubs. Routinely running water through the pipes can effectively combat this problem, as it will keep the water seal from drying out and becoming ineffective.
Sometimes, a water seal may not be enough to prevent gas smells from entering a home. In these cases, additional ventilation may be necessary to ensure that the gases are properly removed from the house. However, a water seal is often an effective first line of defense against unwanted gas smells.
Why is a Water Seal So Important?
A water seal is essential to safeguarding a home from unwanted gas smells. This seal helps to ensure that any gas which may try to enter a home is vented outside. This is especially important given that poorly-used plumbing fixtures can often be a leading cause of these gases making their way indoors.
Thankfully, a relatively simple solution for this problem is routinely running water through the pipes. Doing so will help combat the build-up of these gases, keeping your home and your family safe from their potentially harmful effects.
In short, the importance of a water seal cannot be understated. This simple precaution can help ensure your home remains free of unwanted gas smells.
What Causes a Water Seal to Fail?
One common cause of a water seal failure is when the fixtures in a home are not used often enough. When this happens, the water in the trap can evaporate, leaving the seal dry and exposed.
Another cause of water seal failure is when the plumbing vents in a home are not properly constructed or are incomplete. This can lead to the trap being constantly exposed to outside air, causing the water to evaporate.
However, the most common cause of a water seal failure is when the trap is blocked by debris or foreign objects. This can happen when gases or liquids other than water enter the trap through the plumbing system. When this happens, the pressure inside the trap can build up and eventually cause the water seal to fail.
If you think that your water seal has failed, it is essential to contact a professional plumber as soon as possible. If a problem is found, it will be properly diagnosed and the required repairs made.
The stench of sewer gas in a house is highly unpleasant, and the odor may indicate the presence of hydrogen sulfide.
Hydrogen sulfide has the potential to cause significant health issues, ranging from (but not limited to) the following:
- Burning eyes
- Sore throat
- Dizziness
Exposure to sewer gas can lead to severe health problems, including fatigue, headaches, pneumonia, and unconsciousness or death. The level of exposure will depend on the source of the gas and other factors, such as internal and external conditions.
P-Trap Maintenance
We can gather from the material above that there are several crucial things to remember when it comes to P-trap maintenance:
- Ensure the trap is filled with water at all times, as this will prevent sewer gases from escaping and help to keep the trap clear of hair and other light particles of rubbish.
- Pouring hot and cold water down the drain every week is recommended to keep it flowing freely.
- If the sink becomes clogged, first use a plunger. If this does not work, disconnect the P-trap using the two slip joint nuts, clean the outlet drain, or use plumbing snakes. Do not try to unclog the P-trap with plumbing snakes.
- The P-trap is self-cleaning, but it is not magic and will not unclog other plumbing fixtures in the line. If you use boiled water for cooking, let the cold water run and pour the hot water slowly down the drain to prevent damage to the polypropylene nuts used in the sink drain.
- Never use chemical or enzymatic drain cleaners as they can be dangerous and react with human tissue similarly to organic material in a blockage. They can also damage the draining system.
With proper maintenance, P-traps can last for over twelve years, although you may need to change the rubber gasket at some point.