This means that every sink, shower and floor drain should have a P-trap that connects the drain to the drain line.
P-501.6 Traps for Floor Drains
All floor drains, including cellar drains, shall be trapped. Floor drain traps shall be located at such depth below the drain inlet as to be readily accessible for cleaning. A cleanout is not required for a floor drain.
Floor drains are no exception.
The shaded portion shows the trap where water will always sit, which prevents sewer gas from entering the building. When you look at an installed floor drain, all that you typically see is the grill on top; the rest of the drain is always buried in the basement floor.
Careful maintenance of floor drains, and their traps are critical to keep water from backing up and to prevent the risk of bacterial contamination or messes in your business or home.
A trap primer is installed on the floor drain trap to maintain water in the trap. This is necessary because drains are vented, and the vent allows air into and water out of the drain. The water in the trap provides a seal against sewer gas entering the building through the drain.
Note: Only floor drains which discharge or have the potential to discharge grease waste (usually kitchen drains) should be connected to a grease trap/interceptor. Floor drains routinely used to discharge grease waste should be counted as one equivalent fixture. All grease traps shall be regularly maintained.
Continuous flow and pressure drop activated trap seal primers should be installed at least 12” above the floor drain traps for every 20 feet of distance to the drain to ensure that there is enough of a slope for the discharged water to flow to the traps.
Drain traps serve as a barrier to prevent sewer odors and gasses from reaching your home. However, they need to be filled with water to do so. Simply pour a gallon of water down your floor drains each month to keep the traps full and functioning.
910.2 Floor drain vents. No vents will be required for piping serving floor drains when the floor drain is located not more than 15 feet (4572 mm) from the vented line to which it connects.
In summary, while floor drains and floor traps both play vital roles in a building's plumbing system, they have distinctive functions and features. Floor drains effectively manage water drainage, and floor traps ensure a barrier against harmful sewer gases.
The floor drain trap is typically located just below the drain cover. The trap is a curved piece of piping that holds a small amount of water, creating a seal and preventing odors from entering the building. It is important to regularly check and clean the floor drain trap to ensure proper functioning.
It's an Easy Fix! Run water in all sinks periodically or pour water down floor drains from time to time (once a month is recommended). This will keep the traps wet/full and sealed, preventing odors from escaping. *Mineral oil can be used and lasts longer.
Your sanitary sewer is a collection system for all the water used in the plumbing fixtures in your house, including floor drains as well as tubs, sinks, and washers.
Our traps are manufactured using food-grade stainless steel, and are recommended for use with all FoodSafe Catch basins: P-Trap for any vertical/bottom outlet connections, and Running Trap for horizontal/side outlet connections.
Floor drains should contain some water, so don't be worried.
SECTIONS 418.2 AND 1002.2: FLOOR DRAINS ARE PLUMBING FIXTURES AND THEY MUST BE PROVIDED WITH A TRAP AND VENT. EXCEPTION: EMERGENCY FLOOR DRAINS, TELL-TALE FLOOR DRAINS, AND FLOOR DRAINS NOT USED AS A WASTE RECEPTOR DO NOT REQUIRE A VENT IF INSTALLED WITHIN 25 FEET OF A VENTED BRANCH OR MAIN .
There are two types of floor drains. One is an emergency floor drain installed to avoid flooding in a building from any pipe of fixture failure. The other encompasses floor drains installed to receive discharge from specific pieces of equipment; this type is defined as a fixture.
Functionally, floor sinks handle indirect waste, like water from dishwashers, while floor drains tackle direct waste, such as runoff from cleaning or rain.
This means that every sink, shower and floor drain should have a P-trap that connects the drain to the drain line.
Make it a habit to clean your floor drains regularly, at least once a month. This will prevent buildup and keep your drains functioning properly. Consider using drain covers to catch debris and prevent it from entering the drain. This simple measure can significantly reduce the risk of clogs.
The house trap is a U-shape fitting installed underground. You can locate it by finding two adjacent clean-out plugs in the basement floor. A blockage between the trap and the main clean out can be reached by removing the plug closest to the main clean out.
Ideally, it should be as close to your shower inlet as possible. The further away the P-trap is from your shower drain, the easier it is for foul smells and drain bugs to make their way into your shower. Also, a P-trap for a shower must be at least 2 inches in diameter.
P-traps, named after their shape, contain a u-shaped bend that filters wastewater as it enters a plumbing system. The trap is connected to a sink, bathtub, and shower with a J-bend on one end and exits into your drainage system. The J-bend is the section of the p-trap that resembles the letter J.