How to check shower P-trap?

Author: Darren Kessler V  |  Last update: Saturday, June 7, 2025

You can check by inserting a snake into the shower's drain. If you hit water soon after entering the drain, you most likely have a P-trap. It may also be visible with a flashlight, depending on the shower's design. If you do not have one, you'll want to leave the installation to a qualified plumber.

How to tell if P-trap is working in shower?

Is your P-trap working properly? If you detect any foul odors near the P-trap that remind you of a smell similar to rotten eggs, then it means that there is hydrogen sulfide present.

How to tell if a P-trap is bad?

Signs your P-trap may be blocked
  1. Your drain isn't clearing after you've done everything to clear the clogged drain. ...
  2. You smell a foul odor throughout your home. ...
  3. You hear a gurgling noise from the sink or tub.
  4. The water in your toilet seems weak, and the bowl isn't refilling quickly enough after a flush.

How do I know if my P-trap is clogged?

A blocked p-trap will cause water backflow to occur. The first sign that your p-trap is clogged is when the water in your sink takes longer than average to flow down the sink.

How to inspect a P-trap?

If you don't have a plumbing wrench, adjustable pliers can also help. Once the nuts are loose, slide them away from the p-trap and pull the trap out. You'll most likely find a lot of gunk inside the trap. Remove this with your fingers or run water through the trap into the bucket to flush out the gunk and any clogs.

Shower Drain Smells Like a Sewer? Quick Easy Fix

How do I make sure my P-trap has water?

This happens most often in winter. To prevent your P-trap from drying out, run the sink or shower for a minute or two once a week to keep water flowing and your P-traps from drying out. Are you having an issue with your P-trap running dry? Do you think a clogged drain or one of the issues above could be to blame?

How do you test a P-trap bathtub?

Simply pour a few cups of water down the drain and wait a few minutes. Check the drain with a flashlight again to see if the water is there. If water did not accumulate after you pour water into the drain, the p-trap is problematic. Call a plumber to check for a crack in the p-trap.

How do you unblock a shower P-trap?

Baking Soda and White Vinegar

It is also a relatively simple one – all you need to do is fill a cup with baking soda and pour it down your drain. Once you have done this, wait a few minutes and follow it with a cup of white vinegar. All you have to do now is let it work its bubbling magic.

How to clean a P-trap without removing it?

Pour some baking soda down your drain and then pour boiling water down after. Sometimes this will clear the clog. Use a plunger on your sink drain to try to force the clog out of the trap.

How to clean a P-trap in a shower?

How To Clean Shower Waste Trap?
  1. Use a screwdriver to take off the drain cover.
  2. Wear gloves and use pliers to extract any hair or gunk you can reach.
  3. Pour a pot of boiling water down the drain to break up soap and grease.
  4. Mix 1/2 cup of each, pour it down, and let it sit for 15 minutes. ...
  5. Use a plunger for stubborn clogs.

When should you replace P-trap?

If the P-trap is made of metal, inspect it for any signs of rust or deterioration—common issues that afflict older plumbing fittings. Should you encounter water leaks under the sink regularly, it likely means that the integrity of the P-trap has been compromised, necessitating immediate attention.

How much does it cost to fix a P-trap?

For standard P-trap repairs or replacements, where the P-trap is easily accessible and no significant complications are encountered, the cost can range from about $150 to $250. This includes the cost of a new P-trap and labor.

Why is my shower trap not draining properly?

Why is my shower not draining? As unpleasant as it sounds, the most common cause of a blocked shower drain is a build-up of hair, dead skin, soap scum and other debris. Removing hair from the plughole after every shower and regularly cleaning the drain are the best ways to prevent blockages.

How do I make sure my P-trap doesn't leak?

Make sure the top of the P-trap and the bottom of the sink's tailpipe are properly aligned, then tighten the slip-joint nut by hand and then with slip-joint pliers until you feel moderate resistance. Repeat the process where the end of the P-trap meets the drainpipe that disappears into the wall or floor.

What does a shower drain P-trap look like?

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.

How do you know if your P-trap is broken?

The Importance of Regular P-Trap Inspection and Maintenance

Signs can include drains that are not draining properly, sewer odor from the drains, and pests coming from drains in the home. If you spot any of these signs, it is important to contact a professional plumber quickly to prevent further damage.

Can you remove P-trap without turning off water?

Unlike other plumbing fixes, there is no need to turn off the home's main water supply. You only need to make sure water going into the specific area you're working on is off. It's important to remember that this is still a wet process.

How often should you clean a P-trap?

You should clean your P-Trap every one to three months. This will help to ensure that you do not smell any sewer smells in your home. It will also help to ensure that your drainage system runs as it should.

Why is my shower not draining but no blockage?

Slow shower drains are often caused by a slimy buildup of everything that runs down the shower drain: soap and shampoo, dirt and debris, dead skin cells, and hair.

Why does my shower drain smell but not blocked?

In conclusion, sewage gasses, biofilm accumulation, bacterial development, and P-trap drying up can all be responsible for the foul odour emanating from a shower drain that appears to be unclogged.

How do you loosen a stuck P-trap?

The rubber gloves allow you to get a tighter grip when attempting to loosen the P-trap nuts by hand. If the rubber gloves don't work, go ahead and use the plumbers wrench. Hold the P-trap with one hand while you twist the P-trap nut with the wrench. Once you have loosened it, finish unscrewing by hand.

How to tell if P-trap is working shower?

Other than draining slowly or not at all, the smell in your shower will let you know if the P-trap needs cleaning. If your shower smells like sewage or has a foul odor, your P-trap is most likely not functioning properly.

How do you unclog a P-trap in the shower?

A drain stick is effective at clearing clogs in a P-trap or S-trap caused by hair. A plunger can clear a clog if the blockage isn't too far into the pipes.

How to fix a dried out P-trap?

Slowly pour about a gallon of water into the drain. This will refill the trap and recreate the seal to block sewer gases. For long-term prevention, consider adding a small amount of mineral oil on top of the water in the P-trap.

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