The P-trap is the P-shaped section of pipe in the line that runs from the bottom of your sink to the wall. It's shaped this way to trap sewer gasses and prevent them from coming out the sink as well as to catch debris that's been washed down the sink, such as hair or food scraps.
It's the strongly curved portion of piping under the sink. It's called a P-trap because the bend makes it look similar to the letter P turned on its side. It also looks like a U or a J when it's not on its side.
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.
The easiest way to find the sewer trap is to locate the fresh air inlet pipe which is typically located near the front wall of your house. The fresh air inlet outlet is also on the outside front or the side of your home, and it will be exposed and covered by a grating.
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.
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.
If your house was constructed prior to 1989, there's a strong likelihood that it contains a house trap or sewer trap, a plumbing device used to 'trap' gases in the sewer system so that they do not seep out into the home's interior. Today, these devices are obsolete.
You'll usually find it outside, about 1 to 3 feet from where your house meets the ground. Look for a pipe sticking up with a cap on top that might have a square knob or notch for turning. Sometimes, this cleanout pipe isn't immediately visible because it's inside a plastic box that's slightly buried.
That is simply done by undoing the two threaded plastic nuts at each end of the trap and connects the bottom of your sink to the pipework and removing it . You can then clean the trap under a tap , but not the one you have just removed the trap from .
If you notice water gushing back out from the drain pipe or leaking out from the seams on the adapter, that is a sign that there are clogs in your underground drain.
The experts are Moore Home Services recommend that you clean your P-trap once every 3 months. This is a total of 4 times per year. We also recommend cleaning your drain a few times every year as well.
The primary tools for maintenance are a bucket and adjustable pliers. Place the bucket underneath the trap, loosen the nuts at the ends of the P-trap, and remove the trap by sliding it down to release the contents into the bucket. The final step is to check for any blockage in the pipes and then clean them out.
Basically, it's a U-shaped piece of pipe that is installed with the sewer line that runs underground from the home to the municipal sewage main. The downward bend of the pipes collects a small amount of water, which prevents sewage gases from venturing up through the sewer line and into the home.
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.
For indoor main drains, you will likely find the cleanout in a bathroom or utility area. When dealing with a bathroom location, check the floor near the toilet. In this scenario, it might be a pipe protruding from the floor or it might be flush mounted into the floor. These main drains tend to have a threaded plug.
In most cases, home insurance will cover sewer line damage from specific events. This includes extreme weather (excluding earthquakes and floods), vandalism, fire, and damage from vehicles or falling objects.
The P-trap is the P-shaped section of pipe in the line that runs from the bottom of your sink to the wall. It's shaped this way to trap sewer gasses and prevent them from coming out the sink as well as to catch debris that's been washed down the sink, such as hair or food scraps.
The easiest way to locate the sewer cleanout is to walk backward from the main sewer line (nearest maintenance hole or a curb with a large S stamped into the concrete) or your home's septic system. Follow the line from there; it's usually located next to the house in line with the septic tank or municipal sewer system.
If your main sewer line is clogged and you don't have a cleanout, you may be able to clear the blockage using a plunger or a plumber's snake. You have a few options to try before calling a professional.
This process will give off a foul-smelling hydrogen sulfide gas, which smells like sewage or rotten eggs. Also, mold grows where it's warm and wet — and mold growth on the debris causing a drain clog can also cause a bad smell.
The Different Parts of Your Shower Drain's P-Trap
Although they look like the curved pipes under your sink, they are quite different in that they have a greater curve. Your shower's P-trap consists of three main parts: the inlet, water barrier, and outlet.
Plumbing traps, commonly called P-traps, are an important part of your plumbing system. They are designed to constantly hold water in the drain to prevent sewer gas from escaping into the house. While sewer gases may contain noxious odors and smell terrible, they can also be explosive and poisonous.