All You Need to Know About Plumbing Traps

There is more to plumbing than all the water simply going down the pipes; the process is a bit more complicated than one would think. It needs various parts to work efficiently, one of which is the plumbing trap. Plumbing traps are an old innovation that has stuck around for their simplicity and effectiveness.

What is the plumbing trap

The plumbing trap is the U-shaped portion of a pipe that runs from a drain to the main sewer line. Plumbing traps are used in both industrial and commercial facilities. They are also known as P-traps since the most common ones look like the letter P flipped on its side. Their shape is to accommodate the 90-degree angle between the sink drain and the wall.

The plumbing trap serves to prevent waste gasses from entering the house. When water is drained down the pipes, a small amount will remain behind in the trap. Sewer gasses naturally rise, so without the P-trap’s water barrier, these gases would enter the room through the sewer lines.

Most modern sewer lines use an upward pipe to drive gasses out of the house through the roof and P-traps to prevent them from escaping into rooms.

Sinks and baths often have external P-traps. They are made by the pipes connecting the drains to sewer lines. Toilets, on the other hand, have an internal trap in the design.

Benefits of P-traps

As noted, P-traps trap the foul odors of waste gasses. Since most fixtures get consistent daily use, a P-trap usually has relatively fresh water in it that hasn’t absorbed gasses or dried out.

Additionally, since the U portion of the pipe is the lowest local point of the pipes in sinks and toilets, small heavy items, such as jewelry, will get caught in the P-trap if accidentally dropped down the drain, allowing for easier retrieval.

Problems with plumbing traps

Since they tend to collect water and waste, P-traps are some of the most common places that clog in the pipeworks. Food waste and other materials can accumulate over time and prevent waste and even water from passing through. Most often, a sink backs up due to the presence of collected waste in the P-trap. In such cases, the P-trap needs to be opened and cleaned.

P-traps also need regular use to maintain the water level. For example, guest bathrooms might have dried-out P-traps that allow the waste gasses to come out of the sink. Thankfully, the solution is to run the tap for a minute and let the water settle in the P-trap to form a new barrier.

For most households, the daily use of faucets and taps ensures that P-traps don’t dry out, which is why most people won’t encounter this issue.

Like all pipes, P-traps can develop leaks. Trap leaks are especially noticeable since they always collect water and can cause a mess under the sink.

Much Better Plumbing is the premier residential and commercial plumbing service for homeowners and businesses in the Las Vegas area. We are licensed, bonded, and insured. Our residential plumbing services include water leak detection and repair, toilet repairs, faucet repair and replacement, home repiping, slab leak detection and repair, and water heater repair and replacement.