What is a pee trap?

In a nutshell, a p-trap is a u-shaped bend in the waste pipe that connects a sink's drain to a home septic tank or to a municipal sewer system. Under normal circumstances, p-traps always contain some water.

Why is it called a pee trap?

A P-trap gets its name because it combines two 90 degree joints with a horizontal overflow pipe and gives the entire unit the shape of the letter “P.” One of the 90 degree joints exits the drain of the sink and then is joined to another which contains a water seal system that allows for water to flow into the overflow ...

Is a pee trap necessary?

A P-trap is required to be installed in most sink, shower, and bathtub drain lines by law. The reason P-traps are so essential is because they retain clean water in the drain line. This water seal stops horrible-smelling sewer gas from coming back up the drain line and into your home.

Where is the pee trap in the bathroom?

What is a P-trap? The P-trap is a crucial element of the home plumbing system. It is the U-shaped section of the pipe located underneath the sink. Its function is to trap and hold enough water, which acts as a barrier to prevent sewer gases and odors from making their way into the bathroom.

Do showers have pee traps?

According to regulations, all shower drains are required to have P-traps. This includes all fixtures connected to a building's main plumbing system. P-traps are curved pipes installed under showers and drains of all kinds.

How Do P-Traps Work? 5 Drain Issues to Watch Out For

Why does my P-trap smell?

A p trap is designed to use water to block the sewer gases from leaking up the drain. If a sink's p trap dies out this can result in a drain that smells bad. To alleviate this problem pour water down the drain to restore the water barrier in the p trap.

Do you have to have a pee trap for a kitchen sink?

Even if you are meticulous about never dropping things down the drain, you still need a p-trap under your sink to keep gas out. Sewer gases can rise through the drain pipes in your home, but the u-shaped bend in the p-trap collects water. This water blocks the gases from rising up into your sink.

Do you need a trap on a bathroom sink?

Every sink, wash basin, and urinal discharging water inside a building requires a water trap at the point of connection into the waste pipework. The water trap provides a water seal between the appliance and the external drains or outside atmosphere.

Why is there a trap under the sink?

A plumbing drain trap is designed to retain a small amount of water each time the sink drains, and this water standing in the bottom of the curved portion of the trap seals the drain and keeps sewer gasses from escaping the drain and entering your home.

Do bottle traps stop smelling?

A bottle trap fills with water constantly, but its main purpose is to stop gasses and smells from escaping into your home. Bottle traps usually get blocked with debris that goes down the sink, such as food waste.

What is the U-shaped pipe under the sink called?

The P-Trap Under Sink Plumbing Mechanism

The U-shaped bend in your drain pipe is called the p-trap. This pipe is also referred to as a trap.

What is the bent pipe under the sink called?

That Piece of Pipe Is Called the “P-Trap”

The p-trap is an ancient plumbing invention that operates using gravity. When water stops flowing down the drain, gravity traps water in the curved section. This water serves as a barrier between the open drain of the sink (or shower, bathtub, etc.)

How often should you clean your P-trap?

At ASI, our plumbers recommending cleaning your P-trap once every three months. This helps keep your line clear water freely flowing.

Why does my bathroom smell like sewer after I shower?

Leaky Pipes

Leaky pipes in your bathroom walls or under the shower will allow sewer gases — also known as hydrogen sulfide — to escape, so you may notice the shower drain smells like rotten eggs or sewage.

Why does my bathroom smell like sewage at night?

A sewer gas smell in the bathroom can be caused by: evaporation of water in the P-trap piping. broken seal around the toilet in the wax ring or the caulk. A burst pipe.

How do you fix a smelly P-trap?

To eliminate odors coming from a dry p-trap, pour half a gallon of water into the trap to restore the barrier. It will prevent the odors from seeping through the drain. Another helpful method is to add a cup of white vinegar bleach to get rid of larvae and slow down the evaporation.

What is a toilet P-trap?

P-traps are U-shaped pipes in toilets and underneath sinks. P-traps hold a small amount of water that prevents sewer gases from rising up into your home. These pieces of plumbing also serve several other important purposes.

How do you tell if your toilet is S or P-trap?

To distinguish between the two, simply look where the big pipe at the bottom goes. If the big pipe goes out the wall, it's a p-trap. If it goes through the floor, you've got an s-trap.

How do you tell if a floor drain has a trap?

Pour some water down the drain --> disconnect the drain --> take a flashlight and look into the drain where it enters the floor --> if the drain pipe has water in it then it likely has a trap.

Is water supposed to sit in shower drain?

Yes it's normal and what you want. It's called a P-trap and the water sitting in there seals out the sewer gasses.

What causes shower drain to smell?

Smells in a shower drain can be caused by odor-causing bacteria that feed on debris in the pipe. Some of these anaerobic bacteria live in fetid water in the P-trap and produce hydrogen sulfide gas, which smells like sewage. Other odors can also be caused by the debris itself, like hair or soap scum build-up.