What is a P-trap? (And Everything Else You Need to Know!)

Somebody says you need to replace your kitchen sink’s P-trap. You immediately think, “What is a P-trap?”

Then, quickly your second thought is, “I have no clue how to replace a P-trap!”

You are watching: What is a P-trap? (And Everything Else You Need to Know!)

We’re going to tell you everything you need to know about P-traps and how to replace them in this article. You will be so happy to know how easy it is.

What is a P-trap?

P-traps in sink or toilet drains use trapped water to block sewer gases from entering your home. They get their name by resembling a P that has fallen on its side (the looping part of the P faces down). The main part of the P-trap — the area that traps water — has a U shape.

Plumbing traps usually consist of plastic (such as PVC) or metal and come in various shapes and sizes. Here are some of the different types of traps:

• P-trap
• S-trap (now illegal)
• Floor trap (or Nahni trap)
• Gully trap
• Intercepting trap
• Bottle trap
• And many more

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Despite having different applications, all traps have the same function. They prevent harmful or foul-smelling gases from coming up through the drain system and into your home.

How Does a P-trap Work?

The P-trap is a one-way drain system. Water flows down through the drain and out, but sewer gas cannot come from the other direction

How does it do this?

Okay, here’s an example. You’ve just run your kitchen faucet. Water is flowing down through the drain, past the P-trap, and out through the trap arm.

When you turn off the flow of water, the force of gravity and the shape of the P-trap will force some of that water to trap at the bottom of the U (also called a ‘dip’).

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As a matter of fact, the water trapped in the dip keeps gases (from your sewer system) from coming into your home.

It’s this simple but clever drain system that protects you and your family. So, keeping your P-trap in good health is also good for your health. In addition, water leaks can cause lots of damage to your home, especially the flooring below the drain. More so, water damage (and floor restoration) as you know can be quite expensive.

How to Replace a P-Trap

Thankfully, replacing a P-trap is as simple as understanding how it works. Anyone can handle this as a DIY plumbing project. The replacement process will take about 15 minutes if you prepare properly.

Here’s What You’ll Need:

• Bucket
• Old rag or washcloth
• Adjustable or tongue-and-groove wrench
• P-trap replacement kit

Step-by-Step Instructions

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, replacing a p-trap isn’t as intimidating as it might seem. Overall, this project is fairly inexpensive and doesn’t take up that much time. More so, anybody can do it. Just follow the step-by-step instructions and you will be set.

Call 1-Tom-Plumber

If you need help with any kind of drain repair or replacement, don’t hesitate to contact us or call us at 1-Tom-Plumber (1-866-758-6237). We will immediately respond to and handle any emergency plumbing, drain cleaning and drain clearing, and water damage problem, including excavation of underground water lines and sewer main lines.

Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Kitchens