Plumbing Drain Traps by Paradise Plumbing & Gas

Posted on May 12, 2016

Plumbing drain traps, also known as sanitary fixture traps, provide a water seal between the sewer pipes and the rooms in which plumbing fixtures are installed. The most commonly used drain trap is a U bend, installed in the drainpipe below the outlet of each fixture.

A portion of the water discharged by the fixture is retained in the U, forming a seal that separates the fixture from the open drainpipes. This U bend is used to prevent sewer gases from entering buildings. Because it is a localized low-point in the plumbing, sink drain traps also capture objects like jewelry that are accidentally dropped into a sink. Traps also tend to collect hair and other debris. Most traps can either be disassembled for cleaning or they provide some sort of cleanout feature.

Maintaining the water seal is critical to plumbing drain trap operation. Traps can and do dry out, and poor venting can suction or blow water out of the traps. By being vented to the atmosphere outside the building, the drain lines never operate at a pressure much higher or lower than atmospheric pressure.

Call Paradise Plumbing and Gas at 602-565-0936 to get your home plumbing inspected for potential problems! For all of your residential plumbing and gas line needs, call Paradise Plumbing and Gas! http://www.paradiseplumbingandgasllc.com