What is a Plumbing Trap? How it is used? A Complete Guide
Plumbing traps are used to stop spreading unsafe and awful gases, hydrocarbons, and other chemical fumes inside or outside the house. To stop spreading these gases in your home, you need to know what a plumbing trap.
These traps are like bent tubes that offer a water cover between the sewer gas and the atmosphere. These foul gases produced in the pipes and sewers might cause trouble by entering your home via connecting tubes. Make sure that the passage is completely checked.
What is a plumbing trap?
A plumbing trap is designed in a way that prevents the surplus flow of liquids and gases from spreading into your home. Well, the name of the plumbing trap is because of its resemblance to the P trap. On the other hand, in oil refineries, these traps are used to avoid unsafe gasses, hydrocarbons, and other chemical fumes from escaping over pipes. There are various plumbing devices that prevent backflow of liquids and gases.

How Does the Plumbing Trap Work?
If you are looking at various additional piping under your sink, then you are looking at the plumbing trap. The reason that their name is Plumbing Trap is because of their P shape. It uses a little band in the pipes to make a seal and trap water.
This Trap seal stops sewer smells and gasses from spreadingd in homes. When the water drains via the Plumbing trap the air is drawn from an outside pipe and even out the force. Now, if the pipe hole is blocked by debris, snow, andgarbage,e then there is a chance that the trap seal could be sucked.
If this happens then you can hear a gurgling sound, it’s like via the sink drain air is pulled. Moreover, if you feel that any smell is coming through the sink and know more about what is a plumbing trap.
Then, to check the lack of access to the external air, the system vacuum might pull air from other plumbing equipment. For example, when you Flush the toilet, it will pull the air from the sink and remove the water from the trap.
How can you install the Plumbing Trap?
After knowing all about what is a plumbing trap you must need to know about how you can install it.
- First, measure and cut the wall tube to the required length.
- Now, fix the washer and nuts on the wall tube.
- Insert the wall tube into the waste connector and tighten the existing nut.
- After that, position the washer and nut on a tailpiece.
- Carefully, slip the tailpiece into the Jay Ben and secure it.
- Lastly, check all the nuts properly and check whether it leaks or not.

What are the types of P Traps?
P traps is use to avoid the gasses from the pipe to avoid them entering your house. There are 2 types of P trap are:
- Polypropylene
- Brass
Polypropylene: It is like a plastic corresponding item. Polypropylene is a lightweight trap and offers very easy disassembly and rally. Even though this is not visually attractive, struggles to decay, and responds with acids. Similarly, Pex Plumbing contains a structure of differnet polythene pipes.
Brass: It holds the chrome plating and makes the appearance of the plumbing trap attractive and eye-catching. Outlets give various compatible features.
What are the issues with Plumbing Traps?
There are 2 problems with the plumbing trap.
Blockage
As you know the shape of the plumbing trap is bent. The blockage occurs when something is stuck into the pipes such as wood waste, hair tangles, paper towels, etc. Blockage can be easily remove by simply pushing out the blockage.

If you still have not removed the blockage or clogging, then you might need to call a professional plumber. They can completely detach the trap and clean it properly.
Dry P Trap
When the pipes are dry for more than a week or drains start leaking. Then, you start feeling some unpleasant smells in your home. This smell is because of dry P Plumbing Traps. If this happens then, flow gallons of water to restore it. Do it after 3 weeks.
How can you stop the smell coming from the drain and Sink?
Here is something that you need to know how you can stop the smell that is coming from the drain and sink.
- First, you need to install a convenient 1/2” – 1 ½” small water line close to the traps to function.
- Install it to the vertical and upright position only. Ensure that it is close to the fixture of the plumbing to ensure a complete pressure drop of 10 PSI or above.
- If the trap primer is install too away from the upstream system. Then, the pressure drop might not be enough for activation.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q. What is the purpose of a trap in plumbing?
The main purpose of a plumbing trap is to stop spreading the awful gasses and odors in your home.
Q. Is a trap need when plumbing a bathroom?
Yes, you must need the trap while plumbing the bathroom. Because it is just not use to collect junk but also used to clean it and flow out all the waste.
Q. Is a drain trap necessary?
Yes, it is necessary because it helps to stop the things from entering through your home pipes that cause a blockage problem.
Final Remarks:
Plumbing traps are helping to stop the spreading of awful gasses and odors in your home. These smell problems are caused when there is any blockage or the trap is dry out. Fix the problem or call a professional. After reading this article we make sure that you learn completely about what is a plumbing trap.