P trap installation bathtub

Any of these gases could seriously affect your health. Methane can cause nausea, headache, suffocation, and loss of consciousness source. Hydrogen Sulfide can cause asthmatic responses and has the characteristic rotten egg smell source. Most people know carbon monoxide and nitrogen can silently kill you. However, the water in a P-Trap stops gases from entering the atmosphere of your bathroom, and therefore protects you from the effects of these gases.

Trap Solids: This may seem counter-intuitive, but P-Traps collect solids, like hair and lint. During the normal process of running water through the trap, the solids eventually break down and are flushed away. Of course, this can build up too much and clog the drain. P-Traps make clogged drains easier to clean by keeping the sediment buildup within easy reach.

Chemical drain cleaners, plungers, hooked extraction devices snakes , and other devices can clear clogs close the fixtures, like in the P-Trap source. And if you have ever lost a wedding ring down the sink or had a child shove a toy into the bathtub drain, you understand how important clearing the drain can be! Stop Vermin: P-Traps also serve the handy purpose of keeping mice, rats, and other vermin from traversing the entire drain system and entering your bathroom.

Plumbing codes require P-Traps installed on all wastewater connections. A few specific international code requirements for bathtub installation are:. These codes ensure proper functioning of a P-Trap in a bathtub installation source. However, tub p-traps can often be found under the foundation.

Since the tub sits so low to the ground, the p-trap is often pre-installed by a plumber in the concrete or between floor joists. This video is covering the process process of installing an acrylic tub but I have it set to start where the wastewater drain system is being connected. A few problems can occur with P-Traps, causing them to malfunction or break down.

Proper installation and ventilation of the plumbing line can mitigate many of these issues. P-Traps are an integral part of the plumbing system in a bathtub installation. P-Traps create a barrier between harmful sewage gases, odors, and buildup and your home. They also make cleaning the drain easier. It is important to properly install traps and plumbing lines to avoid some common problems, but if installed correctly and used often, P-Traps should function well.

Read This Before You Do. Troubleshooting Guide. American Home Shield provides warranty coverage for your essential home appliances and systems. Compare all plans. What is a P-Trap? Sanitation: The most obvious reason for a P-Trap is to keep wastewater and sewage odors from backing up into the plumbing fixture. Prevent harmful gases: Sewage creates many harmful gases that can potentially reenter the bathroom through drain pipes if not properly installed with P-Traps. Mark the point where the top of the pipe intersects the stack.

If the waste line is cast iron, use a fitting with a threaded inlet and screw in a PVC male adapter. Fit the horizontal waste line to the tee inlet and the outlet of the trap. You may have to cut off a small section of the pipe to get it to fit. Make marks on the pipes and fittings with a felt marker so you can line them up in the same positions after you disassemble them.

Take the assembly apart and begin gluing the pieces together with PVC cement, starting at the sanitary tee and working toward the tub. Glue the nipple connected to the trap inlet to the fitting in the tub drain last. If you don't have a clear path between the P-trap and the waste stack, you may need to bend the horizontal waste line with fittings. Don't use a conventional sink P-trap for a bathtub. If it comes loose, you may not know it until water has caused serious damage to the framing around the tub.

Chris Deziel has a bachelor's degree in physics and a master's degree in humanities. Besides having an abiding interest in popular science, Deziel has been active in the building and home design trades since As a landscape builder, he helped establish two gardening companies. By Chris Deziel Updated December 19, Related Articles. Slip the trap onto the nipple and swivel the other end to face the waste stack.

Tip If you don't have a clear path between the P-trap and the waste stack, you may need to bend the horizontal waste line with fittings.