There are many components in an Orange County home’s plumbing system but few require as much persistent homeowner attention as a drain trap. If your drain trap is clogged or you simply are interested in learning more about that U-shaped stretch of pipe beneath your sink, here is a quick overview.
The Flow of Water into the Drain
When water enters the drain in your fixture, it goes through the tailpiece and into the drain trap, then through the main drain line out of your home. It all makes perfect sense except for that little U-shaped stretch of pipe that always seems to get clogged with food, grease and hair. Why is it there if all it does is get clogged?
The answer to this question is directly related to the way in which plumbing is designed to work. Drain pipes all lead directly to a sewer line which then exits your Orange County home and goes into the sewer. That sewer line contains all of the waste and waste water from your home and as a result, a lot of decomposition takes place here, producing large volumes of sewer gas.
Sewer gas is not only unpleasant, it is unsafe, and it must therefore not be allowed to enter your home. A drain trap is used for this purpose as it will hold water as a barrier against any backflow of sewer gasses when your drain pipes are empty. Gravity ensures that there is always enough water in the trap to keep this from happening.
Maintaining Your Drain Trap
Regular flushing of the drain trap is highly recommended to prevent clogs, and if there are any fixtures in your home that you don’t often use, it is recommended that you pour enough water down the drain to keep the trap from evaporating and allowing sewer gasses to enter your home. Do these things and your system should continue to work properly moving forward.
For more information regarding your Orange County home’s plumbing, contact Saddleback Plumbing, Heating & Air today!