8 Steps To Replacing A Drain Trap

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Is your sink backing up on you? Most likely the problem is happening because your drain trap is clogged. There is a small u-shaped pipe that acts as a safety between the drain and the sewer system at least in most common drain systems. The seal located within the drain trap works to keep out various types of sewer gases. The main problem is if the trap happens to leak then this may cause damage to the structure of your home, and can compromise the safety of all individuals within your home.

It is very important that you try to keep the drain trap in proper working condition at all times. It is advised, that every month or so, you take the drain trap apart and ensure that it is in proper working order. This is especially true in the kitchen sink drain trap.

If you have a garbage disposal installed in their kitchen sink then it’s not as much a problem but for the rest of the house one has to pay attention to the obvious debris that accumulate such as hair, etc. Thinking about catching these things before they cause any damage will really save yourself a lot of aggravation in the long run. It does sound like a lot of work and what about if you have children who we all know won’t care about maintenance? This is the basis for a totally different article which we’ll cover later.

To really prevent potential problems, consider changing the drain trap twice a year. When you replace the drain trap, these are the tools you will need to do the job correctly. They are as follows…a wrench, preferably a pipe wrench that suits the size of the pipe. A bucket in which to catch any water or debris that falls from the drain trap as you take it off. A screwdriver and plumbers and/or pipe glue or compound. Last but not least, a drain trap replacement piece!

Now that you’ve gathered all the necessary tools to replace the drain trap be sure to follow as close as possible to the following 8 guidelines and you should be alright:

1. First off, turn off the water supply that supplies water to the area where you are working.

2. Now slowly remove the trap with the pipe wrench allowing the water from the pipe to gently drip into the bucket which hopefully you have beneath to capture this.

3. Wait for the water to slow down then you can go ahead and take the entire drain trap off.

4. Throw the old drain trap into the nearest garbage can. Easier to clean up the mess now!

5. Once you have discarded the old drain trap, you should then clean the area around the inside of the drain trap fixture. Make sure that there is no rust, dirt, or caulking that may interfere with the new drain trap installation.

6. It’s important to dry the drain trap area before you proceed to the next step.

7. Once the area is dry, you can then attach the new drain trap and place the plumbers glue and/or compound around the new pipe.

8. Make sure to then turn the water back on and run it and check that there are no leaks.

If you follow the above instructions, you’ll realize that replacing a drain trap is one of the easier plumbing issues that you can handle and save yourself some money.