It’s no mystery why sewers are associated with foul odors. We see them in movies, TV shows, and we even read about them in books. While we like to think of sewer systems as completely separate from our homes, they’re really not. There are drains and other pipeline systems that lead directly into the sewer. Our home plumbing systems are like the veins that transport waste from our living spaces into sewer systems, so we need to start thinking about them as connected.
That being said, we get asked this question all the time. “Why doesn’t the sewer gas come up into my kitchen or bathroom?”
While the answer might seem simple, it’s a bit more complex and we’d like to explain why. We’re your go-to experts on all things plumbing in Port St. Lucie, FL and we’ll walk you through the magic of the P-trap!
What Is the P-Trap?
When you think of your drain system in your head, do you think it just directly connects to the sewers below your home? That would make the most physical sense, except your kitchen and bathroom would be bombarded by sewer gases that would likely make you sick round-the-clock.
The P-trap, also known as the U-trap depending on how you look at it, is a nifty plumbing solution for foul sewer odors. What it does is it dips down in the shape of a sideways letter P, or in a U shape, so that some water pools at the bottom, trapping sewer gases below that area. If you think about it, gas can’t really pass through liquids or solids, so any foul odors are completely stopped in their tracks and your P-trap keeps your home smelling fresh and clean.
Issues with Sewer Odors
We can only assume that if your drains are having trouble with foul odors, there could be one of two things happening.
- There’s a serious clog building up. Sometimes a clog can build up before it reaches the p-trap if your plumbing system. Unfortunately, you’ll need to rely on standard drain cleaning services by a professional plumber to have this removed and the odor eliminated.
- There’s an issue with your P-trap. Something could have broken the seal between the sewer system and your drain opening. Perhaps a straw or other material is allowing sewer gases to go from one end to the other and it’s bypassing your P-trap. Regardless of how it’s happening, it’s not normal and it should be fixed.
We Can Help
There are plenty of tools at our disposal to help you. For starters, we can completely remove any clogging materials or build-up in your drain. This usually fixes the problem nine times out of ten, and we’ll always do it quickly and effectively. We won’t damage your pipes while we do it too.
Sometimes, more work is going to need to be done. Perhaps your p-trap or drain system needs to be replaced, and our team can do that just as easily. Call us to discuss the problem and we’ll get right to fixing it.
At Admiral Plumbing Services, LLC, you can count on nice people and super service. Call our super-friendly team today!
