How to Clean a P-Trap

 

If you have a sink that drains slower than other sinks in the home, it might be time to clean your P-trap. A P-trap is a curved length of pipe below the sink that helps keep sewer gasses out of your home.

 

It is filled with water to create a seal against sewer gasses that would otherwise be able to escape your sink. When the water dries out, it breaks this seal and lets unwanted odors and gases into your home. This can happen in sinks that don't see a lot of use, like utility sinks and guest bathrooms; discover more about Grease Tap.

 

A clogged trap is not only unpleasant, but it can cause serious damage to your sink and pipes as well. It's important to have your trap cleaned on a regular basis, so that you don't have to worry about a clog in the future.

How To Do It

 

The first step in cleaning your P-trap is to shut off the water. The reason for this is to ensure that the trap is free of any water or debris before you begin cleaning it.

 

Using a flexible wire brush, carefully go to the bottom of the trap and remove any buildup that may have accumulated on it over time. A pliers or adjustable wrench are also useful tools to help with this task.

 

Scrape any accumulated grease and waste from the inside of the trap. You can also use a shop vacuum to get any small bits of waste that may be trapped inside the trap; learn more about this resource.

 

Once you've cleaned the inside of the trap, flush it out with hot water and a solution of specialized cleaners to eliminate any residual odors from the grease and waste. Once you've completed this task, you can reattach the trap.

Dyeing And Waxing

 

Next, you'll want to give your traps a good coating of dye and wax that will protect them from rust. Log wood powder or crystals work best, but you can use other natural dye materials as well, such as sumac or maple bark or walnut hulls.

 

If you're using log wood powder, boil the traps in a solution of one pound of powder per 2.5 gallons of water. Leave them to simmer for 20-40 minutes to get the best results.

 

Boiling and simmering will also help to remove any pre-rust that may be on the traps. Depending on the brand of traps you have, they may need several dunkings in the boiling solution before getting a good coating of black wax.

 

You can also use a special spray cleaner to get the job done quickly. Battle Born Trap Cleaner by Southern Snares & Supply is a great product that will quickly and easily remove films, paints, soils, wax and rust. It also works exceptionally well at removing grease and oil from traps as well. Check out this post for more details related to this article:https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plumbing.