Different Types of Traps in Plumbing and where They are Installed

Plumbing seems like a simple system to understand, but there’s actually a lot more than what’s meet the eye. To know more about it, read about the types of traps in plumbing below, which shape how it’s going to take the draining waste and water with it.

Five Different Types of Traps in Plumbing

Through the centuries and decades, the plumber system has improved but still maintains the same basic principle. Each fixture should come with a trap, and each trap must be equipped with a vent.

Therefore, you can imagine how many pipes in your houses go down to drain waste and go up towards outside air.

So, what are traps, actually? In plumbing context, it is a pipe with a bending shape that retains fluid. The trap must be installed on all appliances that use water inside the house.

Its purpose is to allow the waste substance to go through while preventing sewer gases from getting into the building. It also prevents harmful microorganisms such as bacteria or small animals like insects from entering your property.

To provide a seal for passing water and waste, there are different trap shapes with various certain arrangements, such as its depth of seal. Below you’d read the passage that describes different types of traps that can be commonly found in property buildings.

1. P, Q, and S-Shaped Trap

These types of traps in plumbing are classified based on their alphabet-like shape. These three traps basically comprise of U-tube that maintains water as the seal between the air and smelly gas. S-trap used to be popular in drain technology as early as the 20^th century.

However, the trend then shifted more toward half S-trap, which nowadays is more known as P-trap. Meanwhile, Q-trap is typically used under the closet for the toilet. It has a similar shape as S-trap, although it’s more commonly used for the upper story than the ground floor.

2. Floor Trap

This trap type is installed on the floor. It’s typically used to collect waste from different house areas such as bathrooms, kitchen sink, wash area, and many more.

3. Austindo or Gully Trap

The Gully trap is mostly installed outside the building. It connects the drain system to the sewerage line in the outdoor area of the property. This trap can also collect water and waste from the bathroom, kitchen sink, wash area, etc.

4. Bottle Trap

This particular type of trap is also used to gather water and waste from house appliances. However, it is often used for appliances that do not come with the attached strap.

5. Grease Trap

A grease trap connected one or several fixtures and installed inside the drain pipe. Its purpose is to separate grease through the water and retain it.

Plumbing traps can be manufactured as the built-in trap that comes with your appliance, or it can be a separate item connected to the appliance outlets for water and waste. No matter what types of traps in plumbing you use, it should be convenient enough to clean and sustain an effective water seal under various flow circumstances.