Does a Shower Drain Need a Trap?

Stellar Plumbing, the premier choice for drain cleaning services in Elk Grove, will answer all your questions in this post.

How Does a Shower Drain Trap Work?

A shower drain trap is a special plumbing fixture in the drain line that creates an airtight seal between your shower drain inlet and outlet pipes by constantly holding a small amount of water. When you take a shower, the new water will push out the old one, but the level will remain the same.

The drain trap goes by different names, including the U-Trap, P-Trap, or S-Trap. The name often depends on the trap’s shape, but they all do the same thing.

The drain trap is different from what you’ll find under your kitchen sink. It’s also connected to a cleanout in some cases.

Why Does a Shower Drain Need a Trap?

The main purpose of a trap in your shower drain is to prevent sewer gas from coming back up into your bathroom through the shower drain.

Additionally, it also keeps drain flies and bugs from entering your bathroom. If the trap malfunctions, you’ll notice it almost immediately as that unmistakable smell of sewer gases fills your bathroom and spills over into other parts of your home.

So, if you’re remodeling your bathroom and wondering whether you should include the drain trap in your budget, you have your answer!

What Are Other Signs of Shower Drain Trap Issues?

Beyond the smell of sewer gas, another top sign of a shower drain trap issue is slow draining water. Clogs can occur in drain traps, making it harder for water to flow through and distorting that airtight water seal we mentioned above.

So, if you can smell sewer gases and see water pooling around your shower, that’s a clear sign of drain trap issues.

How Do You Clean Your Shower Drain Trap?

You can clean your shower drain trap in three major ways.

Using a Mix of Baking Soda and Vinegar

To clean your drain trap with this method, pour one to two cups of baking soda into the shower drain. Next, pour one to two cups of vinegar down the drain to mix with the baking soda. You’ll hear a fizzling sound as they interact.

Wait around 30 minutes for the mixture to work its magic on the gunk blocking the drain. Then, pour warm water down the drain to clear the mixture. Run the shower to confirm that the water flow has returned to normal, and come back later to check for any sewer gas smells.

Use the Cleanout

Does your shower drain trap have an accessible cleanout? You can open it up and clear any blockage in the drain directly. This approach also works if you want to use a short auger or plumber’s snake to push out the blockage.

However, this process is the most demanding of the lot because the configuration of most bathrooms can make reaching the drain trap difficult for the average person.

Using a Drain Cleaner

Drain cleaners have a bad reputation because they can damage your plumbing fixture. You have to search for a while to find one that is safe for all types of plumbing pipes. However, if you find a safe product, you can use it to clean your shower drain traps.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on safe usage, and you can have your traps clean and clear in minutes. A good tip here is to choose enzymatic drain cleaners. They are safe to use on all shower drain traps and will not harm the rest of the plumbing pipes.

Get Expert Guidance and Comprehensive Solutions for All Your Shower Drain Issues

Why does a shower drain need a trap? You know the answer now! Are you looking for a plumber to help you install the trap? Do you need more solutions for smelly shower drains? You can depend on our highly experienced plumbing crew for exceptional service.

Call Stellar Plumbing in Elk Grove Village, IL, today to schedule a consultation.

Call Now (773) 908-9375

Author Bio:
Steve Prodanov
President at Stellar Plumbing Inc. With more than 17 years of hands-on experience, Stellar Plumbing is your trusted partner in Elk Grove Village and the surrounding Northwest suburbs.