Thread: Basement bathtub

Friend of mine asked if he could install a low profile p trap for his existing basement bathtub. I asked him what led him to think he doesnt have one now. He says he got a look under the tub and its a straight pipe into the slab cutout and into the gravel. Cant see anything beyond that.

questions

1. Is it possible there is a trap down stream, under the gravel, further?
2. what would happen if he did add a trap ahead of one downstream. I think that you cant/shouldnt have two traps
3. If it doesnt have a trap why doesnt the basement smell real bad.

He lives nowhere near me so I cant just walk over and look, and he appears to be camerea challenged, his pics have been useless.



Steve

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Originally Posted by Stephen G

1. Is it possible there is a trap down stream, under the gravel, further?

Yes, there probably is a trap down there.

2. what would happen if he did add a trap ahead of one downstream. I think that you cant/shouldnt have two traps

Not allowed to double trap, could lead to backups. Not good.

3. If it doesnt have a trap why doesnt the basement smell real bad.

Because is has a trap ... ...

... unless the waste line is higher than the tub drain, in which case that may go down to a sump pump which lifts (pumps) the water up to the higher waste line.

Thanx Jerry, I am going to suggest he gets a scope and find the trap.

How old is the home? and the install of this tub? If there is a trap further down the line it will have to be a drum trap. P-traps have to be directly below the outlet of the tub waste and overflow.

HEre are a couple drawings show what I mean.

Home is 10 years old. HO is going to school in TO, so getting answers from him are sporadic.

Thanx for the pics Ron

Originally Posted by Ron Hasil

How old is the home? and the install of this tub? If there is a trap further down the line it will have to be a drum trap. P-traps have to be directly below the outlet of the tub waste and overflow.

HEre are a couple drawings show what I mean.

Originally Posted by Stephen G

Thanx Jerry, I am going to suggest he gets a scope and find the trap.

If it goes into a gravel block-out, why not just dig down with a gardeners spade?

Originally Posted by Vern Heiler

If it goes into a gravel block-out, why not just dig down with a gardeners spade?

That was my thought too.

Originally Posted by Stephen G

1. Is it possible there is a trap down stream, under the gravel, further?

Originally Posted by Ron Hasil

If there is a trap further down the line

Ron, I'm thinking that "down stream, under the gravel, further?" means: down under the gravel a bit further down. Not "down stream in some other location.

I could be wrong, I have been wrong before ... many times.

He placed a snake into it and it jammed at about three feet. I put another call to him to remind me how we started this exercise in plumbing.
I am not a plumber and have never heard of a trap burried under the gravel, what a pain in the asp to install...
I have pressed him for photos...