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Thread: Type of Trap

  1. #1
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    Default Type of Trap

    Hi, new inspector in training wondering if anyone can tell me what type of trap this is and what there is to know about it. Thanks in advance, Joe.

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  2. #2

    Default Re: Type of Trap

    Google drum trap. They're no longer allowed.


  3. #3
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    Default Re: Type of Trap

    Wow, copper, if some of our locals saw that, the Natural Light sales would go up for a few days.

    Paul Kondzich
    Ft. Myers, FL.

  4. #4
    Terry Neyedli's Avatar
    Terry Neyedli Guest

    Default Re: Type of Trap

    Quote Originally Posted by Joe Dach View Post
    Hi, new inspector in training wondering if anyone can tell me what type of trap this is and what there is to know about it. Thanks in advance, Joe.
    Joe:
    This is an older style of drum trap.
    They tend not to self scour as efficiently as the "p" trap.
    Inform the client that this style should be upgraded by a
    qualified plumber. There may be a cleanout screw cap on top
    of the trap but I cannot tell by your photo.

    Ask if you can place it in your museum when he replaces it.

    T.Neyedli CHI
    www.alphahomeinspections.ca


  5. #5
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    Default Re: Type of Trap

    Quote Originally Posted by Paul Kondzich View Post
    Wow, copper, if some of our locals saw that, the Natural Light sales would go up for a few days.
    Did you notice, no solder drips or flux goo. What holds this stuff together?


  6. #6
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    Default Re: Type of Trap

    Quote Originally Posted by Paul Kondzich View Post
    Wow, copper, if some of our locals saw that, the Natural Light sales would go up for a few days.
    So, what are you saying?

    What can I say... it was on sale.

    I see a couple houses a year with copper waste plumbing. Usually 1960s or so. It's pretty amazing to get in a crawl space under a bathroom with all copper. Depending on the price of copper it would probably pay a profit to tear the stuff out and cash in and replace it with ABS.

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  7. #7
    Ken Bates's Avatar
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    Default Re: Type of Trap

    I have 2 drum traps in my house and I am a happy camper.

    I would have 3 of them if I had not been routinely exposing it to a strongly alkaline chemical that I used for photographic development. I would put this NaOH liquid in one of my tub drains and would let it sit too long so it ruined its 80 yr old lead trap. This trap had its top cap conveniently flush with the bathroom floor so it could be easily opened without the hassles that accompany P traps.

    Now the P trap replacement, that a low end plumber installed, makes access impossible and if it were not for actively trapping hairs at the drain with a stainless steel screen and all the hassles of cleaning the screen after every use I would be up the proverbial creek without visible means of propulsion.

    I love drum traps. They are versatile and can be accessed from top or bottom. I had my licensed plumber install a plastic drum trap in the cellar ceiling with the access facing down so I could retrieve items that my wife allowed to drop into a drain. In this case access is from the bottom as top access was not feasible in this instance.

    I have yet to understand why they are allegedly “not allowed.”

    All traps that are siphoned are reconstituted with a fraction of the amount of water used in hand washing or teeth brushing.


  8. #8
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    Default Re: Type of Trap

    "I have yet to understand why they are allegedly “not allowed.” "

    It is not "allegedly".

    P3201.5 Prohibited trap designs.
    The following types of
    traps are prohibited:
    1. Bell traps.
    2. Separate fixture traps with interior partitions, except
    those lavatory traps made of plastic, stainless steel or
    other corrosion-resistant material.
    3. “S” traps.
    4. Drum traps.

    5. Trap designs with moving parts.

    The main reasons are:
    They are not self scouring. Which means that they become clogged more often than a P type trap.
    When they become clogged they cannot be cleaned with a snake.
    In fact, many are damaged by using a snake on them.

    ' correct a wise man and you gain a friend... correct a fool and he'll bloody your nose'.

  9. #9
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    Default Re: Type of Trap

    Looking at the photo, I think that is either the wrong type being used, or improperly installed. The removable cap should be on the bottom.
    There were two types:
    One with the cap on top (as pictured), designed to be mounted in the floor, and cleaned from the top, and one with the cap on the bottom, designed to be cleaned from the bottom, as in a crawlspace or basement.

    ' correct a wise man and you gain a friend... correct a fool and he'll bloody your nose'.

  10. #10
    Alan C Grubb's Avatar
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    Default Re: Type of Trap

    Joe, I am curious, is the pipe beyond the trap in contact with or under the light fixture as it appears in the photo?


  11. #11
    Jerrod Christian's Avatar
    Jerrod Christian Guest

    Default Re: Type of Trap

    Quote Originally Posted by Rick Cantrell View Post
    "I have yet to understand why they are allegedly “not allowed.” "

    It is not "allegedly".


    P3201.5 Prohibited trap designs.
    The following types of
    traps are prohibited:
    1. Bell traps.
    2. Separate fixture traps with interior partitions, except
    those lavatory traps made of plastic, stainless steel or
    other corrosion-resistant material.
    3. “S” traps.
    4. Drum traps.
    5. Trap designs with moving parts.

    The main reasons are:
    They are not self scouring. Which means that they become clogged more often than a P type trap.
    When they become clogged they cannot be cleaned with a snake.
    In fact, many are damaged by using a snake on them.


    I have been a master plumber for 10 years now and worked for a drain cleaning co. before starting my own business and you can clean a drum trap with a drain cleaning machine. It takes a little know how and a lot of practise my former boss taught me how



  12. #12
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    Default Re: Type of Trap

    Quote Originally Posted by Rick Cantrell View Post
    P3201.5 Prohibited trap designs.

    The following types of traps are prohibited:
    4. Drum traps.

    The main reasons are:
    They are not self scouring. Which means that they become clogged more often than a P type trap.
    When they become clogged they cannot be cleaned with a snake.
    In fact, many are damaged by using a snake on them.


    Quote Originally Posted by Jerrod Christian View Post
    I have been a master plumber for 10 years now and worked for a drain cleaning co. before starting my own business and you can clean a drum trap with a drain cleaning machine. It takes a little know how and a lot of practise my former boss taught me how
    Jerrod,

    Okay, so you have addressed *1* of the reasons drum traps are not allowed ... what about the other reasons?


    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  13. #13
    Jerrod Christian's Avatar
    Jerrod Christian Guest

    Default Re: Type of Trap

    Quote Originally Posted by Jerry Peck View Post
    Jerrod,

    Okay, so you have addressed *1* of the reasons drum traps are not allowed ... what about the other reasons?
    [/left]
    no they are not self scouring, yes you can use a cable machine to clean them,no you will not damage them by using a cable machine on them. Good enough for you?


  14. #14
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    Default Re: Type of Trap

    Quote Originally Posted by Rick Cantrell View Post
    Looking at the photo, I think that is either the wrong type being used, or improperly installed. The removable cap should be on the bottom.
    There were two types:
    One with the cap on top (as pictured), designed to be mounted in the floor, and cleaned from the top, and one with the cap on the bottom, designed to be cleaned from the bottom, as in a crawlspace or basement.
    The few I have seen had the cleanout on the bottom as well.

    Paul Kondzich
    Ft. Myers, FL.

  15. #15
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    Default Re: Type of Trap

    Inspected a 71 year old home last week. Had a drum trap under the bath tub visible from the basement. The bottom had rusted out sometime in the past so someone "fixed" it.

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  16. #16
    Jerrod Christian's Avatar
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    Default Re: Type of Trap

    gotta luv those fernco caps


  17. #17
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    Default Re: Type of Trap

    Cap needs to be on bottom so you can rod the darn thing.
    Drum traps clog easy.


  18. #18
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    Default Re: Type of Trap

    Quote Originally Posted by Jerrod Christian View Post
    no they are not self scouring, yes you can use a cable machine to clean them,no you will not damage them by using a cable machine on them. Good enough for you?

    "no they are not self scouring"

    Good enough to know that they are not code approved and why, and to wonder why anyone, much less a stated licensed plumber to try to defend their use.

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  19. #19
    Jerrod Christian's Avatar
    Jerrod Christian Guest

    Smile Re: Type of Trap

    I am not defending there use today but at the time of there manufacture they were the type to use on a bathtub.Now since then the molding of plastic fittings have made it better to use a glue style trap if not accessable or a compression trap if ready access to the trap for tightening purposses.

    Last edited by Jerrod Christian; 05-03-2010 at 03:13 AM.

  20. #20
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    Default Re: Type of Trap

    I am sorry I am late to this threads party. It all depends on what plumbing code you follow. Here in Illinois a drum trap is legal.

    TITLE 77: PUBLIC HEALTH
    CHAPTER I: DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
    SUBCHAPTER r: WATER AND SEWAGE
    PART 890 ILLINOIS PLUMBING CODE
    SECTION 890.410 FIXTURE TRAPS/CONTINUOUS WASTE


    Section 890.410 Fixture Traps/Continuous Waste

    e) Drum Traps. Drum traps shall be 3 or 4 inches in diameter and provided with a fixed water seal of at least 2 inches. The trap cleanout shall be one size less than the trap diameter.



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