House Trap

Post Reply | Watch this Post

Moderator Post (s) for this thread: > Questions: by homebild on 04/22/2008 > House Traps are Largely Prohibited by homebild on 04/22/2008 > A few things by Handyman on 05/05/2008 > Smoke Test by Handyman on 05/06/2008 > These valves by Handyman on 05/06/2008 > Washing machine drain by Handyman on 05/08/2008 > The toilet or sink nearest the by Handyman on 05/08/2008 > Glad to hear by Handyman on 05/19/2008

A 'house trap' is a trap that is placed on the main building drain just before it leaves the basement or immediately after it leaves the basement.

A house trap acts just like a fixture trap. It is designed to block sewer gases from entering the house.

A house trap is not required and is often prohibited under most modern plumbing codes...so you may not have one.

The probelm with not having a 'house trap' is that sewer gases are emitted directly up through the main stack where it exists the roof.

Depending on wind conditions. temperatures, downdrafts, type of roof design...for sewer gases that emit through a roof vent to be blown down toward the ground. But the odor from these gases is usually only noticeable on the exterior of th house and if there is a house trap...there should be no odor of this type at all.