What’s a P-Trap?

There is a critical piece of equipment in nearly every home that many homeowners have never given a second thought to. The p-trap under your sink is an important part of your plumbing system. It’s a bent conduit between the horizontal and vertical pipes connecting your sink drain to the rest of the plumbing system that always has standing water in it.

The p-trap performs a few vital functions. Primarily, it blocks sewer gas from traveling up the vertical pipe and through your kitchen sink. It also collects a moderate amount of debris as the water travels toward your septic system to help avoid major clogs and as a last-ditch effort to save the ring you accidentally dropped. While p-traps require a relatively low amount of maintenance and cleaning, it is a good idea to check it out from time to time to make sure there isn’t too much debris building up.