How to Find a Sink's Drain Trap

Drain traps protect your home from sewage gases.

A drain trap is a curved portion of pipe that is designed to keep sewer gases out of your home. The trap retains a small amount of water after each time the sink is used. This water helps to block unwanted sewer gases, which could be hazardous to your health. You may need to locate a drain trap under your sink if you are trying to remove a clog. Another reason to locate the trap is if you drop something valuable down the drain. Oftentimes, you can disconnect the trap to retrieve your lost item.

Instructions

1. Expose the piping under the sink. If you have a pedestal sink, you will need to slide the pedestal and base forward, away from the wall. If you have a cabinet-style sink, you simply need to open the cabinet doors.

2. Locate the straight section of pipe that extends from underneath the sink.

3. Follow the straight section until you come to a curved section. This is the trap. The trap will be located between the straight section of pipe extending from under the drain and another straight section of pipe that runs through a hole in the wall.

References

• Home Depot: Unclogging a Sink Drain Trap
• Hometime.com: Plumbing Basics