If you’re like most people, you probably take your household drains for granted. But did you know that there’s a lot of science and engineering that goes into making sure they work properly? In this post, we’ll take a closer look at how household drains work, and we’ll also discuss some of the common problems that can occur. We’ll also provide some tips for preventing these problems from happening. So if you’re curious about what happens behind the scenes in your home drain system, keep reading!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Most household drains are built around a similar concept: water is allowed to flow down through several different piping components and openings, and as the water flows downwards, any solid objects in the water get pushed or dragged downwards as well. Since gravity pulls the heavier objects downwards with more force than the lighter objects, they typically move towards the bottom of the drainage system<\/a> and eventually end up in a drain trap. From there, the solid objects can flow through straight pipes that lead into the main sewer line or septic tank<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The two most common components that are used to channel water from your household drains are called “p-traps” and “s-traps”. A p-trap is a U-shaped pipe that typically sits underneath your sink or bathtub, while an s-trap consists of two pipes that are curved in the shape of an “s” – one pipe connects to the drain opening on your sink, while the other stays higher up above the floor. The basic idea with both types of traps is that they help to prevent sewer gases from entering your home. If you ever notice that sewer gas isn’t flowing away from your house as quickly as it should be, the problem may lie with your s-trap or p-trap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Neighborhoods and individual homes often have slightly different piping setups, but most standard household drains will include a combination of p-traps and s-traps. In homes that have a dishwasher or clothes washer, you will sometimes see a utility sink as well – this is basically just another p-trap setup that allows for your used water to be channeled into the main drain instead of onto your floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to p-traps and s-traps, there are a few other common components that you will find throughout your household drain system. Some of these components can help to prevent odor from entering your home, while others can help to maintain an even water flow:<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can see that there are many different types of components that can be used to help channel water throughout your home. Most household drains will include a mixture of p-traps and s-traps, along with any combination of pop-up drains, sluice\/trap arms, water regulators, sewer cleanouts, toilet traps, and main drains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’re wondering about how household drains are installed, it’s fairly straightforward. First, the plumber will typically run a trench through your yard in order to install the drain system under your lawn. This is where all of your piping components are connected together. Then, they’ll backfill the ground above the pipe with soil and sod to make your yard look nice and clean again. Most plumbers will schedule a follow-up visit to repair any damaged areas of your lawn, so it’s usually not necessary for the homeowner to get involved unless you have specific instructions from the plumber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The p-trap and s-trap combination is generally very effective at preventing sewer gas from entering your home. However, there are several common problems that can occur with this type of setup:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Typically, most household drains are only about six inches deep – this is often deep enough to prevent wastewater from overflowing onto your floor. However, the p-trap and s-trap components of your drains could potentially be deeper than six inches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most household drains can be unclogged using a plunger, which is a type of plumbing tool that’s designed to help push large objects through the pipes. You can also try chemicals like drain cleaners, which often include enzymes that help to break up clogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The individual who owns the home typically has the responsibility of properly maintaining and unclogging household drains. If you’re having trouble with a clogged drain, contact your local plumber to help fix the problem.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"What are the components of your household drain?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How does a plumber install household drains?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What problems can occur with household drains?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How deep are household drains?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What household item unclogs drains?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Who is responsible for maintaining drains?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n