I think this is a "drum trap", is that right? I'm smelling sewer gas, should I replace it? (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 year ago by maniajack@lemmy.world to c/plumbing@lemmy.world

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Since we moved in we've noticed a sewer smell from time to time. I had a plumber come and identify this laundry discharge pipe not having a trap as the culprit. He ended up ghosting me so I cut more into the wall and found this black thing I couldn't identify until now (I think). I guess it's a drum trap after doing some more googling. If it's working as designed I guess it's supposed to hold water in and not let sewer gas through? but we definitely have a problem with the smell coming from this laundry room. Is this maybe not to culprit and I could leave it alone? I'm considering cutting it out and just connecting PVC the whole way through. Any recommendations or thoughts would be much appreciated.

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[-] Francisco@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

(I'm not a plumber) if the trap is not leaking and it is not open on the top part i feel I would not change it.

But maybe a clean would help.. that trap and (bottom) pipe seem to hold quite a bit of (dirty) water, and maybe sediment. Which can have it's own smell (and they don't have a trap upwords). I'd try some drain cleaner, maybe overnight, better according to instructions, and maybe flush it with loads of clean water afterwords, and see if the smell goes away for a good while. That could confirm (or dispell) that the smell is coming from that pipe.

[-] Bigtiddygothgrany@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Wow there's a lot going on here, yes that is a drum trap, check if there's a floor drain that's dried out in your laundry room and pour some water in it. I'm surprised your washer doesn't spill over because a minimum standpipe is 18 inches in most areas and yours looks a lot less than that. Also drum traps are illegal in most codes now.

[-] maniajack@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

No floor drain from what I can find, and the main pipe out to the septic is about a foot above the floor so I don't think there would be anything lower. The washer wall box is the only source of the smell I can figure, it definitely smells but yeah I don't know how it's not filling up with water, maybe siphoning out? I also can't find a pipe going up to a vent. Just to the left is the main pipe drainage. If I do replace the crappy drum trap I plan to go down the 18+ inches and then back over but I guess I should get a vent in too? I apparently can use the other side of the laundry wall box with an air admittance valve. This is mostly from me watching this vid: https://youtu.be/EzMURfc3Fgo?si=SrDV8A779xvmB-k4

Thanks for the reply, any other feedback welcome

this post was submitted on 19 Sep 2023

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