What do fashion and plumbing share in common? Both have their own trends. You've probably seen the olive-green toilets that were popular in the 1940s. The house trap is an outdated plumbing trend that can prove more problematic than it looks.



What is a house trap?

In homes built before 1989, house traps were common plumbing devices. It's basically a U-shaped pipe that is connected to the underground sewer line from the home to the municipal sewage main. The pipes' downward bend collects water which keeps sewage gases from escaping through the sewer line into the home.

House traps can cause problems

The house trap seems like a great idea in theory. However, they can cause serious plumbing problems. Old house traps, which were made from metal and have rusted through the years, are not only poor in design. Instead of clogging sewage gases, the trap should not be holding waste in the bend.

It can lead to a variety of problems, such as:

• Harmful sewage fumes entering homes
• All throughout your home, slow or blocked drains (including toilets)
• The basement is the most common place where sewage backflows into your home.
• Greater chance of a sewer pipe breaking

An updated approach is better

There's a chance that your house trap is present if you live in an older home with no sewer line work. There is nothing urgent to do as long as everything is running smoothly. It's a good idea, however, to inspect your sewer line if you see any of these signs.

If you find that your house trap is not functioning properly, it should now be replaced with an improved sewer clean-out method. A sewer clean-out, which is not a U-shaped device but a vertical pipe that runs from the sewer line to where it meets the ground, is an alternative. This allows sewage gases to vent upwards and not find their way into your house. It's also much easier to clean out a sewer line and check for a blockage. It uses modern materials that aren't as corrosive or degraded as older pipes.