//Glossary
P-trap
The U-shaped bend under a sink, tub or shower that holds a plug of water. That water seals the drain so sewer gas cannot come up into the room. A dry or broken trap is the usual reason a drain smells.
Why does a drain smell after a vacation?
The water in the trap evaporated, and the seal is gone. Running the tap for a few seconds refills it. If a trap that is used every day still smells, or the smell is in more than one room, the cause is elsewhere: a venting problem or a sewer line issue.
Guides that use this term
- › Home plumbing maintenance checklist: five habits that catch leaks and clogs early
- › Moen faucets and fixtures: what Done-Rite installs and repairs
- › Kohler fixtures: what Done-Rite installs and repairs
- › Kitchen plumbing: the sink, the disposal, the drain line and the water under it
- › Bathroom plumbing: toilets, showers, tubs and the drains under them
- › Slow drain: what it usually means and what to do first
- › Gurgling toilet: why it happens and what it is telling you
- › Sewer smell in the house: dry traps, vents, and when it is the line
- › DIY vs calling a plumber: what you can safely do yourself, and what you should not
Related terms
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