Here's Why "S-TRAPS" Are NOT ALLOWED Anymore! (And 3 Ways To Fix It) | GOT2LEARN

[@Got2Learn]

Join my plumbing forum for free: got2learn.freeforums.net/

[@myturn9431]

Dude would never join, you did not just say why they are not allowed instead the video was about how they work.

[@Got2Learn]

@@myturn9431 they aren't allowed because they let toxic gases into the house.

[@luca6819]

"Is plumbing one of your interests?" "Nope" "Wanna se how to properly syphoning your drainage pipes?" "Oh you know me so well, dear algorithm!" Edit: for who did not catch it, it was implied that indeed I liked the suggestion, watched and liked the video, otherwise why bother to comment on it! 😁

[@ffccardoso]

same here, but now, plumbering is one of my interests...

[@199NickYT]

@@ffccardoso I was going to say, I think the algorithm might know Luca more than they know themself...

[@godliket5092]

Yet here we are...

[@juancastillo5078]

Rule #1 of plumbing. The B is silent.

[@redbu11]

More like: "Is plumbing one of your interests?" "Nope" "Well, now it is"

[@danielmalinen6337]

In Finland, a special odor trap is used in toilet sinks, which is based on the s-trap, but the old s-trap is still used in the kitchen sink because it helps keep warm-seeking bugs and insects out of the house. Instead, installing pipes inside the walls should be avoided, because it is a risk of water damage if the pipe starts to leak or crack, allowing moisture to ruin the wall structures and insulation.

[@Jason-un9ps]

Yeah, we have S traps built into most toilets in the US too

[@darbycrash55]

TLDR: people in Finland have potent waste gasses.

[@tony18662]

@@whocaresguy We builded like this in our new house build is convenient and safe

[@smgdfcmfah]

In Canada we avoid putting pipes of any kind in exterior walls. Wet walls (walls containing plumbing) tend to be interior.

[@PLF...]

Americans only use drywall, so they don't really know any better

[@VoidHalo]

2:37 Neat fact, this vent that goes to your roof and lets fresh air into the system is the reason why you sometimes see the water in your toilet bowl sloshing around when it's windy outside. I always wondered why that happens, so I looked it up a few years ago.

[@ddegn]

If the wind if fast enough, some of the water gets sucked out of the toilet bowl. My wife and I were wondering if our toilet had some sort of a leak since the water in the bowl would go down. It turned out we were just having crazy winds that day (yesterday).

[@DixieDee]

We had hurricane-force winds here in Atlanta when Hurricane Irma came up through several years ago. During these winds, it was fascinating watching the toilet water slosh around LOL And as @Duane Degn mentioned, sometimes the water would get sucked out totally.

[@MangaGamified]

No! you're being haunted! 👻

[@VoidHalo]

@@MangaGamified I always suspected I was being haunted by a toilet-ghost. Now I know. Thank's for clearing that up. I guess this confirms my supsicions that it's a gateway to another dimension.

[@BostrsBoy]

Our toilet doubles as an anemometer.

[@WillN2Go1]

The most common venting problem I've commonly seen is in otherwise properly plumbed bathrooms, the occasional kitchen, and in bar sinks: The trap dries out. Over many months or longer the water in the trap evaporates allowing the gases to pass in. If you have an unused bathroom, an empty apartment, a bar sink down in the basement that you haven't used in a while. Just set an alert on your phone for every six months or so to "Check the Traps." Then just run some water in the trap, flush the toilet. Don't forget laundry room traps that haven't been used in years. If the water is turned off. Just bring a bottle or bucket. It doesn't take much.

[@dawid875]

You can use an oil instead of the water. ;)

[@Lazarushun]

@@dawid875 Thanks Satan

[@wolfhardreimringer9168]

@@Lazarushun Satanic as this may seem, a thin layer of plant oil (sunflower) on the trap water surface helps to prevent the water to evaporate. We had this problem in a workers' changing room that was rarely used but always warm and well ventilated.

[@maxhugen]

👍 Yep... I didn't think to check the laundry drain, and that was the cause of a smell for some weeks.

[@tubedude54]

The janitor at the place I worked was complaining that the utility room where he kept his cleaning equipment smelled one day. He told me it had been doing that for months and he thought it could be dead mice but could never find any. I went down with him to check it out and all I needed was one whiff and I immediately knew what it was. I looked at the floor and saw the drain and told him to get some water and pour it in the drain. Never had the problem again.

[@davidthehermit7813]

I repaired sewer mains and services for 12 years for a large city, and every year we heard of more than one person dying somewhere working on a sewer system from inhaling poisonous sewer gases. Confined space permits along with safety equipment are now required by most cities, but someone always seems to want to take a short cut, and it can kill them.

[@RealHomeRecording]

A friend's father died because he was working on a sewer and it burst. He was covered in raw sewage as you can imagine and unfortunately he ended up getting hepatitis. This led to him getting liver cancer and unfortunately he died. So yeah human waste is nothing to mess around with. Safety first!

[@ev6558]

Yeah I work with this guy, he's my foreman. But he's a good guy and doesn't ask other people to take those risks. He usually uses an air tester now when he goes in a sewer but sometimes not. I ain't gonna lie I take some shortcuts myself sometimes but I try to keep it to dangers I can clearly see and feel and not this shit that sneaks up on you.

[@johnsheppard314]

used to be a janitor for the local service district, got several immunizations paid for as a result. but the poor sewer crew had to get about 20 different jabs to do that work!! nope, not for me, man. don't mind jabs, I just mind dat smell! we had old old sewers, and they would overflow in people's basements and the poor lads had to go clean that up on our dime! they were lucky none of the local pipes were big enough for a human to have to get inside it.

[@citylockapolytechnikeyllcc7936]

" Dammit Jim, I am a locksmith, not a plumber! " Excellent video. You not only explain the situation, but options on how to resolve.

[@Got2Learn]

Thanks!!

[@toddlenard7602]

@@sparkyvee I'm a plumber and we like to do the old trick for the inspector it's called throwing a dog a bone. You just leave something very obvious out for him to see first thing something you can fix right in front of him in just a few seconds. Then that relaxes them and puts them at ease in less than think they are in charge. Then they miss all the ridiculous stuff that they like to point out. Works like a charm

[@tomriley5790]

This video only applies in the US - S traps are used elsewhere with other techniques (venting the whole system distally or wide bore pipes to prevent syphoning).

[@foible2085]

I believe the 6" above flood line of the fixture is if using the AAV as a stack vent. If you already have a stack vent an AAV can be used on an S trap and only needs to be installed 4" above the top of the trap which should be able to go inside the vanity cabinet under the countertop. That is if your municipality allows AAVs. Many are just behind the times and don't care to change. Mine are working just fine.

[@misterlyle.]

This Florida county allows just that. The valve is under the sink, but there is a conventional vent through the roof in the system. The valves do sometimes malfunction, however, even though the manufacturer claims they cannot.

[@bryonhalsey6033]

It was mentioned that if the vent would not seal and leak, it would be a mess and cause gas leakage. If it would be 6" above the sink, chances are it would not leak because of backup and therefore would be a much better installation.

[@robmcdade1608]

@@bryonhalsey6033 if the pipe filled with water up to the vent it would not let sewer gas out of the pipe. The pipe would be full of water.

[@TheTfraze]

The reason they aren't allowed is because they require to be changed from time to time and most homeowners don't even know what one is, let alone realizing it needs to be replaced

[@benphillips2947]

I always thought the trap was simply so you could potentially retrieve objects that might accidentally fall into the sink like a wedding ring or something. Now that you say it the sewer gas thing makes a lot of sense.

[@TrashPanda5150]

The object retrieval was a good byproduct of the main reason for the trap, blocking the gas. So it's both! I could not say if both were in the original design thought process though.

[@LITTLE1994]

Same.

[@eddyvideostar]

Ben: You sound like an elegant man -- away from the rough and tumble.

[@rusty1187]

Same idea on toilets!!!

[@brentfarvors192]

The ability to retrieve objects was the second most popular reason for the correct design...With the aforementioned "P" trap, they are gone forever...NOPE! S trap all the way right here!

[@bryanwalker6125]

I live in Thailand where S and P traps are essential to blocking the entry of ants and other insects into living quarters. They also allow retrieval of small objects dropped accidentally into a sink or toilet.

[@FrederickDunn]

This is an excellent presentation and very thorough! Every home inspector should be watching this channel so that he/she can give comprehensive responses to homeowners who have questions as to why something is incorrect or requires a fix. Thumbs UP! as always!

[@Got2Learn]

🤗🤗🤗

[@mattjohnston2]

A home inspector that doesn't already know this has no business doing home inspections.

[@jeffgravel8129]

@@mattjohnston2 a lot of them know it's not allowed. but also can't tell the homeowner the reason why. I think this is what frederick means

[@mattjohnston2]

@@jeffgravel8129 what do you mean they can't tell the homeowner why? If you're going to hire a home inspector, make sure to check their credentials. There is no governing body to hand out a license for the job, and no prerequisite qualifications, so it doesn't take much for someone to call themselves a home inspector.

[@jeffgravel8129]

@@mattjohnston2 I know a lot that know what they do. but often they just write off, not up to code and dont know the reason behind why it's not up to code. their job is to inspect and I know that they obviously dont know every trade and everything behind the code. in my opinion it's not an issue as long as they cant point out all those problem and sometime not be sure at 100%why for a few of them. this is what I meant with my comment.

[@BrilliantDesignOnline]

What he said: "Excellent video. You not only explain the situation, but options on how to resolve." I had not heard S-traps were not allowed; thank you.

[@Got2Learn]

🤗🤗🤗

[@dantronics1682]

he said it was illegal as in against the law

[@jdwht2455]

Good explanation of the system that will help many folks. A couple comments - bath and kitchen sink plumbing is usually 1-1/4" tough on our last house I did a mod to the tail pieces to the 2" wall drain piping. Secondly, I would be surprised if an 'S' Trap system on a reasonably new house wouldn't have DWV plumbing to the roof or at least a properly sited DWV such as the Oatey you showed that would prevent siphoning of the trap water

[@geoffwaterman6560]

As an Australian licensed plumber I can refer you to Australian standard 3500 S traps I use university in Australia with no problems provided the standard is followed with the correct size for the number of fixture unit

[@allenhaywood9608]

Plumbers in desert wastelands don't know shit

[@druidmechanics]

This is a good explanation and I didn't know the connection between the greedy glass and traps. The diagrams make it clear. Methane is considered non-toxic; you may have meant hydrogen sulfide, the chief concern in sewage venting. Ammonia is toxic in high amounts. Methane can still be dangerous if it ignites, or if there's enough to displace the oxygen in an area. Carbon dioxide can also build up and displace oxygen, but really if you have that much methane or carbon dioxide you're probably going to smell the hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg or boggy smell), since our noses are generally highly sensitive to sulfur compounds. I will just add that I knew nothing about plumbing and watched some other Got2Learn videos before installing my own water heater. The videos really taught me a lot and the water heater has done great for many months now. The videos about recommended tools and tips & tricks were very helpful, as I had no experience going in.

[@Got2Learn]

😇😇😇

[@saltysteel3996]

My kitchen sink has an AAV. It works great. They last for decades.

[@stevefifield1207]

Just pinging on this, 70's house with an AAV under the kitchen sink. Was getting smells, thought it was garbage disposal until I tracked it down to the AAV stuck in open position. Replaced it with another AAV, definitely an easy fix but they do fail unfortunately...

[@justinsander7654]

Is made aware of the term.."Manhole explosion compilation". Pauses video. I now have 6 videos waiting the end of this one all with epic boom booms.

[@stephenarling1667]

The Mexican example, with gasoline leaking from a refinery into the city sewer system, was spectacular.

[@jesseraphael2423]

My homeboy Pitha-gorass be rollin in him geave

[@RedDaFeist]

Hi. Nicely done and explained.I live in germany an our main pipe has always a vent which goes up through the roof. we use s-traps, but right after the s the pipe (arm??) is bigger than the pipes you use for the actual s, so the arm will never completly filled with water and gets his air from the main housepipe to keep the water flowing without draining the s. so if your s-pipes are 1 1/2" the arm needs to be at least 2"( just as an example) i hope i explained it well enough to understand what i mean.

[@kjelllindberg6987]

IF your tube coming out of the S-trap is twice the area or bigger than the pipe coming into the S-trap it will be no problem either... Try it, you can never make a siphon if the outlet pipe is twice or bigger than the inlet pipe...

[@stevebabiak6997]

Of course, achieving that with existing piping might not be a simple task.

[@ede-armond476]

KL, your idea is probably cheaper and easier to do than the alternatives. Would only need the larger pipe going from the trap into the wall pipe?

[@kjelllindberg6987]

@@ede-armond476 The outlet pipe must be of at least twice the area all the way to a ventilated pipe. This is as soon as the pipe have an inflow that is higher then the outflow a siphoning effect can occur. So even a restriction prior to just leaving the S-trap solves the issue. Test for your self, as soon as you fully understand how siphones work you will never have the issue anymore.

[@rcpmac]

But you are not allowed to reduce the size of the sewer line at any point so if you can’t simply insert an oversized S trap and connect it to a smaller Lin downstream.

[@derekroach5973]

I find this very odd. The large S trap diameter has numerous benefits. ONE: the flow rate due to the syphon effect is low and although it will suck neutral buoyancy objects down the drain, heavy objects such as rings etc will tend to 'levitate in the up leg and sink back down once the flow stops (hence the access plug at the base of the S bend). TWO: The syphon is only effective whilst there is water in the sink. Once the water level reaches the base of the first down leg, air from the house will be 'sucked' into the drain. This air quickly bypasses the water in the up leg (hence the gurgle) breaking the vacuum (syphon). THIRD: Now that the vacuum (syphon) is brocken the bypassed water in the up leg will fall back into the bend. The volume of water that falls back must be enough to fill the bottom of the trap to prevent gases entering the house. If you find that the syphon is so strong and gasses do come back then all you have to do is (A), slow the flow rate leaving the sink by inserting a larger grill or grid plate at the bottom of the sink, or (B)insert a linear length of pipe (these days PVC) in the up leg. This will hold more water during the syphon breaking to flow back down into the trap.

[@sarreqteryx]

strictly speaking, a p-trap is not necessarily vented. the vent is not the differentiator between a P or S trap. If you have a P-trap, it certainly SHOULD be vented, though.

[@calebbyers]

This exactly!!

[@xFuaZe]

In the video he does state that a S trap is more likely to be "flushed dry" because the velocity of the flush going downward will pull more water out the trap as when going sideways. (Though I doubt, because the S-trap seems higher also). But your point is right in which he makes it look as if P traps are always vented.

[@uwubermensch8636]

An unvented or improperly vented p-trap is functionally identical to an s trap as the drain would be drop at some point, if only for pitch. Once the drain drops below the water level of the p-trap without being vented, you for all intents and purposes have an s-trap.

[@jadedandbitter]

@@uwubermensch8636 no, an unvented p trap is worse. Proper S traps work because the 2nd curve is higher than the equilibrium point, so when the water level in the pipe before the first bend has decreased enough to allow air to pass, the suction is lost and the remaining fluid in the vertical section between the first and second curves is released and backslides, and it is enough to settle at a level higher than the equilibrium point meaning no more air may pass. S traps work just fine as a result provided they are tall enough. Basically the volume above the first curve equilibrium point going to the 2nd curve equilibrium point must be greater than the volume under the 1st curve equilibrium point. A p trap though has no elevated 2nd curve, so the equilibrium point at the 90 is the highest the water ever goes, so when the suction releases, there's little water to backslide and gases will not be stopped for long before it evaporates. This is assuming the p trap does not have a straight vertical section after the curve, as if it did, it is basically an s trap.

[@marshmellominiapple]

what is a p trap but just an s trap with a really long top half of the second curve (without the vent)

[@Hybris71]

There are also mechanic traps that use a counterweight to close. Those work well in rarely used fixtures, to avoid the evaporation problem.

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

You mean a check valve?

[@Willy-AndreDaniel-dm9zt]

@@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823 Why, yes, that would be an adequate description. One of those, OR an S-trap/other water-filled check valve is mandatory around here.

[@LukeMorphett]

I enjoy seeing how different country's do things. I'm a plumber in Australia, our sewerage systems work a bit differently to yours, we are still allowed to use S traps but have restrictions on how far they can drop. Also interesting, we are allowed to install AAV's up to 1 meter (40 inches) below the flood level of the lowest fixture.

[@Got2Learn]

👍👍👍

[@443DM]

" we are allowed to install AAV's up to 1 meter (40 inches) below the flood level of the lowest fixture." Almost like you'd rather encourage people to improve their plumbing instead of leaving it broken but compliant with old code, explosive/toxic gases and all.

[@LukeMorphett]

@@443DM There is no issues with our AAV's being installed this way. They are designed to be able to withstand in excess of 1 meter of static head. To be sold in Australia they must be compliant with that law. However, I do dislike AAV's and try to never install them on new builds or high end renos. Nothing beats a proper atmosphere vent.

[@Got2Learn]

😬

[@Frater_I.O.]

The information presented here is in compliance with the IPC and IAPMO (plumbing codes). Adopted building codes not only vary from state-to-state, but more importantly, jurisdiction-to-jurisdiction (counties, cities and towns within each state). I am a building inspector (not a "home inspector"). I was also a master plumber.

[@MariMari-vq8hl]

Now I know what that vent pipe looking this is 😂 I don’t think it’s up to the distancing code but so far no smell! Thanks for this video! Learned lots

[@RanchoDeSanchez]

Geez plumbing, what an amazing thing. You don’t care as a child, teenager or even a young adult but as a provider it is imperative to keep the plumbing in good working condition.

[@ypsiow1008]

S-trap or P-trap is a clever device (or way of connection) to address the foul air issue effectively. It's never banned. If you're living in a multi-floor apartment, you'll probably see a separate vent pipe going from ground to roof in the pipe shaft. This main vent pipe is for your household traps, be it floor trap, basin trap or WC's sub-vent to connect to, so that the pressure fluctuation and siphonage issues are addressed. For standalone houses, pipe venting is not essential so long as you are aware all the floor traps and basin traps are constantly filled with water. Since basin is a frequently used apparatus, there is no worry of the trap being dry. And if your basin trap discharges to the floor trap, this makes the floor trap wet too.

[@NewStarConstellation]

In Germany we have ventilation after the trap; they are called "Schnüffelventile" because they make this specific sniffing sound (very quiet though). They let air into the drain so the trap does not run out of water. They are common here.

[@BULLTRONHERO]

I need a channel like this one but for electrical... yeah, I just hopped trades.

[@ncameron7]

ElectricianU

[@charlesviner1565]

Sparky

[@thecloneguyz]

"AVE" or "BOLTR"

[@ZagorTeNay80]

Definitely check Benjamin Shalstrom too, great content there.

[@BULLTRONHERO]

Thanks everyone! I didn't expect to actually get any results from that comment.

[@savednorwegian]

Well, now I know that I have P-traps in my house and I feel better at least lol

[@donnairn3419]

Dunning and Kruger would be proud of this guy.

[@savagetuner2404]

S-traps do not inherently have the inability to be vented, this video has serious inaccuracy, every single trap in my home is a vented S trap

[@Phantomthecat]

Agreed - it’s easy enough to have a vented S trap - my house is exactly the same.

[@ericmann1781]

Probably why at 3:13 he mentions it may not necessarily be a problem for everyone.

[@savagetuner2404]

@@ericmann1781 which makes it pointless to say it’s illegal when it’s only illegal in certain places under certain circumstances

[@CTuna-uo3pq]

@@savagetuner2404 "not permitted by code" work better?

[@savagetuner2404]

@@CTuna-uo3pq rarely banned by code either. Still illegal BTW

[@louf7178]

Excellent content and video production! We typically called them an "island vent" because of its use for (kitchen) island sinks.

[@Got2Learn]

Thanks for the info!

[@juancastillo5078]

I've heard them called everything but what they actually are! Plumbers all call stuff different things. Brand names are mostly the culprit.

[@AlexTrusk91]

I'm European. Still enjoysed your video, learned something about plumbing in general (Can't give up the day dream of building or restaurating an object one day) and saw that the states got exploding sewer covers spitting fire. Never heard of such a thing back here in the old world.

[@javiervazquez9472]

Beautifully explained. Thank you in part of all professional plumbers out there.

[@shadbakht]

In China, they don't use the S-trap nor P-trap in any bathroom sink or shower. So everyone is just used to all bathrooms reeking like shit, it's just normal. "It's what a bathroom is supposed to smell like"

[@alantorrance6153]

As of the present moment "P" and "S" traps are still legal in New Zealand, but the sewers are vented.

[@richardbaron7106]

Yeah, so I'm thinking US plumbing is a little different to Kiwi plumbing. Show me a house that doesn't have a P or S trap, regardless of whether the fittings are vented not. I'm guessing it's coz we incorporate a 'stink pipe' on the toilet waste, right?

[@michaelashbrook3195]

i think its illegal to build a house in NZ without one of them

[@1978SOOTY]

Same as in Australia, P and S are both legal.

[@pete_boy71]

@@richardbaron7106 same throughout whole europe...and i never heart of any explosions...american continent must be so different to the rest of the world...

[@robertbutler8004]

Alan Torrance same here in Australia and I don't see that our system will ever change if it's not broken leave it alone.

[@internetdinosaur8810]

"Are you interested in plumbing?" Yeah, sure. "Wanna learn more about it?" Sure

[@michaelowens8259]

This is Thoroughly explained !!!!!

[@georgejones3526]

If you ignite one end of the sewer system you can put your neighborhood into orbit.

[@Got2Learn]

🚀

[@natalieisagirlnow]

false. you'd get a "pop" if you were lucky, as your neighbor's houses are all venting sewer gas through their roofs

[@jjrusy7438]

USA here. my house has both P+S traps. a P-trap will clog more easy vs s-trap. any trap will dry out if you dont use it. 1st thing to do if u smell sewer gas is run some water to refill the trap. IMO, a vented S-trap is the best. good flow from gravity, no sewer gas. edit: other than clogs on horizontal runs, i have never had any problems with either in this 60yr old house. although all the drains are clustered around the 2 main sewer lines so maybe that has helped that the sink drains are right by the toilet "stink pipes" or tied closely to the very large main cast iron sewer pipes. IDK, but the s traps work fine.

[@reaperkillall2391]

This is better than studying for macbeth

[@vp3970]

Again, in my jurisdiction the AAV is illegal, we call in a “In Line Vent”. The correct nomenclature for your so called loop vent is Island Vent and this type of pipe arrangement are reserved for a sink install in an island in a kitchen with no adjacent walls in which to connect a vent. There are so many rules in this installation that a home owner would be totally confused, even some plumbers get 😂 lol confused.

[@rodschelin3470]

What a crock!! Water flows from the sink into the trap (both S and P) and fills the trap until it's full enough to flow out the far side and down the drain pipe. The entire trap then stays completely full right up to the level where it can flow over and down the drain. These traps are designed to hold enough water to keep sewer gasses from escaping. The only way gasses can force their way through the S or P trap is if the system isn't vented somewhere. This system was developed in 1775 and has been working fine all this time.

[@boggy7665]

Had one in our kitchen. Jerry-built house with lots of odd features. I remember the thing would suddenly start "gu-gunk-gunk-gunk"-ing at any time of the day or night.

[@andrewmartin4258]

Nice video. If you have a trap which is siphoning and letting sewer gas in, you also can run a bit of water after draining in order to refill the trap. Not ideal but very easy.

[@barbosatileservices8855]

Very exciting, I will delve into the physical effects of siphoning. I hope you are planning to teach online plumbing course. I wouldnt miss this opportunity for nothing.

[@Got2Learn]

🙏🙏🙏

[@HeWearsGlasses]

Dumb question but why does the AAV need to be above the flood level? Great animations!

[@Got2Learn]

Not a dumb question, that's a great question, lemme explain. Ok so let's say the AAV is defective (in the opened position) and that there is a clog down the line, the sewage would come out of the AAV and not from the sink/lav, simple as that!

[@HeWearsGlasses]

@@Got2Learn got it, now I understand thanks!

[@Got2Learn]

👍👍👍

[@romaintrevisiol9159]

@@Got2Learn I have a AAV under my kitchen sink. I installed it as high as I can but not 6" above flood level. The inspector didn't call me out on that.

[@Got2Learn]

@@romaintrevisiol9159 lucky you 😆

[@Dflowen]

Thanks G2L nice visual of vents for plumbing. Imma go take a look around my house now. Can you do topics on air condtioning and electricals?

[@iansmith5019]

Drain leads to main stack, main stack is vented through the roof usually sometimes into attic or high in the wall so none of this suctioning occurs, if not then s and p traps aren't the problem , not venting main stack is the problem.

[@keithpelletier2600]

Modern Plumbing systems isolate the plumbing stacks in the drainage stacks they are not connected back before 1950 it would have a singular stack

[@iansmith5019]

@@keithpelletier2600 So this isn't in Canada I assume, because building houses in the 80' and 90's was all single stack.

[@OilBaron100]

Great video. S-traps are legal and very common in Australia. I was wondering why plumbing is different in American renovation videos.

[@chuck8094]

Because water flows the other way in Australia.

[@gravitystorm61158]

We called that a gooseneck back in the day....

[@gravitystorm61158]

@@Azureecosse And in certain applications a “loop-seal”. I wonder how many apprentices today would know these different nouns for the same device?

[@Africanbararian]

Amazing video, great animations! Very informative, the loop vent is a very interesting idea, something that doesn't exist my side of the world!

[@Got2Learn]

🤘🤘🤘👌👌👌

[@rswind1964]

i have worked in 2 commercial buildings that where both 2 stories tall and the toilets would suck air from other toilets when they where flushed... ie no proper venting.

[@Cobra6Gaming]

Weird, S traps are perfectly fine, you just have to make sure you have a vent pipe behind things like a toilet or bath as their volume of water will otherwise drain the traps. Vent pipes are standard here in the Netherlands and "S" traps are the norm.

[@mackenheimer]

S-traps can be self siphoning if enough water goes through them, therefore S-traps are not perfectly fine. They are dangerous and should be replace with a proper P-trap unless the fixture requires an S-trap in order to function, like a water closet does.

[@Cobra6Gaming]

@@mackenheimer Like I said, S traps are the norm here in the Netherlands as Vent pipes are also the norm. They never cause any issues if properly installed.

[@glasslinger]

I have an 80 year old house. They did things RIGHT back then. No problems at all with the plumbing other than faucets corroding up from age.

[@Z-Ack]

Your correct about that my odd tinkerer buddy.. about to check your channel out for new content.. havent checked in a week or two..

[@NVRMTmotion]

And don't forget the lead paint and the lead pipes and the asbestos... But yeah, other than that things were so much better back then 🙄

[@glasslinger]

@@NVRMTmotion The lead pipes are in the sewer system. Not the fresh water system, which is all iron pipes. I have had peeling lead paint for 40 years and no problems. But I don't have young kids that would chew on it. The old gas furnace doesn't have any asbestos that I can see. It is over 70 years old and still going strong!

[@Sparky-ww5re]

Besides S traps, there is yet another type of trap, the drum trap, that you may come across in homes more than 65 years old. For those who don't know, drum traps are most commonly found in bathrooms, although they are sometimes found in other areas of the home as well, and are easily recognized by the presence of a clean out plug on the bathroom floor next to the bathtub, and sometimes the sink drains into it as well. The problem with drum traps was they are not self-scouring, they were supposed to be cleaned out regularly by the homeowner but more often than not weren't , and suffered from frequent clogs as hair, dead skin and soap scum settle to the bottom. They were often made of lead, which gets brittle with age and attempts to remove the clean out with a pipe wrench can fracture it and now you have a much bigger problem on your hands. The clean out is sometimes on the bottom, accessed in the basement. Another telltale sign of a drum trap is the sink next to the tub and the toilet at the other end of the bathroom in an old house.

[@coupofmentality3417]

As a handyman I find this information to be useful and informative. I wish there were better solutions, homeowners are not going to be happy with the box or the price of the other renovations. If it doesn't have a ptrap there's not much of a chance there's going to be a vent in the adjacent stud cavity, maybe a few cavities down at the toilet. That requires significant wall damage/repair and potential roof work. I'm also not entirely convinced every sink faucet has the pressure and drop distance, given the need for an air vacuum to move the water in a syphon, to push the water fast enough to leave air space. I can see where there can be places this, as described, occurs. That said every strap I've taken apart is full of water with no air gaps. Once someone makes the rule....

[@johnathanbusse4679]

An s trap is for plumbing that comes through the floor. Ie. A kitchen island sink drain. All plumbing regardless weather you use an s or a p trap has to be vented. A loop vent works but its much easier to just attach from the vent stack under the floor. Any unvented plumbing will do one of 2 things. It will ether create enough pressure to suck the water from the p trap or it will build pressure and act like a feau clog. It will back up but nothing but air pressure is clogging the pipe. But both s and p traps work as long as they are vented properly. But they are most definitely allowed to be used. At least where im from.

[@GunsNScoop]

Lived in britain in a house from 60s with newly renovated kitchen. Landlord/agent believed it is perfectly acceptable to have a vertical pipe from sink into sewage drain outside. If it wasnt the smell, then the slugs would come up and say hello in the morning.

[@jacksplumbingvideos7147]

I use Genova nova vents. Genova says I can install them no less than 4 1/2 inches above the drain.

[@davidnull5590]

Those traps are banned by several state and local plumbing codes.

[@alidycepaisley3829]

That vent may explain how insects and other critters end up in drain pipes. That AAVsounds appealing as its interior vent location is relatively critter proof; it doesn't provide them with access from outside.

[@simonmartin4599]

That explains why my bathroom sinks make glugging noises. I thought it meant the system was clean and healthy. Incorrect...

[@JonatasAdoM]

Those sounds always freaked me out.

[@carlanw]

Right, it means it's sucking the trap dry.

[@jooproos6559]

Thats why we in the Netherlands have only two places with a tap,the bathroom and the kitchen.Except of course bigger houses with more rooms and apartment buildings.

[@jaybee3418]

This is EXACTLY the explanation I was looking for. Thank you veryyyyyyy much for such an informative and to-the-point video.

[@Got2Learn]

🤘🤘🤘

[@DrBIeed]

Sitting on the toilet as I was watching. Popped the sink cabinet open and my house has P traps so it looks like I’m in good shape!

[@ultimatewho]

KZbin knows I'll watch anything by now. Great vid.

[@Got2Learn]

🙏🤣

[@MaLourdesGoles]

Starting in 4:02 you state that the AVV must be placed 6 inches above the flood level of the fixture, but I believe this is wrong. The 6-inch requirement for the installation of an Air Admittance Valve (AAV) is above the highest horizontal branch drain connected to the vent system. This would typically be the drain pipe coming out of the P-trap of a plumbing fixture like a sink, shower, or bathtub. If we followed your instructions, there would not be any under-the-sink installation allowed.

[@peecee1384]

How about adding “In the united States” to the title of the video, since it seems to apply there, and not necessarily worldwide. Interesting nonetheless.

[@ericdolby1622]

Why? other countries allow dangerous gases inside of homes?

[@bklynjoe96]

How about asking in a way that isn't rude? You wouldn't talk like that in person so work on your cyber comms.

[@keithseltzer7289]

I didn't know anything outside the US existed. You learn something new every day.

[@bklynjoe96]

@@keithseltzer7289 🤣

[@LouisEmery]

I conclude then that a toilet itself has an S-trap. When one pours a gallon of water quickly into the bowl, the water is entrained into the waste pipe and the level of bowl water becomes low. However there is a P-trap in series below the floor, which makes this situation ok.

[@xipheonj]

I guess that's why toilets are designed to keep filling while it's siphoning, but at a slower rate, so it can fill it back up once the S empties. So it's a problem for sinks but not toilets, and a temporary solution if you smell the gasses is just run the sink for a second.

[@jeffdege4786]

Methane and ammonia are components of sewer gas, but the most dangerous is hydrogen sulfide (H2S).

[@superdrinkerb6432]

Now I get it why I have an weird "smell" in my bathroom...under the sink there is a "S-trap" for wastewater discharge. Thank you.

[@anderslarsen2311]

Algorithm brought me here. Watched the whole vid.

[@boogakahooga7472]

My KZbin Algorithm is going to be very confused

[@hansvonschlader8227]

Thanks for the video, I am building a bathroom in our basement, this was helpful

[@tonyprice1786]

Also essential on the exhaust systems of yachts to prevent filling up the auxiliary engine with water!

[@vbinsider]

Interesting to know that in the U.S. you seem to actually have official inspections for your household plumbing. Here in Germany I do not know about any kind of regularly performed inspection done by the municipalities.

[@yuriythebest]

yes, it's really weird.Also I'm from europe and the S./P traps seem to be a US thing, here it's a more complex plastic "container"

[@timromano7085]

Do you have any videos on making PVC to cast iron hub connections? To convert the S-trap of the built-in lavatory in our powder-room to a P-trap, a 1-1/4" trap arm would have to be extended 15 inches over to an interior wall and then down inside the wall into the basement directly below, where it would then connect to a hub on a 4" cast-iron waste-vent stack about 48 inches away.

[@akoww1000]

The reason S-traps are banned isn't for the reason most are told. My step-dad was a plumber from 1969 until he retired in the early 2000s, He fought the ban because it was a bunch of Bullshit and it was about money not because they were dangerous like some plumbing companies claimed. When he retired he still refused to remove the ones in people's homes where they were already installed unless they asked him to but he told them the truth first. the new traps were overpriced when they came out and most plumbers charged a full hour to half an hour of work just to install one that took less than 5 mins. My stepdad has over 100 plumbers working for him now and he will fire anyone of them if they rip off people with that scam.

[@Scorpionbite8]

The pull from the inverted trap will draw the water from the ptrap, thus breaking the seal. Also "crowning" is also illegal. The pipe piece between the trap and vent needs to be at least 1.5x the pipe diameter.

[@jasonweiland1474]

Thank you for recording and posting this valuable educational video.

[@Got2Learn]

Thank you, don't forget to share, it really helps the channel!

[@motherofangels1710]

Manufactured home S traps with vents throughout house but the vent is not above the overflow of sink or even above the bottom of sink, they sit about 4" lower and one just had an ol' shop rag stuffed in the hole instead of vent cap🤷.

[@sivansharma5027]

Is nobody going to talk about Mr Pith-a-gorus?

[@nebtheweb8885]

A new breed of dinosaur

[@michaelpickering4589]

Pipe sizing throughout a plumbing design is also important. I think AS3500.2, aussie code, upsize to make allowances for fitextures in the plumbing system (plumbers and hydrolic engineers that calculate volume, flow, pressure etc). Venting, alot of the fixture venting pipework can be omitted with adequate pipe sizing, in the walls and ceilings. Therefore there should be no real reason an S-trap should not work. 100mm in the ground Drainage 100mm, 65mm, 50, and 40mm branches or graded drains S- trap and P-trap commonly used - (WHAT EVER WORKS AND FITS IN AT FITTOFF STAGE). So basins 40mm with 40mm trap Kitchen sink 50mm etc Toilet/ wc 100mm pipe - you can use 80mm pipe but no more than 1 toilet per floor connected. In other parts of the world, US, pipe sizing and grades (fall or slope of connecting graded drain) would be a factor as to why S-traps fail. You are not going to replumb all the piping in within a building's structure ie wall and between ceiling and floor, just to create a functioning S-trap. NB, the large pool of water in a US toilet pan (due to shallow toilet moulds) ?? I've always wounded why they prefer this. You can still achieve overall heights for ergonomics and adequate syphonage or drainage out of a pan without the large volume of water in a pan sitting in the pan. We here in Australia have this fear of what's known as the Poseidon's kiss. Its when the water jumps up out of the pan due to......haha I'm just a humble plumber)

[@ecleveland1]

I make M traps and sometimes W traps for plumbing drains.

[@lynneades4632]

Not the same in my country, but very well explained!. Thank you!

[@Got2Learn]

🤜🤛

[@NinoJoel]

Interesting. They are the standard here in Germany. The only downside i ever found was when i rebuild an abandoned Building that had no one inside for years. There was no water left so the house was quite stinky.

[@kazual9206]

P traps are just an S trap with a different configuration. S strap are all over Europe and cause 0 problem when they are properly built. It "illegal" in USA because poor plumbing was done in the past and it is more expensive and thus profitable for the plumbers to do that.

[@егоркретов-я2г]

15 лет работаю сантехником. Включил по приколу а оказалось проездной. Спасибо.

[@dc174]

Wow,that was interesting....things you never think about until you need to.

[@javwildman]

Pretty sure we still have S traps in use everywhere here in the UK. The main difference is that the toilet waste pipe goes directly to the sewer with a vent above to the roof and is not connected to the waste water from baths and sinks.

[@user-yp5ko8us9j]

I’m a teenager who has never done anything even related to plumbing in the past, watching this at 12 am with 2 assignments that I need to do

[@Daledavispratt]

Sounds like you are ready for your residential plumbing license in that case....

[@matteblack5805]

Eat the F, become a plumber. The world needs tradesmen not another desk jockey

[@daslickkiffer6702]

Dude your whole username extends out past the other video suggestions on the other side of the screen. Nice

[@lamboking8able]

I remember those procrastination days. good luck

[@thatdudnum67potatoe45]

same

[@gregnixon1296]

I’m going to get right on this in my home after I get my solar powered doorknobs installed.

[@carlanw]

Or the minute your wife starts to complain about the smell of sewer gas in her bathroom.

[@C_HILL_OUT]

Don’t forget to use your solar powered flashlight to see under the sink when you fix it.

[@stringsattached67]

@@carlanw in my 53 years of life I've never smelled sewer gas coming out of a sink with an s-trap 🤷

[@carlanw]

@@stringsattached67 I don't understand your point? Are you saying that venting is unnecessary and s traps are just fine in every application?

[@stringsattached67]

@@carlanw nope I'm saying I've never had an issue with sewer gas smells from s trap's

[@jacob.rausch]

Ain't no way bro said pithagoreus

[@Naymy]

That hurt my soul.

[@dannydemonicmusic]

@@Naymy lol glad I'm not the only one

[@bruiseviolet206]

I was desperately looking for this comment hoping someone had already said it ☠️

[@tylermoss8851]

Thank God

[@bobbymoss6160]

I hope to God bro used an AI to read the script...

[@vzgsxr]

S-trap drainage systems are very common here in Australia (also not illegal). When they are installed correctly WITH ADEQUATE VENTILATION from the initial install, they rarely malfunction.

[@MatFarringtonInfo]

Yeah our codes have strict unvented distance limits to minimise the risk.

[@olegpisarenkov4908]

obviously, depends on drain flow and pipe diameter

[@UserUser-ww2nj]

Same in the U.K , most if not all sinks , baths and basins have an overflow opening so its not an issue

[@Zerofukstogive]

the s trap has always been a bad design.

[@tobiwonkanogy2975]

Not illegal and mandatory in Canada as well. This guy really needs to learn up . The information they did provide was top notch otherwise.

[@tommytmt]

My favorite part was the animation of little turds leaving the houses.

[@Got2Learn]

Awesome, I knew someone would love em' 😭😭😭😭

[@hempcacaogoji831]

LOL

[@michealbarnes66]

💩 is so interesting. My favourite part

[@brucemcgeehan8255]

You can use a quivac trap to solve this problem

[@bob2161]

@@laconic151 this one is funny because of the detailed explanation. 😝

[@FlorinArjocu]

I do think my old house had this problem and never figured out how bad smells came out of the pipe. Thank you.

[@stickshaker101]

"See, Hon? I told you it was the plumbing!"

[@ericmann1781]

Same here, and here I was being so ignorant as to think it was somehow the water smelling like sewage...

[@paulrogers8459]

You can also smell sewer gases in a bathroom that may not be used often (like a guest bathroom) when the water in the trap evaporates.

[@joejoseph3078]

I cant attest to this. I stayed in a house recently that was not occupied for sometime and I could smell sewer gas strongly in the house, especially near the sinks, toilets and tubs. So I aired the place out and ran water in all the drains. It still smelled though because the stench had permeated the fabrics of the carpets and furniture.

[@dracoslayer16]

@Schrodinger's Snuffleupagus In California public restrooms, floor drains are required to have trap-primers, to occasionally put a small amount of water down the floor drain automatically. I used to think they were overkill till I started noticing the same problem in my quest bathroom's shower drain.

[@bmpowellicio]

@Schrodinger's Snuffleupagus In Europe, especially Scandinavia, holiday homes are commonplace; we have ours in France although we live in Wales, an overnight ferry boat ride away. Its normal to not visit for a couple of months at a time, and this last year during travel restrictions its been even longer. There is a ritual to arriving that includes running all water systems for ten minutes to avoid danger from Legionaires disease incubating in the hot water system, as well as to flush down the drainage system. Evaporation from the traps is very common after several months dis-use. First world problems, as they say.

[@DemeDemetre]

i thought that only happened to me....

[@mr.pitjoey2910]

An easy fix is to just pour some water into the toilet/sink/shower.