D R A I N , WA S T E A N D V E N T P L U M B I N G

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Flow of waste in a drain system

Solid and liquid waste flows in vertical pipes much differently than it does in horizontal systems. In near horizontal pipes we talked about maintaining the slope of
the pipe typically between 14 inch and 12 inch per foot to have enough velocity to
move the liquids and solids along the pipe, but not so much velocity that the liquids
would pass the solids by and let the solids get hung up. With a vertical pipe, the
water tends to attach to the walls of the pipe, creating a cylinder of water around
the perimeter. The center of the pipe often remains filled with air. Most vertical
pipes are designed to have no more than about a third of the pipe carrying waste.
Turbulence At
Bottom Of
Stack

At the bottom of the pipe, there is a point of considerable turbulence and high
pressure where the waste stops falling and starts to move horizontally. These
pressures can push sewer gases back up through traps ahead of it in the system.
The goal is to minimize the turbulence and pressure here with fittings that make
gentle turns, rather than sharp turns.

Changes In
Direction

When we change from a horizontal to vertical direction or vice versa, we want to

maintain the momentum of the flow and not allow material to get hung up at intersections. It goes beyond our scope to explore all of the fittings that are appropriate. As
a general principle, we want to make the change in direction gradual, and encourage
the material to flow in the intended direction.

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D R A I N , WA S T E A N D V E N T P L U M B I N G

Drain, Waste
& Vent Pipes

S1

There are different names for pipes on the waste side of plumbing systems, based
on their functions.
Soil pipes carry liquids and solids. The pipe from a toilet is a soil pipe.
Waste pipes carry only liquids according to some authorities and liquids and
solids according to others. The terms drain and waste are often used interchangeably.
Drain pipes are intended to carry liquids and solids (some say liquids only).
Vent pipes carry air only (no liquids or solids).
Note:

Most pipe materials are described as DWV (Drain, Waste and Vent),
which means they are suitable for all three functions.

2.2.3 TRAPS
Must Deal
With Vapors
Too

Lets make it even more complicated. If we attach a pipe to the bottom of all the
plumbing fixtures that allows the solid and liquid waste to run out of the house
without clogging, it sounds like we have accomplished our goal. However, there
are vapors (gases) that pose odor and health problems. We need to keep the sewer
gases from backing out of the sewer pipes into the house. You are all probably a
step ahead, and have already designed a trap.

Function

The main function of traps is not to catch rings that you have dropped down the
drain, although that can be an important side benefit.

Traps Seal
Odors Out Of
Home

The main purpose of a trap is to prevent sewer odors from coming back into the
house. The trap under the fixture creates a low spot that is kept filled with water.
This water gets pushed out of the trap and down the drain every time more water
flows through the fixture, and as water flows out of the fixture, the last bit of water
is left in the trap, forming a new seal to prevent odors from coming back up.

Definitions

We told you we dont like definitions, but wed better give you a few more.
trap a fitting that provides a water seal against sewer gases
trap weir (crown weir) the inside bottom of the highest part of the trap
(trap outlet)
trap dip (upper dip) the inside of the lowest part of the trap
trap seal vertical distance from trap dip to weir
tail piece the pipe from the fixture to the trap; also called fixture outlet pipe
trap arm the pipe from the trap to the vent; also called fixture drain

Copyright 2000 Carson Dunlop & Associates Limited. All rights reserved.

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D R A I N , WA S T E A N D V E N T P L U M B I N G

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Clogging
Traps

Its strange that a couple of minutes ago we were talking about having exactly the
right slope for waste piping, and now we put a low spot in it. Wont this collect
junk? Traps may accumulate sludge and can clog up. Over the years, there have
been several design considerations to minimize the problem.

Self-Scouring
Traps

Traps are engineered systems, and their shape is not an accident. Traps are
designed to be self-scouring, so the waste that flows through them keeps moving.
There are also rules as to how close the trap must be to the fixture and what size the
trap is. As a last resort, traps have either a cleanout or some easy way to remove the
trap for cleaning, such as slip joints.

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D R A I N , WA S T E A N D V E N T P L U M B I N G

S1

Water Shouldnt The velocity of water moving through a trap is important to its function. This is
Move Too Fast why they have decided that putting two traps in series (double trapping) is not a
Or Too Slowly good idea. The water velocity to the second trap is so low that clogs are likely. Its
also why there are limits to how far below the fixture the trap can be placed. We
dont want the water moving too fast when it reaches the trap. It may siphon out the
water and then wed have no seal. The pipe coming out of the trap has to be horizontal so we dont speed up the water and siphon the trap. Thats why we like
P-traps and S-traps are not allowed.
No Traps For
Toilets

Good home inspectors check under each fixture to make sure there is a trap. They
also notice that toilets never have traps. You would think that such a smelly plumbing
fixture definitely needs a trap. However, the toilet bowl itself is a trap. Water flows out
of the toilet by spilling over a high point, down into the drain. Water coming from the
toilet tank flushes the water in the bowl over the crown of the bowl (trap) and into the
drainage system. If the toilet is well designed, the water takes whatever solids are in
there with it. Toilets use siphons to help get rid of their solid and liquid waste. Toilets
are the only self-trapped fixtures in the house and are the only traps designed to
siphon as they flush.

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D R A I N , WA S T E A N D V E N T P L U M B I N G

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Slope, Traps,
Leaks And
Freezing

Things look pretty easy so far. We should be looking for waste pipes that are nearly
horizontal, or are vertical (45 degrees or more off the horizontal). We look for traps
under every fixture (including floor drains) except toilets. We check for leaks. In
cold climates, we check to see if traps are subject to freezing.

Check For
Look into floor drains. If you see water in the trap and do not smell anything, thats
Water In Floor good. If there is no water in the trap, or there is an odor, the water may have
Drain Traps
evaporated or leaked out of the trap. Water evaporates from floor drains because
they hardly ever get used. Traps may be cracked by building settlement or heaving,
tree roots or freezing for example.
Water
Evaporates Or
Leaks Out of
Drains

Pouring a bucket of water down the drain usually tells you if the trap is cracked,
unless its a small crack. If the water stays in the trap, it probably just evaporated. If
the water disappears, the trap is probably cracked or broken and will have to be
replaced (this can be several hundred dollars to replace). Some people recommend
using a little mineral oil on top of the trap water to keep it from evaporating so quickly.

Trap Primers

In new houses, they have a solution. They use a trap primer. This is usually a
8 -inch diameter plastic tube attached to a fixture that is used regularly. Every time
the fixture is used, a little water flows through this primer and into the floor drain.
This replaces any water in the trap that may have evaporated. Obviously, you cant
overfill a trap, because the water just flows out over the crown weir (bottom of the
trap outlet) of the trap and down the drain.
3

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Copyright 2000 Carson Dunlop & Associates Limited. All rights reserved.