Australia has three common pan types: S-trap, P-trap and Skew trap. The trap is the bend in the toilet pipe that expels the waste. The S-trap has a waste pipe that's connected to the floor, while a P-trap pipe connects to the wall.
P-trap toilets are more common in modern construction and renovations, as they are more effective in preventing odors and are easier to maintain. An S-trap toilet has a trap that is shaped like an "S". This type of trap commonly used in plumbing systems.
Therefore, what is the difference between these two traps? An S-trap is an S-shaped trap between the toilet outlet and the sewer system. It is connected to the drainpipe through the floor. On the other hand, a P-trap is shaped like the letter P and is connected to the drainage system through an opening in the wall.
Instead, it makes an "S"-shaped curve that descends, rises and then descends once more before joining the floor drain pipe. The bottom pipes used in S-traps are S-shaped, whereas P traps utilise P-shaped pipes so that when water is flushed through these pipes, little water is reserved.
The “S” trap is prohibited under the Uniform Plumbing Code throughout the United States. This is because the “S” trap will siphon or suck water out from the trap which will end up releasing methane (sewer) gases into the home.
More commonly installed in top floors and in wall-mounted toilets, P-traps are more commonly used in kitchen and laundry sinks. P-traps are generally considered by most to be more effective and consistent in maintaining water trap compared to S-traps.
To ensure the safety of everyone in your home, as well as bring it up to date with building codes, it would be a good idea to replace all S-traps with P-traps. The P-trap garners its name from its actual shape, which resembles the letter "P".
The water that sits in a trap is what prevents sewer gases from entering a building. The photo below shows a "P-trap", which is the type of trap you'll find below most sinks, showers, and bathtubs. Toilets have their own built-in traps, and so do floor drains.
One of the most important of these measurements is the distance between the waste outlet and the wall, called the rough-in. The standard S trap distance is 140mm but a distance of 180-240mm is occasionally found in older homes, which can easily be resolved with a back to wall toilet.
In winter or dry climates, P-traps can evaporate in less than one month, so be sure to pour water into the drains or toilets every few weeks. If the smell is particularly bothersome, you can also add one cup of vinegar or bleach, which will also remove any insects that can enter the P-trap after it runs dry.
S-traps are a type of plumbing trap that blocks sewer gases in sinks and other plumbing fixtures. The S-shaped pipe configuration traps wastewater before it drains to the sewer line, creating a water seal that prevents gases from flowing up through the drain.
The most common sizes for toilet trapways are between 1.75 and 2 inches, although some models can be as large as 3 inches in diameter. These are often advertised as “no-clog” toilets due to their superior flushing capacity.
A toilet trap, or trapway, is a curving channel inside the base of a toilet that leads from the hole at the bottom of the bowl to the drainpipe. When a toilet backs up and the clog did not occur in the drainpipe, the stoppage usually exists in the trap.
In this case, make sure that the center line of the toilet is at least 15 inches from the nearest wall or sink. Eighteen inches would be preferred. Installing a pedestal sink can help give the feeling of greater room in these small areas.
If you don't run any water down the drain for a long time, the water inside the P-trap will eventually evaporate. It usually takes a month or more before the trap will fully dry out. However, the problem is more common in dry climates or during the winter when you're running your furnace constantly.
Without a vent to allow pressure to escape from the plumbing system, harmful sewer gases can build up and make it difficult for water to move through the pipes efficiently.
S-traps are often located under plumbing fixtures that aren't properly vented, or in remodeled homes when the plumbing was a DIY project or a quick fix.
They are named as such due to the shape of the bend in the pipe. For example, the S bend trap has the shape of an S, while the U bend has a U shape, and the P bend is shaped like a P.
Dry air might just be the cause of that unpleasant rotten egg smell in your home. Especially during winter, a P-trap can dry up and allow sewer gas to enter the home.
When p-traps aren't properly installed, they can become damaged and leak toxic sewer smells into your home. Below are common p-trap problems you can run into: Dry p-traps occur when the trap or interceptor has lost its water seal, allowing sewer gases to build back up through the drain and into your home.
The most common is plastic, which is made of either PVC or ABS. They are easy to install and maintenance is easy to perform. The plastic P-Traps are the least expensive of the two but is not as attractive as the metal traps.