What do fashion, plumbing, and art have in common? Both are subject to trends. You may have seen an olive-green toilet in 1940s fashion. The house trap is another plumbing trend that's more troublesome than nostalgia.

What is a House Trap?

House traps were a popular plumbing device for homes built after 1989. It's a U-shaped pipe, which is connected to the underground sewer line. The pipes have a downward bend that collects water. This prevents sewage gases and other pollutants from entering the home via the sewer line.

Problems created by house traps

The house trap is a good idea on paper. Unfortunately, they can cause major plumbing problems. House traps made of old metal have rusted over time. Therefore, instead of trapping sewage gases in the bend, it could be that the trap is not blocking them.

There are many issues that can occur if your contents go down the drain of your home and get stuck in the sewage lines.

• Harmful sewage fumes entering homes
• Slow or clogged drains, including toilets, throughout the home
• Your home's sewage backflow (typically to the basement)
• Higher chance of a sewer line break

The better update approach

If your home is older and you have not had any work done to the sewer line, it's possible that you have a house trap. No need to update it if your sewer line is running smoothly. It is a good idea, however, to have your sewer line checked if you spot any of the signs mentioned above.

If you find that your house trap has become faulty or outdated, it should be repaired using a new and improved method called a sewer clean-out. A sewer clean-out is a horizontal pipe that runs from your sewer line to the top of the ground. This allows sewage gasses to flow up and not into your home. Also, sewer clean-outs make it easier to inspect and clear out any blockages in your sewer line. Our modern materials won't corrode and break down like older pipes.