Can an ell be a trap if it's lower than the other end?
#1
12-14-20, 09:43 AM
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Can an ell be a trap if it's lower than the other end?
The trap on the left is a drain under my water heater in a closet in the garage. The 1 1/2" pipe in the middle is the vent stack. The Ell on the right goes to the washing machine
My question is: Can that ell serve as a trap if it's lower than the end that connects to the vent? It's hard to tell in the picture because the ell is closer to the camera than the vent. Is this OK or should I install a 2" trap in place of the ell? This house was built in 2013, and apparently passed all of the inspections at the time. No modifications have been made. I was thinking of putting a spirit-level on the pipe between the ell and the vent to determine if it really constitutes a trap or not. We have not detected any sewer smell in the laundry room. But when the realtor showed us the house 3 years ago, the seller had Airwicks everywhere.
#2
12-14-20, 09:47 AM
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Your washing machine had better have its own trap just above the bottom plate of the wall that its in. And no, a pipe that is pitched in the wrong direction is not a trap. You should correct the pitch of that pipe if needed. (1/4" per ft.)
CasualJoe
voted this post useful.
#3
12-14-20, 10:56 AM
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It is common for washing machine drain pipes to slip down out of position. You may have to shove it up and re-strap it in position to maintain fall in the drain line.
#4
12-21-20, 05:00 AM
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OK, I now have found out that it does have a trap up above the plate in the wall. It apparently drains into that vent stack. I looked down the washer drain with a camera and could see the water in the trap. I probed it with a fishtape and found that it's about 24" below where the drain hose from the washer goes. Now I wonder where this other 2" line on the right goes?????? The kitchen drains are behind me as I snapped this picture. There are 2 baths located in other parts of the house. The only thing near that unknown PVC line is a gas wall fireplace that would not need a drain.
#5
12-21-20, 07:08 AM
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The line that exits the photo to the right would take the washer and water heater toward the main stack.
