Understanding Bottle Traps | Ask This Old House
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- Опубликовано: 16 окт 2022
- In this video, This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows host Kevin O’Connor how to handle sink drains in tight places.
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Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows host Kevin O’Connor the options for plumbing a drain to a low-profile sink. These sinks stand out half the distance of standard models, so Richard explains how a bottle trap may be the only choice for the job. The problem? They’re illegal, and he explains why.
Some Bathrooms are Tight
Half-baths are extremely convenient. They can fit in tight places and give the home an extra powder room for guests. However, they’re often very small and require compact, low-profile lavatory sinks, and plumbing the drain becomes an issue. P-traps are typically too long, and tweaking them around never looks right. But, who needs a trap, right?
We all do.
Traps Are Required by Code
All sink drains need to have traps. The traps catch water, and that water holds back dangerous and smelly sewer gasses. As water runs down the drain, it collects in the bottom of the trap, successfully blocking any gasses from passing through.
But what if a trap won’t fit? A bottle trap almost always will.
Bottle Traps Are Great for Tight Spaces
Bottle traps, also called decorative lav traps, are small, compact, and clean-looking drains that fit in tight places. They look similar to a chrome baby’s bottle, and on the inside, there is a pipe that allows drain water to flow by without draining completely. It’s this half-filled pipe that blocks the gasses from passing through.
There’s one problem: They’re illegal.
Bottle Traps Aren’t Code-Compliant
Bottle traps aren’t code-compliant with modern building codes. Modern code doesn’t allow for a pipe within the trap (also known as an internal partition), as if it cracks or fails, the homeowner won’t be able to see it, and sewer gas may pass by.
Also, drain traps need to be passable with a mechanical device like a snake. Bottle traps don’t allow a mechanical device to pass through, so they don’t meet that aspect of the code, either.
Finally, traps need to be self-scouring, meaning that they clean themselves as water passes through. Again, bottle traps don’t meet this particular requirement either.
But Bottle Traps May Be the Only Answer
While bottle traps aren’t legal, they may be the only answer. When this is the case, the homeowner or contractor can reach out to the building department and request a variance. They must remember that they might need to inspect their bottle trap far more often than a traditional P-trap.
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Understanding Bottle Traps | Ask This Old House
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Bottle traps are quite standard over here in the UK. They work well and if there is a problem you easily undo the ‘bottle’ clear the blockage and continue for another decade until it needs servicing.
Yes, I don’t see a problem with them, with most of them consisting entirely of PVC, they basically last forever. Plus they’re easy to clean out and great for capturing that ring that fell off you finger. The US needs to get a grip. How about your US bath trap that you can’t clean out? Good luck with that, and they say it’s code compliant?!
We have them in Germany too.
I don´t see a problem with them. They can be disassembled to clear a blockage. And I have NEVER seen one fail because they rot through. But then again we are talking about US quality here....
We have em in the US. It's just not popular because it didn't come in our cheap homes built by criminal developers from the end of WW2 to now.
I can understand why it would not be code compliant when plumbing fixtures were made with metal that can and do corrode over time. In Asia thick gauge PVC bottle traps are pretty common and they are absolutely rock solid and will last over 30 years. I’ve never had any problems with them.
The other issue richard was talking about is it not completely cleaning all the water out of itself. There will be some of the nasty water left in there.
@@demonknight7965 The water does get refreshed, but not as efficient as using a S trap. Similar to ventilating a room, the airflow from window to window is also not a tube, yet the turbulence in the air causes the entire room to have fresh air after a bit. The bottle trap does the same.... if you let the water run for a few minutes (regular usage) then all the water in the bottle trap has been flushed through. During normal usage the dirtiness of the water in the bottle trap doesn't matter anyway. And if you need to clean it, put some gloves on and a bucket underneath it.
Very interesting! Thanks for the great explanations!
Great video
Great item and tip! Another great video guys! 👍
Very Useful...thx
interesting. Never knew these existed. But it sorta resembles a drum trap, most folks probably never seen or heard of these either unless they are in a house that more than 70 years old. I've seen two drum traps in my lifetime, so far. In a duplex built in 1946, and in a craftsman bungalow built in 1927, both instances used with a clawfoot bathtub. in the duplex the tub and sink were near each other. the toilet at the far end, so perhaps the sink also drained into the drum trap? The clean out plug was in front of the sink and beside the tub.
I was waiting for the solution to the problem. Did I miss it? 😢
That's why I like being a homeowner in a small city for 2 reasons. 1) we don't have any kind of inspectors. 2) we don't have to go by code cause we funny have a code enforcement manager. So, I would definitely use a bottle trap. Besides, my water goes out the back of my house and empties into the creek. So, no sewer gas
Never knew these existed. But wouldn't want to use it. That bottle trap looks like it can clog way to easily.
We use them a lot in Europe. They do clog up easily (especially with hairs). But it's really easy to clean. The bottom part can be unscrewed and can be cleaned and put back in 5 minutes.
Yes they often do clog. But they're also easy to clean as well by unscrewing the cup at the bottom. Most rubbish sit there
In a toilet sink almost no one ever puts mess down the drain that can clog it. Who’s going to put their hair in a sink, or other solid things? It’s just water and soap. I’ve never had to clean out a bottle trap in my life while almost every house has them here in Europe.
@@Engineer9736 Where do you shave? In the shower?
Yes they clug easy
They look pretty but thats it.
If you don't have basic knowledge on using hand tools then don't use this bottle trap.
Just like the wall mount toilets they look pretty but have weak flushing.
What was the cost of the equipment and installation for this system?
How about a Sink Genie?
Thank you for always sharing.
Build it backwards. Start from a street elbow going tight left (or right) at the wall, put a P trap over there, then over and up to the sink drain? That way you can conceal the P-trap behind a nice looking cover box. I don't see why it matters where the P trap is as long as it drains sink water properly and still seals gasses.
to everyone saying that their bottle traps work fine and require a little maintenance. That is fine I'm sure they do but you severely underestimate the average person's laziness and/or lack of handiness to perform the minimal maintenance.
Interesting because I've seen them occasionally and I'm surprised they haven't been "trapped".
Are bottle traps illegal in the UK?
A standard trap used in europe :D But the P shaped is better as it doesn't clogh - is basically self cleaning.
What was the solution ? Thanks for the video.
1:06 He showed you. He said the issue with that is it has to be cut to length, and is annoying. But it's the solution.
Whats the proper solution?
In europe we always use bottle traps, metal or plastic, if u need to clean take a minute to open it, and w are get dead or poisoned by gas all the time LOL
Video leaves me confused... so what's the real answer for this solution? Seems like nothing they presented is both legal and works well.
reminds me of a drum trap
👍
What does This Old House think of Sink Twice for toilet tanks? Seems like it would accommodate the need without issue.
I used those in Japan and thought it would be perfect for my tiny downstairs bathroom, but I think most people wouldn’t have a clue how to use them.
@@johndoe6032 You mean use wash your hands in the toilet?
I’ve found they’re kind of a novelty and not very practical.
@@Mr.Pop0 they are faucets that run off the water used to fill the toilet tank. Directly after flushing that water comes out of a faucet and goes into the tank which you can intercept and wash your hands
Would seem fine for most powder room applications where you don't have a lot of hair or other things going down the drain but not good for a main bathroom
Those bottle traps remind me of something about the old drum traps. Difficult to snake/unclog and not self scouring.
You simply unscrew the bottom section and remove the clog, screw it back on. Why would you ever need to snake it? It's not an S trap. The USA needs to get with the rest of the world. It's a bit like the combi boilers we're all using, you call them instantaneous water heaters, you're only 30 years too late. Our combination boilers heat central heating water and provide instant hot water.
Except you can easily open the bottom and empty them or just unscrew the whole thing by hand and deep clean it
in Malaysia, this is common, and it's made out of plastic, like RM 10 for everything
Should of included the solution
Just watch the video and listen closely to what they tell. Everything your need to know is in there.
Also, it’s “should have”, not “should of”.
The solution is to use a normal trap or request a variance. This video is just to explain what a bottle trap is.
@@BiggMo Your existence is pedantic.
4:22 "apply for a variance"
What if you have the sink, and can't get a variance?
Don't ask, it is your house, useless bureaucrats can go to hell, as far as I'm concerned.
Well now that was different. A no-real-solution TOH
He told you. 1:06 You cut to the metal trap to length. If you insist on using a bottle trap, contact your plumbing authority. All of this was in there.
Bullet proof...that's what I am talking about. Just had a plumber over today. He thought the job was finished. But no, the rainy plumbing is now a slow drip. Is that acceptable in todays world?
Kk😊
KEY WORDS " if you get a legal variance "
In other words if you pay off the government it's OK.
How about having the trap behind the wall?
I’ve been wondering this, too. Or have it in the basement, or anywhere further down the line that’s not visible. What’s the point of having it so close to the sink where it’s unsightly?
But he never said what to do that isn’t illegal.
well, wth was the resolution?
1080p
@@jamesm5148 🤣
Angle the p-trap or get special permission for the bottle trap.
Geez! So what do you use????????
You angle the p-trap like he said very briefly.
You build a new house
@@johndoe6032 Or, if you really/really need a space-saving solution like a bottle trap, you apply for a variance.
If you own a house you can do whatever you want you don't need anyone's permission.
Also I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe. Link in my about tab.
@@flat-earther Ok, but if you do something that's not up to code, you open yourself up to all kinds of liability. If you bad plumbing floods your house, or bad wiring burns it down, your insurance company won't pay a dime. If you bad workmanship actually results in someone getting injured, you can be on the hook for more than just medical bills, and again, your insurance company won't pay a dime.
The great khali approved this video.
Bottle trap just a mini drum trap
Full city water pressure not mentioned here.
Maybe because drain pipes are not under full city water pressure.
Also I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe. Link in my about tab.
Full sewer gas pressure
@@flat-earther It was a joke 🤦♂️ And get lost with your spam
In the TOH universe, many inanimate objects "want" things.
How's one going to use a sink taller than they are ?
sink is way to high up for me
I've got 6 bottle traps in my house. They're around 15 years old and still work as good as they did on day 1. You do need to perform some minor maintenance on them but it only takes about 5 minutes and only really needs to be done 2 or 3 times a year. Not sure why They're banned in the U.S
I guess the point is that you can’t know the condition inside because you can’t see it. It could be fine for 20 years or corrosion could start leaking gas tomorrow. You don’t know for sure.
@@johndoe6032 and if it leaks then go ahead and replace it. No different to replacing a flexi hose on a tap or replacing a light bulb in a light fixture...
Because most people would not do that maintenance and would end up afixiated
He said its because they can allow sewer gas through and are not self scouring
@@2loco the inner partition sits in the trap water and can corrode over time, allowing sewer gas to pass thru the trap without any visible signs of coordination or leaks outside. In the rest of the world, PVC bottle trap are very common and solved this problem completely.
I work in a hotel that has bottle traps on all the sinks in the rooms. These things are the worst.
Wierd that Bottle traps are illegal in the USA, These are used all over in Europe and most likely the rest of the world and we never had a problem with the pipe rotting and sewer gas
Only guns are legal here. Everything is banned 😄
He literally explains 2/3 other reasons why they’re illegal. The non self scouring and inability to be cleaned manually are probably bigger reasons than the worry of a brass pipe rotting away.
@@ychongy Yer darn tootin right! Who needs flexible plumbing solutions when you have SUPERIOR firepower?!
Excuse me? Literally every hotel I've been to in Europe (particularly Italy) reeks of sewer gas
@@mr.g937 You do realise that is because of the water traps beind dried out from not being used
It's a ridiculous regulation. Bottle traps work and you can disconnect them really quick to clear blockages. Any corrosion that leads to sewer gas escaping will be immediately noticeable by the smell. I still haven't heard a single satisfying reason why you can't use them! Just a bunch of slippery slope arguments that make nearly zero sense.
👍👍👍👍👍👍😻😻😻😻😻💋💋💯💯👋👋👋
So they build plumbing to last 100 years, but the house will do well to go past 40 years before it turns to Weetabix.
definitely not a sink for shaving. clean water draining only!
bottle traps definitely should be illegal. Didn't even mention how easy they will clog up.
So, offset the damm pipe in the wall, use a P trap, and keep the authorities happy.
I wouldn't have a bottle trap if I was handsomely paid to.
But did you notice you didn't answer your own question. Which of the traps would be best? The one before the illegal 1 you told him oh that would be ugly so we're not gonna do that. Obviously not the last 1. So answer the question which 1 would you use?
Well "I" would just put the trap inside the wall. But that's just me.
@@mamatmag agreed. Thanks
Bottle traps are NOT illegal in Germany ,they are the norm....!
This is an American show
Good lord 🤦♂️ we use these in the UK
They are easy to clean. You just unscrew them.
All the world’s hotels use them too.
Wake up America. 😂
I made a video about this
I like the variety of content on your channel
Wow you have many youtube accounts.
“Illegal” means a different thing in Richard’s mind. You can buy bottle traps and use them all you want. No prison, no fines, no nothing. You will not pass code though. Professional plumbers can’t install these and you will have to change it out if you sell the house. If you put in a new addition the inspector will reject it. Once you fix it and put in a traditional trap and get the approval, you can change it back once the inspector leaves.
Ok, change it back after inspection, then get the buyer to back out of the deal. no-no no-no.
That sink is too high
Ohmergerd, what would we do without government telling us we can’t install the best solution in our own property?
So, invent something new already!
Kevin talks way too much. Can we actually learn without you cutting off the experts lol?
Another awful half-baked video which didn't actually conclude what the best solution was
I also thought they would offer a best solution but nothing came.
BTW I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe. Link in my about tab.
Europeans under estimate the laziness of average American and their the lack of even the most basic mechanical skill. Not all the them, but many more than you might quess, they might have a hammer and screwdriver and not much else.
What's the point of the video? If the typical install can't legally use it, then what else? That sink exists. So what's the cosmetic solution that the video seems to imply? You could have just showed cut away samples of each trap and called it a day.
cause they obviously think the prohibition is bullshit
You angle the p-trap like he very briefly said, or get permission for the bottle trap like he also said.
@@johndoe6032 or you just do the plumbing without getting a permit. adding a lav is not rocket science and you're very unlikely to get ratted out.
I'd just put the trap inside the wall, with an access of course, and be done with it.
@@ssl3546 the danger isn’t getting caught with out of code work. The danger is if that out of code work contributes to some kind of personal or property loss. If your plumbing work fails and floods the house, or you out of code electrical work burns it down, you’re insurance company will thank you because they won’t have to pay a dime. And if someone actually gets injured as a result like getting burned in a fire or just electrocuted by touching an electrical device not properly grounded, you can be sued for negligence.
So it’s best to understand that by and large those building codes exist for a reason, and you can think of following them as buying yourself a little insurance from a future accident.
wasted video. not legal, why even show it? what a total piece of garbage . TOH is really stretching for product these days. what a shame...
John I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe. Link in my about tab.