hey guys, here in Philadelphia PA. We stopped having the trap in the house years ago, now they are outside more than 10' away if possible but 90% of the time they are at the curb. Plumbers renamed them curb traps for that reason. Like you it's installed hub side facing the house, connected to the cast iron 4"house drain by pack and pouring lead n oakem n the no hub end to the city lateral. The biggest difference I see is the vent on top. We run 4" pipe from the top hub to the sidewalk with a vent cover n that's what we call the "fresh air inlet". thanks guys.. Royal Flush Plumbing
How does one effectively clean the house trap? I had my sewer line proactively descaled and jetted (not by your company; unfortunately, I dont live in NYC). The company cleaned out the sewer from a cleanout located in the back of the house to the house side cleanout of the trap and then from the street side cleanout of the trap to the street. Of course, the water flowed through the bottom of the trap, but I am concerned that the bottom of the trap (the water barrier section) may still contain buildup and be at least partially clogged because it wasn’t specifically targeted by the jetter. In addition, Im concerned that some of the debris they descaled actually settled in the u bend. Is there a way to jet/descale the whole trap? Thank you so much and great video!
@@balkanplumbing Thanks so much for the super-quick response. My house is 100 years old - Is there much of a chance that the distance from the top of the cleanout to the bottom of the U bend would be much greater than a typical house trap? Also, would this be something that can be cleaned effectively with a snake? (I don't really relish sticking my hand inside, gloved or not!)
If you call a pro they’ll likely do it the same way as I stated. Up to you. Snakes are not generally used to clean traps, that can cause damage to the belly of the trap. IMO.
Can I plug it? Just replaced all the plumbing in my mom's house. Now when the bath tub runs, the trap right next to the tub over flows. Should there be a plug?
I have a 2 family in the bronx 10462 area. I have the city sewer backup problem in my basement when heavy rain. Do you guys still work in the bronx area?
I thought I responded to this! We do in fact work in the Bronx. A quote on a sewer trap would require a site visit, which is free and with no obligation to hire us.
Every month or so I need to open up the house side plug to clean out the grease or soap scum, otherwise it will completely clog up inside and sewer will backup into the house, is there anyway I can avoid doing this clean up regularly? Did this cause by improper sewer trap installation? my house is only about 15 years old in NYC. Appreciate if you could give me some ideas.
That is absolutely not normal or how a house trap / house sewer is designed to function. There's a possibility that there's a pitch problem on the pipe or the trap. It can be checked with a level, or by a visual inspection from a professional. Since you live in NYC, we do provide free and no obligation site visits. Just call us at 718-849-0900, or email TeamBalkan@balkanplumbing.com. There truly will not be a charge for the visit, or any obligation to hire us. Thanks for reaching out!
My home has a triple vent. Today I had water backed up into my basement sink. Seems that the water is from the bath tub. Not sure if it's also from the kitchen sink, or bathroom sink. In the house trap that I have the one that face the street is the toilet. Now the 3rd one toward the house as a slight leak and water is coming out. I'm scared to open it. What should I do? Thanks for your help!
Can I eliminate the sewage house trap and installed straight pipe. My trap keep backing up once a month, I put hose of water and flow goes normal for a month then back up again. No sure what to do?
I have a house in Queens where the trap clogs 2-3 times a year, causing sewage to well up in the basement. My tenants insist they are not flushing anything besides single ply paper. Could there be any other reason for the clogging? And would it help to snake the trap regularly to prevent blockages?
That would really require a site visit - which we do provide free of charge and without any obligation. Just call us at 718-849-0900 and we'll send someone over. The trap should not clog like that. It may be back pitched, cracked, or filled with grease. Only a site visit would be able to know for sure.
Thank you for the great video. I have question. I would like to remove my clean out plugs to inspect the in house catch. I think there may be slight blockage caused buy heavy wipe usage . I have the lead hammer on type. I tried to turn them out , with slight force , but they would not move. I'm afraid to apply too much pressure because they are old pipes. Is there a better way to get them out?
Honestly, with older lead lined plugs, you may just have to break them out. They are cheap, and easy to replace. BTW Because they are lead lined, they do NOT screw out. You can try to nudge them out by prying a flat screw driver along the lead, then pry the plug out. The lead is malleable, so try to "work the lead". Make sense?
Joe, great video. I keep having a raw sewage back up into one of my investment properties. I had a plumber and a rooter company come in to clean out the trap last week. 5 days later it backed up again. The rooter said I have a "buried trap" last time he cleaned it. 1. Any idea on why this might keep happening? 2. Any advice on dealing with a buried trap? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
You absolutely must find and expose the house trap. Until you do that you cannot address the problem, or even be sure what the problem is. Here is a link to a post that might help you: www.balkanplumbing.com/find-house-sewer-line-sewer-clean-out/
+Balkan Sewer & Water Main Service anytime sir. several traps are no longer allowed in Texas ive been a plumber for 21 years like s trap, drum trap, double trap, and that trap u showed would not be allowed here at all mainly due to clogging problems
This system is banned in all of the country except nyc. It's still in place so plumbers still have a job, because they can be called to clean these out when they get clogged. And yes they will get clogged, hence why they are banned In the rest of the country. Sewer gas is stopped by a p trap in 2022, not this relic.
Unfortunately i brought a house wit a buried trap, in less than a year had 3 sewer backups RAW SEWAGE!!! SHIT FLYS!!! AND MICE!!! I FEEL LIKE I BROUGHT THE HOUSE FROM HELL AND I'M VERY SAD ABOUT IT!!! SERVICE PROS ARE COMING TOMR TO DIG OUT THE TRAP SMDH
If you happen to live in NYC or Nassau County we can provide a free and no obligation site visit (truly) to see if you need the sewer trap repaired, replaced, or your drains cleaned. Thanks for your comment, and thanks for subscribing to our channel!
the city is not going to let you do that, its to prevent damage into their system, they literally make you pay for it, the pipe that is the cities costs 7k-25k no joke
Very helpful explanation, thank you.
hey guys, here in Philadelphia PA. We stopped having the trap in the house years ago, now they are outside more than 10' away if possible but 90% of the time they are at the curb. Plumbers renamed them curb traps for that reason. Like you it's installed hub side facing the house, connected to the cast iron 4"house drain by pack and pouring lead n oakem n the no hub end to the city lateral. The biggest difference I see is the vent on top. We run 4" pipe from the top hub to the sidewalk with a vent cover n that's what we call the "fresh air inlet". thanks guys..
Royal Flush Plumbing
Would there be an advantage to changing to the setup shown with two caps?
Perfect place for them.
Yup...we have "curb traps"!!👌👌👊👊
this was very useful, thanks
Thank you!
Very good video
Thanks for the visit and kind words.
Terrific explanation! Thank you
You're very welcome. If you have any questions just let me know. Have a great weekend.
loved ur video. our cap was off in the basement
Thanks for your kind words. Glad to help!
Really good information thank you
Thank you! Give our channel a "look see'. We have a bunch of videos like this one.
You guys are great
Thank you Anthony.
Very informative. Thanks.
How does one effectively clean the house trap? I had my sewer line proactively descaled and jetted (not by your company; unfortunately, I dont live in NYC). The company cleaned out the sewer from a cleanout located in the back of the house to the house side cleanout of the trap and then from the street side cleanout of the trap to the street. Of course, the water flowed through the bottom of the trap, but I am concerned that the bottom of the trap (the water barrier section) may still contain buildup and be at least partially clogged because it wasn’t specifically targeted by the jetter. In addition, Im concerned that some of the debris they descaled actually settled in the u bend. Is there a way to jet/descale the whole trap? Thank you so much and great video!
Glad you enjoyed the video. Nice to know.
Just put on a rubber glove, open the trap, and it can be easily cleaned by hand.
@@balkanplumbing Thanks so much for the super-quick response. My house is 100 years old - Is there much of a chance that the distance from the top of the cleanout to the bottom of the U bend would be much greater than a typical house trap? Also, would this be something that can be cleaned effectively with a snake? (I don't really relish sticking my hand inside, gloved or not!)
If you call a pro they’ll likely do it the same way as I stated. Up to you. Snakes are not generally used to clean traps, that can cause damage to the belly of the trap. IMO.
Thanks so much for your advice.
My pleasure.
Can I plug it? Just replaced all the plumbing in my mom's house. Now when the bath tub runs, the trap right next to the tub over flows. Should there be a plug?
Thanks!
I have a 2 family in the bronx 10462 area. I have the city sewer backup problem in my basement when heavy rain. Do you guys still work in the bronx area?
I thought I responded to this! We do in fact work in the Bronx. A quote on a sewer trap would require a site visit, which is free and with no obligation to hire us.
A sewer flood gate valve properly installed and to code typically costs between $8,000 to $10,000. But you’d need a free site visit.
Every month or so I need to open up the house side plug to clean out the grease or soap scum, otherwise it will completely clog up inside and sewer will backup into the house, is there anyway I can avoid doing this clean up regularly? Did this cause by improper sewer trap installation? my house is only about 15 years old in NYC. Appreciate if you could give me some ideas.
That is absolutely not normal or how a house trap / house sewer is designed to function. There's a possibility that there's a pitch problem on the pipe or the trap. It can be checked with a level, or by a visual inspection from a professional. Since you live in NYC, we do provide free and no obligation site visits. Just call us at 718-849-0900, or email TeamBalkan@balkanplumbing.com. There truly will not be a charge for the visit, or any obligation to hire us. Thanks for reaching out!
@@balkanplumbing will call when we're ready, thanks for the quick reply!
Where can I find the same exact double vented trap as shown in the video? Hard to find.
Any professional plumbing supply house can get you an extra heavy cast iron double vent trap. It may not be a strock item, but can be had for sure.
My home has a triple vent.
Today I had water backed up into my basement sink. Seems that the water is from the bath tub. Not sure if it's also from the kitchen sink, or bathroom sink. In the house trap that I have the one that face the street is the toilet. Now the 3rd one toward the house as a slight leak and water is coming out. I'm scared to open it. What should I do?
Thanks for your help!
Simple answer: don't touch it, call a pro. You'll create more damage then any $$ you'll ever save.
Can I eliminate the sewage trap and put a straight line 🤔 and put a trap somewhere else
That is a local plumbing code question.
Can I eliminate the sewage house trap and installed straight pipe. My trap keep backing up once a month, I put hose of water and flow goes normal for a month then back up again. No sure what to do?
I have a house in Queens where the trap clogs 2-3 times a year, causing sewage to well up in the basement. My tenants insist they are not flushing anything besides single ply paper. Could there be any other reason for the clogging? And would it help to snake the trap regularly to prevent blockages?
That would really require a site visit - which we do provide free of charge and without any obligation. Just call us at 718-849-0900 and we'll send someone over. The trap should not clog like that. It may be back pitched, cracked, or filled with grease. Only a site visit would be able to know for sure.
Have the same issue my father in law said I should get it removed and straight pipe it.
probably tree roots in your trap, use a foaming agent twice a year
@@raaspiderany example of foaming agents plz?
@@barryN69 Roebic foaming root killer, 1 lbs. Use it in the spring and late fall
Thank you for the great video. I have question. I would like to remove my clean out plugs to inspect the in house catch. I think there may be slight blockage caused buy heavy wipe usage . I have the lead hammer on type. I tried to turn them out , with slight force , but they would not move. I'm afraid to apply too much pressure because they are old pipes. Is there a better way to get them out?
Honestly, with older lead lined plugs, you may just have to break them out. They are cheap, and easy to replace. BTW Because they are lead lined, they do NOT screw out.
You can try to nudge them out by prying a flat screw driver along the lead, then pry the plug out. The lead is malleable, so try to "work the lead". Make sense?
Joe, great video. I keep having a raw sewage back up into one of my investment properties. I had a plumber and a rooter company come in to clean out the trap last week. 5 days later it backed up again. The rooter said I have a "buried trap" last time he cleaned it.
1. Any idea on why this might keep happening?
2. Any advice on dealing with a buried trap?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
You absolutely must find and expose the house trap. Until you do that you cannot address the problem, or even be sure what the problem is. Here is a link to a post that might help you: www.balkanplumbing.com/find-house-sewer-line-sewer-clean-out/
Here in Texas we install those traps but with 45s and its called a runnning trap.
PVC?
+Balkan Sewer & Water Main Service yes sir pvc or sdr35 sewer pipe
I thought so. They can't seem to make 1 piece pvc traps yet. So yes, fittings joined together. Thanks for watching and inter-acting.
+Balkan Sewer & Water Main Service anytime sir. several traps are no longer allowed in Texas ive been a plumber for 21 years like s trap, drum trap, double trap, and that trap u showed would not be allowed here at all mainly due to clogging problems
sir can you give me a good explanation on how a sewer trap works? i just need it for my paper
Thank you now i know what that is.
This system is banned in all of the country except nyc. It's still in place so plumbers still have a job, because they can be called to clean these out when they get clogged. And yes they will get clogged, hence why they are banned In the rest of the country. Sewer gas is stopped by a p trap in 2022, not this relic.
Is this true?
@@edp2506ya as of recently-ish, but most houses were built 30+ years ago and a ton still have them, especially in older lower income areas
Unfortunately i brought a house wit a buried trap, in less than a year had 3 sewer backups RAW SEWAGE!!! SHIT FLYS!!! AND MICE!!! I FEEL LIKE I BROUGHT THE HOUSE FROM HELL AND I'M VERY SAD ABOUT IT!!! SERVICE PROS ARE COMING TOMR TO DIG OUT THE TRAP SMDH
If you happen to live in NYC or Nassau County we can provide a free and no obligation site visit (truly) to see if you need the sewer trap repaired, replaced, or your drains cleaned. Thanks for your comment, and thanks for subscribing to our channel!
@@balkanplumbing I'm in nj had service professionals remove it.
Please send along a photo or I can’t really help you. Not enough information.
Damn things should be removed from homes, all they do is cause damage.
How do they cause damage?
@@aayotechnology By flooding basements. Every house I've been in has had the damn things flood.
the city is not going to let you do that, its to prevent damage into their system, they literally make you pay for it, the pipe that is the cities costs 7k-25k no joke
taking off street side first is not true most of the time, cant believe he said this
When you have a trap stoppage in the belly of the trap please do take off the house side first. Think about that for a second.
This is usually wear those baby alligators flushed down the toilet get stuck.
Here in Texas we install those traps but with 45s and its called a runnning trap.