That Weirdly Shaped Pipe Under Your Sink

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Ah, the P-trap, that pipe under your sink that looks like it’s trying to do yoga. Or maybe the installer ran out of straight pipe and just put in what he had. But don’t be fooled by its odd appearance; this little guy is a plumbing hero. Its main job is to keep your home from smelling like a sewage plant. It does this by holding a small amount of water in its curve, which acts as a barrier to block those nasty sewer gases from creeping up into your kitchen or bathroom. It gets its name from its shape - like the letter "P."

If you start noticing sewer smells in your house and you have a bathroom that never gets used, it's possible enough water in the p-trap has evaporated and is letting sewer gases back into the house. The solution is simple. Go to the tub or sinks that are seldom used and run water for just a few seconds. That's all you need to do!

Think of the P-trap as the bouncer at a club, keeping out the riff-raff while letting the clean water flow through. Without it, you'd be living in a house that smells like a porta-potty on a hot summer day. So next time you’re under the sink, give that P-trap a nod of appreciation. It’s keeping your home smelling fresh, even if it does look like it’s trying to perfect its downward dog pose.