Are you having trouble finding enough space for a P trap under your kitchen sink or bathroom vanity?
You’re not alone.
With fewer and less spacious cabinets, homeowners find it increasingly difficult to fit all the necessary plumbing items, such as kitchen drains and traps.
Fortunately, there are several easy ways to add more room around your sinks without costly remodeling work.
In this guide, we’ll provide tips on how to make room for a P trap or a similar solution without reinventing the wheel—or instead—removing your existing cabinet while also explaining the role of a P trap in your household.
Why do you need a P Trap?
A P trap is a U-shaped pipe fixture installed beneath a sink or toilet to prevent sewer gases from escaping into your home.
P traps are an absolute must if you want to keep your bathroom and kitchen smelling pleasant.
If a pipe is not properly fitted with a P trap, foul odors can be carried up through the plumbing system and out of your house.
Anyone who has been in a bathroom that has no P trap can attest to how bad sewer gases smell.
In addition to preventing unpleasant odors, P traps also help to prevent the inflow of vermin and small animals into your home via the pipes.
The U-shaped bend in the pipe creates a physical barrier that prevents animals from climbing up into the pipes and making their way inside your home.
If you have pets, it is essential to ensure that all of your plumbing fixtures are properly fitted with P traps, as any small animals that can enter through a broken pipe could pose a danger to your pets.
Because they play such an important role in maintaining the integrity of your plumbing system and preventing bad odors from entering your home, it is essential to ensure that all of your P traps are in good condition.
If a P trap is cracked or broken, you will need to replace it as soon as possible before any foul smells start wafting into your house.
The P trap is installed directly beneath your sink or toilet and is usually made from PVC piping.
It is a simple but necessary addition to any plumbing fixture to keep the home smelling fresh and clean.
Whether installing new plumbing fixtures or replacing old ones, ensure that you always include a P trap so that you can rest assured that no foul odors will ever enter your home.
However, if you don’t have enough room for a P trap and need a solution, here are our suggestions for dealing with this issue.
What to do if there’s no room for P Trap
It is clear that a P trap plays a vital role in the hygiene of your home.
However, not having enough room to install it can be quite problematic, so here’s what you can do to solve this issue.
1. Install a bottle trap
A bottle trap is a plumbing fitting between the sink and the trap.
It allows air to flow in and out of the drain, helping keep waste from building up in your pipes over time which might otherwise occur when using a P trap.
If you don’t have room for a P trap, you can install a bottle trap, which is a good alternative for tight spaces.
To install a bottle trap, you’ll need to connect it to the drainpipe and then screw it into place on your sink.
Once you’ve installed the trap, you can run water through the pipes and verify that everything is working properly before moving on to other parts of your plumbing system.
If you’re concerned about whether the bottle trap will work properly or if it will meet your needs, you can consult a professional plumber who can help you with installation and offer advice on what might work best for your situation.
A bottle trap is a suitable replacement for a P trap in most situations and it can help keep waste from building up in your pipes over time.
If you’re looking for an alternative, consider installing a bottle trap to get the job done!
2. HepvO trap
A HepvO trap is one of the types of traps that you can use to prevent sewer smells.
It is different from a P trap because of how it works and how it is installed.
A P trap uses water to form a seal in order to keep odors out, whereas the HepvO trap relies on gravity and the natural downward flow of waste to create a seal.
A P trap is installed by connecting it to the drain line and installing the trap arm into a 3-inch or 4-inch diameter waste pipe, whereas a HepvO trap is installed by connecting it directly to the drain line.
HepvO traps are also smaller than most P traps, making them ideal for use in powder rooms, small sinks and other areas that may not need a larger P trap.
Most experts recommend using a HepvO trap for those small areas where waste flow is very light, whereas you should use a P trap for heavier waste flow, such as in a kitchen sink.
Installing a HepvO trap is very similar to installing a standard trap, although you need to ensure that you have enough downward slope to work properly.
It works best when installed below the drain line and directly above the waste pipe to which it connects.
Moreover, installing a HepvO trap can be easier than installing a P trap, as it requires less space and the installation process is simpler.
However, compared to conventional traps, HepvO traps may not last as long or provide the same level of odor control as P traps.
So if you are looking for maximum protection against sewer smells, a P trap may be the way to go.
However, if you are looking for a simple solution that is easy to install and works well in small areas with a light waste flow, then a HepvO trap may be the perfect choice for you.
3. Purchase a fixture with a built-in trap
In case you’re remodeling or building a new home and planning a P trap, you may notice early on that the P trap design isn’t suitable for the type of cabinets you had in mind.
To avoid the issue of having to fit a P trap in tight places, perhaps the best solution is to purchase a fixture with a built-in trap.
These fixtures are usually sold as a one-piece unit made especially for the type of sink you plan to use.
While many people might wonder why these units don’t just come standard with a P trap, it’s important to remember that P traps tend to be much cheaper than built-in traps.
Additionally, it can be difficult to find P trap fixtures that are compliant with modern plumbing codes.
One of the main benefits of a built-in trap is better water flow.
Because it’s smaller and has less distance to travel before being flushed down the drain, you’ll have much less drainage resistance to deal with than when using a P trap.
If you’re looking for a way to avoid the hassle of fitting P traps in tight spaces or simply looking for a more highly-performing drainage system, choosing a built-in trap might be your best option.
David Kessler is a CSLB licensed contractor with over 25 years of experience. He is specialized in home building, construction, and electrical works; he also has a keen eye for interior design and, over the years, has collaborated with various architects.
