sepefrio Posted August 30, 2008 Report Share Posted August 30, 2008 Just wondering about this, um, P-trap. One thing that may be of importance, in this house, in the medicine cabinet was a bottle of caster oil that expired in 1948. This house has been vacant a Looooooooong time. Image Insert: 165.98 KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlieb Posted August 30, 2008 Report Share Posted August 30, 2008 Drum trap. Ooooooooooooooooooold troublesome product. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghentjr Posted August 30, 2008 Report Share Posted August 30, 2008 Originally posted by charlieb Drum trap. Ooooooooooooooooooold troublesome product. Yes, but it is over a radiator which will keep the grease flowing. (At least in the winter) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlieb Posted August 31, 2008 Report Share Posted August 31, 2008 Originally posted by ghentjr Originally posted by charlieb Drum trap. Ooooooooooooooooooold troublesome product. Yes, but it is over a radiator which will keep the grease flowing. (At least in the winter) Well howdy. I should have noticed that but I've never seen one up close and personal. So is this a basement? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sepefrio Posted August 31, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2008 That is under the kitchen sink. Every P-trap in the house was this way. In fact I don't think anything in the house was newer than 30 years old (the water heater is 33) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlieb Posted August 31, 2008 Report Share Posted August 31, 2008 A radiator under a kitchen sink? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SonOfSwamp Posted August 31, 2008 Report Share Posted August 31, 2008 Originally posted by sepefrio Just wondering about this, um, P-trap. One thing that may be of importance, in this house, in the medicine cabinet was a bottle of caster oil that expired in 1948. This house has been vacant a Looooooooong time. Image Insert: 165.98 KB FWIW: 1. I never told a customer to replace an old drum trap, as long as the old drum trap was still working. 2. It's "castor" oil. A caster is a wheel. WJid="blue"> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Posted August 31, 2008 Report Share Posted August 31, 2008 Walter, now you have really spilled the beans!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erby Posted September 1, 2008 Report Share Posted September 1, 2008 Older Lead Trap. 150 year old house in Frankfort, KY near the state capitol building. Image Insert: 58.94 KB Under the concrete laundry tubs like my mama used to use with a washboard. Image Insert: 56.12 KB - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fqp25 Posted September 1, 2008 Report Share Posted September 1, 2008 I see a few Lead Drum Traps around here, but just for tubs. I don't recall seeing a drum trap for sinks. I have only been inspecting for a little over 2 years, but I've always recommended replacing drum traps, even if there is good flow for the drain. This lead drum is installed upside down, no signs of leakage, satisfactory drain flow, but I made a recommendation to change to a p-trap. Image Insert: 142.54 KB Kind of sidetracking here; but I also see a lot of lead closet bends around here. Frank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hausdok Posted September 2, 2008 Report Share Posted September 2, 2008 Hi, I responded to this yesterday but I guess I forgot to click the 'submit reply' button. I'm not sure what I'd call it but I wouldn't call that a drum trap. I saw those on hundreds, maybe thousands, of sinks when I was stationed in Europe and never had a problem with any that were on my own sinks. If It was working, I wouldn't call it unless someone could show me where it's prohibited. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Kibbel Posted September 2, 2008 Report Share Posted September 2, 2008 That's a form of a drum trap. Drum traps are an excellent design and work very well. If pristine, you can't make 'em siphon. That's why they were preferred by premium plumbers at one time for kitchen sinks (vent stacks for kitchen sinks were rare until the second half of the last century). They're still used for certain commercial and industrial applications. The problem with drum traps is they don't scour well and once there's enough gunk, it performs worse than an unvented s-trap. The other problem is some plumbers installed them with the threaded cap exposed to the "sewer gas" side. Mike, from my experience, I think what you were seeing in Europe is a "bottle trap". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SonOfSwamp Posted September 2, 2008 Report Share Posted September 2, 2008 Originally posted by fqp25 I see a few Lead Drum Traps around here, but just for tubs. I don't recall seeing a drum trap for sinks. I have only been inspecting for a little over 2 years, but I've always recommended replacing drum traps, even if there is good flow for the drain. This lead drum is installed upside down, no signs of leakage, satisfactory drain flow, but I made a recommendation to change to a p-trap. Image Insert: 142.54 KB Kind of sidetracking here; but I also see a lot of lead closet bends around here. Frank For what it's worth, here's my thought: Don't be so eager to tell folks to replace things. Unless the skill level of tradesfolk in your area is well above average, the replacement is likely to cause more trouble than leaving the thing alone. Screwups can be expensive. Clem Labine called it "the mushroom effect." Example: You try to change out one trap, next thing you know you're tearing out all the plumbing... This applies not only to old traps, but to roof flashing, bricklaying, and a whole lot of other things... WJid="blue"> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neal Lewis Posted September 2, 2008 Report Share Posted September 2, 2008 Originally posted by fqp25 I see a few Lead Drum Traps around here, but just for tubs. I don't recall seeing a drum trap for sinks. I have only been inspecting for a little over 2 years, but I've always recommended replacing drum traps, even if there is good flow for the drain. This lead drum is installed upside down, no signs of leakage, satisfactory drain flow, but I made a recommendation to change to a p-trap. Image Insert: 142.54 KB Kind of sidetracking here; but I also see a lot of lead closet bends around here. Frank Interesting that the foundation looks like newer concrete block, while the plumbing is pretty darn old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim H Posted September 3, 2008 Report Share Posted September 3, 2008 Originally posted by Neal Lewis Originally posted by fqp25 I see a few Lead Drum Traps around here, but just for tubs. I don't recall seeing a drum trap for sinks. I have only been inspecting for a little over 2 years, but I've always recommended replacing drum traps, even if there is good flow for the drain. This lead drum is installed upside down, no signs of leakage, satisfactory drain flow, but I made a recommendation to change to a p-trap. Image Insert: 142.54 KB Kind of sidetracking here; but I also see a lot of lead closet bends around here. Frank Interesting that the foundation looks like newer concrete block, while the plumbing is pretty darn old. I have seen a few old post and pier buildings that have had a CMU "skirt" retroactively installed at the perimeter. That may be what we are seeing here. Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fqp25 Posted September 3, 2008 Report Share Posted September 3, 2008 That is a repaired section of block foundation. However, The house was constructed late 40's/early 50's (Post WWII). I found that a little odd, because houses built around that time usually have Galv/Cast for drains. At least around. Frank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fqp25 Posted September 3, 2008 Report Share Posted September 3, 2008 Originally posted by SonOfSwampFor what it's worth, here's my thought: Don't be so eager to tell folks to replace things... WJid="blue"> Point well taken. I will take that into consideration. Frank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenT Posted September 3, 2008 Report Share Posted September 3, 2008 Originally posted by SonOfSwamp Originally posted by sepefrio Just wondering about this, um, P-trap. One thing that may be of importance, in this house, in the medicine cabinet was a bottle of caster oil that expired in 1948. This house has been vacant a Looooooooong time. Image Insert: 165.98 KB FWIW: 1. I never told a customer to replace an old drum trap, as long as the old drum trap was still working. 2. It's "castor" oil. A caster is a wheel. WJid="blue"> Maybe it was "caster" oil. The guy didn't want his wheels to squeek. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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