In every home there are multiple sink drains. These drains could be the ones on your kitchen sink or even the sinks in your bathrooms. You probably use them every day when you wash your hands or wash your dishes. Most likely though you only know what the top of the drain looks like. All you understand is that water goes down it and somehow it disappears. Have you ever wondered what is underneath that small piece that you see in your sink? Like what happens to all the water and how does your sink get clogged? Your local residential plumber already knows so let us now explore the parts of a sink drain and what they all do.
The most important part of your drain is called the trap. This is either a P shape of an S shape depending on the type of drain you have. You can find this underneath your sink with the pipes. The trap is actually there to hold some water that will block sewer gases from going through the pipes and into the home. Besides it stopping harmful gases from getting into your home, it also does act as an actual trap. For instance, if you were to drop something down your drain, you would want to remove the trap to find it. Due to the shape though it also tends to trap solid waste which is why sinks get clogged so easily. If you do need to find something you accidentally dropped or want to clean out this solid waste you would need to first place a bucket under the pipes. You will then use a wrench to take off the screws so that it can be easily removed. Just remember that this piece is probably very dirty and possibly smelly so you should always wear gloves and protective gear just in case.
Another part of your sink that you may have never known about is the vent. Yes, of course gravity will move water through the drain, but for it to move smoothly there needs to be air in the pipe. The vent is an open pipe that is connected in the walls to all the other sink vents in your home or building. These pipes are all connected and run out the top of your roof. The vent is so important to proper waste disposal that they are actually a building code requirement. They are a building code requirement because not only do they allow the sewage to run smoothly out of your home but it also allows gases to escape so that there are no strange smells in your home. If there is no vent or if it is not properly attached the water will almost bubble when trying to run down the drain. It will not be able to empty the sink properly and cause major blockages.
If you require more help don't hesitate to contact your local Columbus plumber who will be able to supply excellent plumbing services for you and your home.
