Hot water and sink drain trap question

ttavasc · 08-20-2016, 10:43 PM

Today I was doing a little troubleshooting on the hot water tank. We had some trouble with the pilot light dying at some point after the initial heating on our last outing. I noticed a rusty build-up on the thermocouple and came across a thread here where some folks recommended using sandpaper to clean the TC. So I did that and it seems to have fixed the pilot light problem.

Something I did notice after running just hot water (130f) for a bit through the kitchen sink to verify that the tank burner would kick in again is that the outside of the drain trap under the sink looked like it was leaking. When I checked I found it wasn't water but a greasy film that seemed to be coming from the joint on the trap with the threaded connection. I ran some cold water for a bit and it seemed to stop.

Is it possible that a thread sealant was used on that connection and the hot water sitting in the trap is breaking it down? Might that make it more susceptible to leaking now?

namusmc65 · 08-21-2016, 06:32 AM

We just had the same thing happen. Was getting bad smell in kitchen. Had unit in for maintenance on other issues and had vent replaced under kitchen sink. They showed me old valve and said it had a lot of grease around the edges and that may have backed up into the vent causing the smell. We don't cook enough in the kitchen to warrant any grease and we never put grease down the sink. I believe they may have used some sort of sealant there also.

ALJO · 08-21-2016, 07:36 AM

Plumbing is best to always test with "Hot Water". If there is a seal leaking (shrink) you get it at forehand. A bit grease on the P-trap screw joint helps with tightening. Big plyers break those nuts easy.

wanderlust · 08-21-2016, 12:24 PM

On our last outing, a few weeks ago, I noticed water on the shelf below the sink. I took the P-trap off and found the gasket (I think it's a compression gasket) between 2 fittings was not set correctly. I reset it and tightened the nuts and it was good to go.
I'm thinking of replacing the P-trap with a Waterless Trap to help eliminate odor when the P-trap gets low. Anybody have experience with this?

**norty1** · 08-21-2016, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wanderlust

On our last outing, a few weeks ago, I noticed water on the shelf below the sink. I took the P-trap off and found the gasket (I think it's a compression gasket) between 2 fittings was not set correctly. I reset it and tightened the nuts and it was good to go.
I'm thinking of replacing the P-trap with a Waterless Trap to help eliminate odor when the P-trap gets low. Anybody have experience with this?

They look and likely work nicely but still use the same washers and compression nuts, just not as many. I would look at it if I was wanting to increase the storage space or something.

wanderlust · 08-21-2016, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by norty1

I would look at it if I was wanting to increase the storage space or something.

It would def do that, wouldn't it?

**norty1** · 08-21-2016, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wanderlust

It would def do that, wouldn't it?

It seems so but the pipe still has to have a bend in it to get to the drain going to the holding tank. I can't visualize how it would save much.

My wife is always cramming stuff in there that moves the trap around.

wanderlust · 08-21-2016, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by norty1

My wife is always cramming stuff in there that moves the trap around.

I hear that... but that's OK.

ttavasc · 08-21-2016, 10:12 PM

I filled up the sink a couple of times today with fairly warm but not hot water and let it drain. I don't see the greasy film re-appearing nor do I see any leaks so I think I will call it good and not worry about it. We keep a few things that we use regularly when traveling under the sink so it should be obvious if it does actually start leaking.

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