Frozen P Trap |best| Page

As winter temperatures plummet, homeowners face a host of potential plumbing emergencies. While burst supply pipes get the most attention, a less dramatic but equally troublesome issue is the frozen P-trap .

If you turn on a sink or shower and no water comes out—or if you notice a foul smell coming from a drain—you may be dealing with an ice blockage in your P-trap. Here’s what you need to know about why this happens, why it matters, and how to safely fix it. The P-trap is the curved section of pipe located under every sink, bathtub, and shower drain. Its primary job is to hold a small amount of water, creating a seal that prevents sewer gases (like methane and hydrogen sulfide) from rising up through the drain and into your home. frozen p trap