P-Trap Ramblings

After mentioning the P-Trap in my last entry I started wondering, "What does the 'P' stand for, anyway??"

I figured that a quick Google search would yield the answer but I was left disappointed. After some deeper searching, I still cannot figure it out.

The closest explanation that I found was this page at "VictorianCrapper.com" that has a nice history of the toilet, for those of you that are interested... On it, they talk about how the trap keeps out "putrification" odors. This word isn't used much anymore, but it's related to 'putrid', a.k.a. really terrible smells.

At least this makes sense, given that the function of a P-trap is to always have a little water in it so that sewer gases from the drain lines don't get into your home. It's a nice feature that you'd really miss if it wasn't there.

If you know the answer to this, please let me know so I can get some sleep!

If you read this post you must be bored, really curious, or related to me...

:)

-Peter

www.CarpentryGuy.com