P-traps are those curlicue drain pipes found under the kitchen sink, lavatories, shower, and bathtub. These traps form a water seal that prevents sewer gas from backing up into the room. Occasions arise which call for removing a P-trap. You may have a leak, a stoppage, or some jewelry lost down the drain.
ABS-type P-traps in mobile homes are easily dismantled. You’ll need a bucket or pail to catch waste water. Loosen the large coupling nuts holding the trap. You may need a wrench for stubborn ones.
When the water has drained, remove the trap and clean it out on a piece of newspaper. You can now insert a plumber’s snake to clear any blockage further down the drain. For leaks, inspect the threads on the pipe and the couplings you’ve removed. These threads may become stripped, or the pipe cracked. Replace the defective section.
If the old trap is okay, rinse it in clear water and reassemble it in the drain line. DO NOT use pipe dope, ABS cement, or any other sealant on these threads; they must remain free enough that you can loosen and tighten them by hand.
If a leak persists, call a plumber.