Hello all,
First time question asker!

I have a rental property and the renters have been complaining about sewer smell in the basement when the shower is running.

I had a plumber replace the cast iron drain pipe from the second floor bathroom to the basement floor (the entire stack). Across the basement there is a drain. This is where the smell is coming from.

I called the plumber and he had the renters place a bag of water over the drain and that helped a little. He told me I needed a Bell for a Bell Trap. I have searched the net for this but can not find one.

The drain pipe comes up into the floor but ends 2 inches from the top. The floor is then shaped into a bowl with the bottom of the bowl .5 - 1 inch below the top of the pipe. There is a grate that goes over the drain, but that is all. Nothing over the drain into the bowl.

Any advice would be helpful as I would like to solve this problem once and for all!

Thanks,
Brent

This is a Bell Trap, (see image). If you wish to know more just enter Bell Trap up on your search bar. Good luck, Tom

Tom,
Thanks for the quick reply... yes that is what I've found.

Do I need to purchase one of these and install this over the pipe?

Would it be better to purchase a PVC or Cast Iron bell trap? The pipe is Cast Iron.

Also there is a 1.5 inch pipe that come into the bowl from the side, could this bell trap be modified to accept this additional 1.5 inch pipe - I do not know what this additional pipe is for.

Brent

Brent,
You might waqnt to take a look at this before installing a Bell Trap. Check out (3) Prohibited traps. Regards, Tom

[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 24, Volume 5]

[Revised as of April 1, 2006]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 24CFR3280.606]



[Page 167-168]



TITLE 24--HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT



CHAPTER XX--OFFICE OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HOUSING--FEDERAL HOUSING

COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT



PART 3280_MANUFACTURED HOME CONSTRUCTION AND SAFETY STANDARDS--Table

Of Contents



Subpart G_Plumbing Systems



Sec. 3280.606 Traps and cleanouts.



(a) Traps--(1) Traps required. Each plumbing fixture, except listed

Toilets, shall be separately trapped by approved water seal ``P'' traps.

All traps shall be effectively vented.

(2) Dual fixtures. A two-compartment sink, two single sinks, two

Lavatories, or a single sink and a single lavatory with waste outlets

Not more than 30 inches apart and in the same room and flood level rims

At the same level may be connected to one ``P'' trap and may be

Considered as a single fixture for the purpose of drainage and vent

Requirements.

(3) Prohibited traps. A trap which depends for its seal upon

Concealed interior partitions shall not be used. Full ``S'' traps, bell

Traps, drum traps, crown-vented traps, and running traps are prohibited.

Fixtures shall not be double-trapped.

Thanks again Tom,
That leads then to... if I am not to use a Bell Trap, then what do I use?

It never ceases to amaze me that items are prohibited, but are yet made available for sale!

Thanks,
Brent

The drain pipe comes up into the floor but ends 2 inches from the top. The floor is then shaped into a bowl with the bottom of the bowl .5 - 1 inch below the top of the pipe. There is a grate that goes over the drain, but that is all. Nothing over the drain into the bowl.

You're set up for a bell trap. If there's no water seal at the bottom of the curved fitting then you have a direct connection between the sewer and the house allowing sewer gas to enter. You have three options here. 1) cap off the floor drain. 2( take up the floor and install a floor drain with a built in "P" trap **or** 3) install a bell trap. Your choice. Regards, Tom