Friend of mine purchased a used TT and the seller disclosed all problems, including a cracked P trap (due to freezing) under the shower. The seller had removed the P trap with the intention of replacing it but never got it done. Seller left the P trap in the kitchen sink.My friend slapped some JB Weld on the crack and it is sealed up good. He also ran down to the local hardware store and they told him he needed 2 white (nylon?) gaskets. (For brevity I am going to skip all of the steps of having to crawl into the couch to re-install the P trap)It is impossible to get a seal with the gaskets - heck, you cant get more than a turn on the nuts with those gaskets. I got rid of the gaskets and one side of the trap (heading to the grey tank) is sealed up good, then other side (then end connecting to the drain from the shower) has a very, very small leak. I have the nuts as tight as I can get them. Any suggestions on getting this sealed properly? I am tempted to put teflon tape on the threads, as the leak is via the threads, but wanted to check to see if anyone had a better idea.

It likely cost more for the JB weld than to replace the P trap.:Swith out the gaskets you will never have a secure seal. If the gaskets are beveled, then impossible to get a seal without, as the the gasket seals to P trap to the side of the pipe.PS: A picture of the P trap and gaskets would be a big help.

What I have done as a temporary fix it tightly wrap a long strip of bicycle inner tube around the joint. It doesn't work with pipes under preasure but drain pipes will stay sealed forever.

A picture would help- usually, shower p traps use a female swivel screwed right to the drain- this needs a rubber washer type gasket- not the plastic ones.The outlet usually doesn't use a gasket- the parts are designed to seal without one, but each p trap uses a different outlet elbow.Note that the trap shown still needs to be glued together.

The p trap has a nut on both ends:(the 90 degree elbow is in place - I am only dealing with the "U" part)

There should be no gasket between the "U" and the elbow. If yours uses a tailpiece and slip joint, there should be the cone shaped gasket on the tailpiece.

P trap problem - heed help! | Good Sam Community

kakampers
Explorer
Sep 08, 2015
Try Rescue Tape....www.rescuetape.com...works great on this type of application and can be easily removed...will make a permanent seal though.
Chris_Bryant
Explorer II
Sep 08, 2015
A picture is worth a thousand words....
portscanner
Explorer
Sep 08, 2015
Happy Prospector wrote:
Are you using a Type A or Type B p-trap?

Uh.....sorry. I have no idea. This was the type of trap that was installed by the manufacturer. How do I figure out the answer to your question?

glppeterson wrote:
Try some thread sealant on the threads. Rectorseal No.5 or something like it. You can pick up a can of something similar at your local hardware store.

Is that permanent? can the trap be removed after using that product?
glppeterson
Explorer
Sep 07, 2015
Try some thread sealant on the threads. Rectorseal No.5 or something like it. You can pick up a can of something similar at your local hardware store.
Happy_Prospecto
Explorer
Sep 07, 2015
Are you using a Type A or Type B p-trap?
portscanner
Explorer
Sep 07, 2015
Chris Bryant wrote:
There should be no gasket between the "U" and the elbow. If yours uses a tailpiece and slip joint, there should be the cone shaped gasket on the tailpiece.

No slip joint.

The end of the "U" which goes to the bottom of the bath has a nut (which cant be removed but spins freely) and the other end has threads which connects to the pipe going to the grey tank. The pipe going to the grey tank has a nut on it - which cannot be removed but spins freely.
Chris_Bryant
Explorer II
Sep 07, 2015
There should be no gasket between the "U" and the elbow. If yours uses a tailpiece and slip joint, there should be the cone shaped gasket on the tailpiece.
portscanner
Explorer
Sep 07, 2015
The p trap has a nut on both ends:

(the 90 degree elbow is in place - I am only dealing with the "U" part)
Chris_Bryant
Explorer II
Sep 07, 2015
A picture would help- usually, shower p traps use a female swivel screwed right to the drain- this needs a rubber washer type gasket- not the plastic ones.
The outlet usually doesn't use a gasket- the parts are designed to seal without one, but each p trap uses a different outlet elbow.

Note that the trap shown still needs to be glued together.
Fizz
Explorer
Sep 07, 2015
What I have done as a temporary fix it tightly wrap a long strip of bicycle inner tube around the joint. It doesn't work with pipes under preasure but drain pipes will stay sealed forever.

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P trap problem - heed help!

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