Proper P-Trap installation?

[Bowdoctor]

I recently purchased a home with a home warranty. I had a leak in the master shower on the 2nd story. I called the Warranty place they sent out plumber and he told them the p trap was not installed correctly and that is why the shower was leaking. Sent out second plumber same thing. The warranty company did not cover the leak. Is there a plumbing code that states how a p-trap is properly installed? And where can a consumer find this without purchasing an $100.00 book? Thanks in Advance for any feedback.

[turdchaserParticipant]

Without knowing where you are from we can not tell you what code applies. There are different codes that have been adopted in different states. In Texas for example the state lets the local authority adopt any of the codes it wants. Call the building permit dept ask for a plumbing inspector and find out what code applies. Then try your local library, they will have the code book. The major codes are the UPC, NPC, SPC and the IPC, provided that you live in the US.

» This message has been edited by turdchaser on 13 February 2004

[tribe1Participant]

I do live in Texas and I appreciate the feedback. Montgomery County. Do you know anything about them?

Thanks,

[turdchaserParticipant]

Yes I do. I was the master plumber on record for a large plumbing firm that covered from Huntsville to Galveston and Katy to Baytown. Conroe adopted the UPC (Uniform Plumbing Code). Once you are outside the City limits there is no one code enforced. As a licensed professional the plumber is required to do his work by one of the codes but it does not matter which. Also in the County area (outside city limits) there is noone to pull a permit from or inspect the work. I would reccommend getting ahold of the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, TSBPE (http://www.tsbpe.state.tx.us/)
It is required for all plumbing companies to put the address and phone number to TSBPE on the front of their invoice. They should have a field rep that covers the Woodlands and Conroe area. Get ahold of them and they will steer you in the right direction. The following is my opinion. It is possible that the Home warranty Company and the Plumber are trying to make more money. At one time my firm had done alot of work for Home warranty companies but it had become painfully obvious that we would lose money doing the work unless it was work that was not covered and the home owner was responsible for payment. The warranty companies set an extremely low fixed rate to pay a plumbing company for covered work. Try TSBPE it is your best bet on getting a straight answer.

[Retired plbg1Participant]

Atrap should be installed strait true and Plum. Some are glued, some caulked , some with slip joint washer , some with nohub band, some wiped in. He must have been talking about connection to shower pan.

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Art retired plbg

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