backflow preventer

[John Dirks Jr]

Is the item in the picture a backflow preventer?

Click to Enlarge

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[Brandon Whitmore]

Looks like a drum trap.

http://chestofbooks.com/home-improvemen ... m-trap.gif

[Bill Kibbel]

If the outside diameter is 6" or more, it's called a round trap. It's usually installed for kitchen sinks, pantry/scullery sinks and wash-trays, specifically to intercept grease.

[John Dirks Jr]

Could the drum trap cause a gurgling sound in the kitchen drain? The kitchen sink drain was a bit slow. After the water drained you would hear a series of gurgle sounds for a few minutes.

[Brandon Whitmore]

I've always attributed the gurgling sound to a venting issue. I wouldn't think it would have anything to do with a partially plugged drain, but plumbing is one of my weak points.

[kurt]

Could the drum trap cause a gurgling sound in the kitchen drain? The kitchen sink drain was a bit slow. After the water drained you would hear a series of gurgle sounds for a few minutes.

It's a grease trap, like Bill said.

That sucker doesn't look like the lids been popped for cleaning in a few decades. Open it up (prepare yourself for some serious nastiness), clean it out.

Then see how the kitchen sink works.

[fqp25]

[That sucker doesn't look like the lids been popped for cleaning in a few decades. Open it up (prepare yourself for some serious nastiness), clean it out.

And whatever you do keep your mouth closed and hold your breath.

Frank

[Jim Morrison]

Yes it explains the gurgling in the sink. Was it in a typical residence?

[John Dirks Jr]

Yes it explains the gurgling in the sink. Was it in a typical residence?

Yes

[John Dirks Jr]

I should have figured it as a trap. The in pipe is on the bottom. The out pipe on the other side is closer to, but not all the way at the top.

Am I correct to assume that the intent is to trap the grease in the area above the upper connection? IE, the grease floats on the top and is trapped while the water flows through the outlet that is below that level?

I guess after a time the upper cavity is filled to capacity with greasy grime that the purpose of the device is defeated. Would that be correct?

The more one learns how things function, the easier it is to be correct in guessing what something is, even if you have never seen it before.

I should know that most backflow preventors look more like an inline arrangement with the in and out pipes at the same level.

[Marc]

Check this out. It's a municipal-sized grease trap but the principals might still apply.

Marc

Download Attachment: Grease_Trap_Construction_Standards.pdf

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[kurt]

I should have figured it as a trap. The in pipe is on the bottom. The out pipe on the other side is closer to, but not all the way at the top.

Am I correct to assume that the intent is to trap the grease in the area above the upper connection? IE, the grease floats on the top and is trapped while the water flows through the outlet that is below that level?

I guess after a time the upper cavity is filled to capacity with greasy grime that the purpose of the device is defeated. Would that be correct?

The more one learns how things function, the easier it is to be correct in guessing what something is, even if you have never seen it before.

I should know that most backflow preventors look more like an inline arrangement with the in and out pipes at the same level.

It's usually just a very simple baffle system.