Trap primers are required in commercial toilets because sometimes the bowl has no water, which causes foul smells to escape from the pipes. There are also instances when water evaporates from the bowl due to lack of use, which leads to the same results. This usually happens when an office building is empty at night, during weekends and holidays, or in areas with little traffic. You can avoid these unhygienic situations with trap primers.
What is the Purpose of a Trap Primer?
A trap primer is installed on the floor drain trap to maintain water in the trap. This is necessary because drains are vented, and the vent allows air into and water out of the drain. The water in the trap provides a seal against sewer gas entering the building through the drain.
If there is no trap primer or it stops working, then when water is drained from the trap, it will not be replaced by fresh water as fast as it leaves. Eventually, all the water will leave, and sewer gas will enter.
The purpose of a trap primer is to prevent this from happening. A trap primer adds water to a floor drain when it senses too little.
Different Types of Trap Primers
It is important to select the proper trap primer for your lavatory system. There are a few different options that you can choose from. Below are the three different types of trap primers:
Electric trap primers
The electric trap primers are designed to prime and flush a toilet or urinal trap after use, automatically. The result is an immediate flow of water at a constant temperature and the elimination of foul odors from the drain lines.
Manual vacuum trap primers
Manual primers serve in applications where condensate discharge may be infrequent or sparse. A manual vacuum trap primer requires no external power source, and the user activates it by simply pulling a handle or turning a valve. Following activation, the vacuum trap primer exhausts air from the trap body, causing any condensate inside to expel. This type of vacuum trap primer is ideal for water traps because it can help to resist backflow pressure.
Vacuum trap primers
There are two types of vacuum trap valves: automatic and continuous. Automatic vacuum trap primer activates only when a temperature change occurs, caused by a process upset, or when a system cools down after production has stopped. Continuous vacuum trap primers activate at specific intervals, whether or not a temperature change has occurred. In applications with frequent condensate buildup, a continuous vacuum trap primer will help ensure that the line remains clear of condensate at all times.
Pneumatic trap primers
Pneumatic trap valves require an air compressor, an air solenoid valve, and a small amount of electricity from any 110-volt outlet. When the trap primer receives a low-voltage 24 volt signal from the computerized control panel, it opens the solenoid valve and allows pressurized air to push water through the system. The compressor fills the trap primer’s tank with water until it reaches the preset fill level. The float switch then turns the compressor off.
Trap Primers Installation
Before installing your trap primer, clean the water supply pipes to remove any chips or dirt. Install the primer just above the trap in a commonly used horizontal cold water line to safeguard it. Trap priming valves must be installed at least 12 inches from drain grids or flooding rims of devices they will be used with.
During the soldering procedure, detach the piston from the piston seat. After soldering, replace the seat and piston. Verify that the vacuum breaker ports close tight when you close the water line after installation.
Water will flow to the drain trap when the cold water line flows. It is important to note that a pressure drop of 2 to 3 psi is required to operate the trap primer between 20 and 80 psi.
Trap Primer Maintenance
Electric trap primers require very little upkeep. A visual check of the primer or drain trap’s air gap vacuum openings regularly will certify correct functionality.
Trap Primer Water Consumption
Water-saving toilets, faucets, and other plumbing fittings have become standard in the last decade. However, waterless or floor drain trap primers will be the next plateau for water conservation for plumbers.
According to estimates, only 30% of trap valve installations are currently waterless. However, when more geographical areas are affected by drought or government water rationing, this figure is likely to rise.
A trap primer that is water-supplied uses 4-8 oz of water at a time. But when you factor in evaporation and if there are many outlets in a commercial building, the water consumption can quickly rise from ounces to gallons every hour.
Regular maintenance is one drawback of water-supplied T-primers and installation and water use costs. Water-supplied traps might clog because of calcification and other scaling phenomena, depending on the minerals in a particular area’s water supply.
Why Do You Need a Trap Primer?
When a fixture isn’t used for several days (such as over the weekend), the water in the trap evaporates, and air from the drainage system displaces it. This allows sewer gases to enter building through the drains. When someone uses or flushes the fixture, it replenishes the water in the trap and prevents further gas entry.
Besides, plumbing codes require trap primers for “emergency” floor drains and other evaporation-prone traps. Trap primers must meet ASSE 1044 or ASSE 1018 standards.
Hydrotek International provides trap primer assemblies for traps with integrated backflow prevention and a full range of valves for all kinds of plumbing applications.
We manufacture trap valves at our own production facilities using state-of-the-art equipment and high-quality management processes.
