New member missing P-trap

[SlopeSurfer]

This is my first posting to this forum. I hope I'm doing this correctly.

I used my basement shower for the first time. It quickly started filling with water. When I popped the drain cover, I was disappointed to find that there was no P-trap. The only reason there were no sewer fumes is that the drain was clogged. The overview image shows the whole set up. From the dome image, you can see that the normal entrance to the p-trap has been capped. The down-pipe image gives a glimpse of the pipe going down. I assume that it was meant to connect to the center pipe and form a trap. But, of course, the cap prevents that.

I have cleared the drain and now have the associated sewer gas smell (capped with a rag for now).

I have run my bore scope down the down pipe, it bottoms out. Then instead of continuing toward the center pipe, it takes a turn off to the right. I am unable to follow it after that. Maybe it turns back again and heads toward the capped center pipe.

I’ve tapped on the cap/dome. It is solid (not just a stuck racket ball).

I assume I’m going to:

• Install a clean-out cap
• Remove the riser (so there will be no standing water).
• Remove the dome
• Create a connection between the center pipe, beyond the dome, and the down pipe that starts at the base of the cleanout/drain.

Since I will still have an easily accessible cleanout, it would seem that the trap doesn’t have to be all that smooth (it can be bypassed by using the cleanout).

So, my main question is, do I have this right? But, I’m also interested in any speculation about how this got the way it is. And most important, is there any reason I should not remove that dome?

I appreciate your help and can get videos to you if that would help.

 

[Geofd]

So I've never seen a shower drain with a built in clean out,I don't know what I'm looking at on the 2nd picture on the right, is that water on the bottom right were you scope is????

 

[SlopeSurfer]

So I've never seen a shower drain with a built in clean out,I don't know what I'm looking at on the 2nd picture on the right, is that water on the bottom right were you scope is????

Geofd, thank-you for getting back to me.

I'm not sure what you mean by second on the right. The middle image, labeled Dome, is just a closer look at the bottom of the vertical pipe in the center. At the bottom is what I'm referring to as the dome, which appears to be solidly in place and made of metal. If I put water in the center pipe, it just sits there, blocked by the dome. The image on the far right, labeled DownPipe, shows the entrance to the cleanout and you get a glimpse of the beginning of the pipe that goes straight down around 8 inches. The bore scope is probably a couple of inches down that pipe. I just placed it there to put some light on it. When I clear that of water, it stays clear of water. That's the pipe that then goes off to a side and I can no longer follow it.

Yes, seems rare to have a built in clean out. But, seems like a nice feature as long as there is a P-trap.

If this reply does not clear things up, I can make a video. Moving from one location to another might make it all easier to understand.