# Floor Trap Choke and Smell Singapore | Clearing | Plumbline

> Bathroom floor trap choked, slow or smelly? Why floor traps choke, what to try, and how to request a plumber in Singapore for clearing.

URL: https://plumber.makemoney.living/floor-trap-choke/

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# Floor Trap Choke and Smell

Water pooling on the bathroom floor, or a sewer smell from the drain. 
 [Get a plumber](#request) 

Last updated: 2026-10-11 
[Plumbline](/) passes floor trap requests to plumbers in Singapore. The floor trap is the drain in your bathroom floor, and it does two jobs: it drains water and it holds a little water in a bend to keep sewer smells out. When it chokes, water pools; when its water seal dries out or breaks, it smells. 

## What the plumber does first

The plumber lifts the grating, clears hair and soap build-up from the trap, and checks whether the blockage is in the trap or further down the pipe. For a smell, they check the water seal and whether the trap or its seal is damaged. 

## Choke or smell?

- Water pools and drains slowly: hair and soap scum in the trap, the most common cause.
- Smell, but it drains fine: the water seal has dried out (common in a rarely used bathroom) or the trap is damaged. Pour a bucket of water in first; if the smell goes, it was a dry trap.
- Gurgles when the toilet flushes: the blockage is further down, where the toilet and floor trap join. 

## Who can do it

Replacing floor trap gratings and covers and clearing blockages in floor traps are on PUB's list of simple works that do not need a Licensed Plumber ([PUB](https://www.pub.gov.sg/Professionals/Requirements/Licensed-Plumbers/Plumbing-Works)). Replacing the trap or pipework itself is regulated work. 

## What is included

- ✓Grating lifted and trap cleared
- ✓Pipe cleared if the blockage is deeper
- ✓Water seal checked
- ✓Grating replaced if broken
- ✓Test with running water
- ✓Price agreed before work starts 

## DIY, a quick fix, or a proper job

 DIY Quick fix Proper job 
 Clears hair and scum Top layer only Yes Trap and pipe 
 Fixes the smell If it was a dry trap Rarely checked Seal and trap checked 

## What it costs

Floor trap clearing is usually priced like other choke work, from about S$60 at the low end of published 2026 Singapore rates ([published 2026 rates](https://www.misslobang.com/article/best-plumbers-singapore-2026)). 
[Try the cost estimator](/tools/plumbing-cost-estimator/) or read the [plumber cost guide](/guide/plumber-cost-singapore/). 

## Related guides

- Licensed Plumber or Handyman? What PUB Allows
- How Much Does a Plumber Cost in Singapore? (2026 Prices) 

## How it is done

- Send a request. Choke, smell or both, and which bathroom.
- Price. Quoted before the visit.
- Clear and check. Trap cleared, seal checked, tested.
- Pay the plumber. Directly, with a receipt. 
 
Licensed or not? 
Under PUB's rules this is simple work a handyman may do. [PUB rules](https://www.pub.gov.sg/Professionals/Requirements/Licensed-Plumbers/Plumbing-Works). [Licensed plumber or handyman?](/guide/licensed-plumber-or-handyman/) 
 
Water flooding now? 
Turn off the main stop valve beside your water meter, switch off power to anything wet, then send a request. [What to do in a plumbing emergency](/emergency-plumber/) 
 
Request: floor trap choke 
A plumber who covers your area calls you back with a price. 
 
Request received. 
A plumber who covers your area will call you on the number you gave. If water is flooding, turn off the main stop valve beside your water meter while you wait. 

Floor trap choke: get a price before any work starts. 
A plumber who covers your area calls you back with a price. Tell us what is happening and the type of home. 
 [Get a plumber](/contact/#request) 

## Questions people ask

 Why does my bathroom smell like a drain? + 
Usually the floor trap's water seal has dried out, which happens in bathrooms that are rarely used. Pour water in. If the smell returns quickly, the trap may be damaged. Is floor trap clearing licensed work? + 
No. PUB lists clearing floor trap blockages and replacing gratings among the works a handyman may do. Is there a charge for sending a request? + 
No. Sending a request costs nothing. The plumber tells you the price before any work starts. 

## Related services

 [Toilet bowl chokeWater rising, not draining? Stop flushing and get the blockage cleared properly.](/toilet-bowl-choke/)[Kitchen sink chokeGrease, rice and coffee grounds build up until the sink stops draining.](/kitchen-sink-choke/)[Pipe leak repairA dripping joint is a quick fix. A leak inside a wall is a different job. Know which you have.](/pipe-leak-repair/)