Selecting and installing a siphon is an important part of renovating a bathroom and kitchen. The mentioned element of plumbing performs many important functions at the same time. In order not to clog the sewer system, this device must be installed without fail. The following article describes the features of the siphon. What is this element and why is it needed, we will discuss in this article.
Varieties and features
Siphon (or hydraulic seal) is a mandatory part of the water supply and sewage system, thanks to which fetid and toxic odors will not enter the house. The choice of a water seal is an important point, since the reliability and quality of the device depend on the design and material from which it is made.
Siphons are classified into the following varieties:
- Corrugated.
- Bottled.
- Tube.
The first option is a regular washbasin siphon. Its design is a corrugated pipe on a curved frame, on one side of which there is an outlet for the flow of used water, and on the other -a special adapter that connects to the sewer network. You can install such a hydraulic shutter yourself, since special skills and tools are not required to complete this task. But the disadvantage of this kind is labor-intensive cleaning.
If the question arises: bottle siphon - what kind of element is it, you can answer it like this: this water seal performs the same function as the corrugated model, but it is more difficult to disassemble and mount it. It is recommended to connect a device of this type to a double sink, since auxiliary equipment can be connected to it: tees and splitters.
Tube water seal - a design that is a rigid curved pipe. When installing this element, it will be necessary to accurately align the outlet of the washbasin with the sewer drain. The pipe siphon has both a water lock and an overflow.
In addition, there is another variety - a hidden hydraulic seal. This is a siphon, which has a distinctive advantage - part of it can be installed in the wall. This is an expensive device, but it can free up some space in a small bathroom.
Siphons are available in plastic and metal (bronze, brass or stainless steel).
Additional items
Auxiliary elements can be installed on the siphon:
- side entry;
- overflow.
The first structural detail is needed if plumbing is connected to the water seal (for example, a dishwasher). The side entrance will be located between the siphon and the neck of the washbasin. In addition, you can install several specified parts.
Overflow - an additional pipe for draining water into the sewer. To avoid unpleasant episodes associated with the flooding of the kitchen or bathroom, it is better to equip the water seal with this element.
It is recommended to install a siphon with overflow and side entry as it is a safe and functional design.
Water seal for kitchen sink: selection criteria
Before you buy this item, you need to choose a model taking into account the following important factors:
- Type of sink to which the siphon will be connected. Choosing equipment for an ordinary washbasin is simple, but for custom-made sinks, you will have to carefully select a water seal. The best option in this case is a corrugated variety, but sometimes a bottle siphon is also connected. Need to know: the rigid tubular type is only suitable for standard plumbing.
- The siphon for the kitchen should look harmoniously against the background of the design of the room.
- Intensive use of the sink will require large diameter pipes.
- The presence or absence of overflow in the design.
- The cost of a siphon depends on the material from which it is made. For example, stainless steel equipment is expensive, while plastic water seals are cheap and reliable varieties.
Shower siphon
Tothe water seal was easier to clean; when installing it, you need to make an inspection hole. But if the siphon has an overflow neck with a diameter of 90 cm, then it can be cleaned through the drain. In addition, when choosing this equipment, you need to consider a few key points:
- The diameter of the siphon must match the same indicator of the drain hole of the shower tray, so you need to measure it and select the device according to the data received.
- The capacity of the water seal is an important parameter that determines the rate of water draining. For a low tray, you should buy a siphon with a diameter of 62 mm, and for a high one - 90 mm.
- The structure will periodically have to be cleaned of hair, so it is better to install water seals with a special mesh.
To install a new siphon, just unscrew the old drain neck, and then dismantle the device and connect the new element to the sewer system in reverse order. The main thing is to make tight joints with fum tape, and if you ignore this requirement, sewage will leak onto the floor.
Siphon: installation features
You can install a water seal yourself. To perform these works, you need to carefully read the instructions and possess the minimum skills to work with plumbing equipment. In addition, the following tools may be useful:
- screwdriver;
- measuring tape;
- fine sandpaper;
- construction scissors for cuttingpipes.
If you need to replace the old siphon, first you need to dismantle it. This is easy to do: unscrew the drain screw with a screwdriver and remove the broken water seal. But sometimes the connecting parts stick, so they need to be treated with a special solution (for example, WD-40).
Before starting installation work, you should check whether all connections, pipes, gaskets and other parts are in place. The next step is connecting the equipment. To connect the siphon, you must perform the following simple operations:
- Put a flat gasket over the large water seal hole.
- Screw the cap-cap on top.
- Put the cone gasket over the nut.
- On the pipe, which then will need to be attached to the kitchen sink, put a nut on and insert it into the top hole of the siphon. Threaded connections must be carefully tightened.
- Connect the corrugated pipe and put the union nut on it.
- Tighten the cone gasket.
- Screw the pipe to the water seal.
The siphon for the washing machine is installed using the same technology. Sometimes you will have to use special couplings (adapters). In addition, instead of a corrugation, a hard outlet can be connected to the sewer.
Conclusion
It is not necessary to call a plumber to replace the siphon. What kind of device this is was described in detail in the article, so you should not have any problems during installation work with your own hands. The main condition is to carefullystudy the instructions and the structure of the water seal, because this way you can understand which variety needs to be installed. Masters recommend connecting plastic siphons to the sewer: they are reliable and inexpensive.
