How to properly assemble a sink siphon?

Replacing a sink siphon is an easy task, if you follow the recommendations of experts. It can be attached in several ways, so you need to know how to unscrew and connect it in each case.

The siphon is a pipe with bends through which the drainage water from the bathtub, sink, washing machine flows into the sewer system.

The purpose of the siphons can be as follows:

• when draining, a small amount of water remains in the siphon, which serves as a special sump, thereby preventing the penetration of unpleasant odors, gases, and sewer noise back into the dwelling;
• prevents various bacteria from multiplying;
• prevents the formation of blockages of various origins.

There are several main types of siphons. It is necessary to consider some of their characteristics, disadvantages and advantages.

It is a simple device in the form of a rigid pipe bent in the shape of an English letter U or S. This type can be either one-piece or collapsible. There are options in which a special hole is provided at the lowest point for the extraction of various solids. With the pipe type of siphon, increased accuracy of its assembly is required. The advantage of this type is that it is not necessary to disassemble the entire siphon to clean it, completely remove the lower "knee" from it. The downside is that due to the small hydraulic seal, unpleasant odors can occur with infrequent use; due to lack of mobility, it cannot be installed as needed.

It has the largest distribution in comparison with others, although it is the most complex design of all. It got its name due to the fact that in the area of ​​the water seal it has the shape of a bottle. Its main advantages include fast and convenient installation, even in a confined space, disassembly is easy enough, cleaning does not take much time, small things that get inside will not go into the sewer, but will sink to the bottom of the bottle. Only with its help it is possible to connect a washing machine or a dishwasher without inventing an additional sewer drain for them. A significant drawback is that contaminants settle at the junction of the siphon with the sewer pipe and cause it to clog.

It is a flexible tube that can be bent in any direction. This is one of its main advantages when it can be installed in places that are inaccessible to the previous two. Its advantages include a relatively low price and a minimum number of leakage points due to one connection point. The minus is an uneven surface that collects various mud deposits, they can be removed only when the structure is disassembled. Do not pour hot water down the drain if the siphon is made of plastic.

The siphon material must be resistant to chemical and thermal aggressors, therefore it is made from polyvinyl chloride, chrome-plated brass or bronze, as well as from propylene.Constructions made of brass or bronze are quite expensive, look aesthetically pleasing and are quite prestigious, but nevertheless they are resistant to corrosion and various oxidants. Devices made of PVC, polypropylene and plastic are much cheaper, and also have simple assembly, joint stability, but not particularly durable.

A typical set of any siphon consists of the following elements:

• hulls;
• rubber gaskets 3-5 mm thick, preferably oil-resistant (white) or silicone plastic;
• protective grill with a diameter of up to 1 cm;
• nuts;

• pipe (outlet or outlet) to install the gasket. It has 2-3 distinct rings, a side, and can also be equipped with a tap for connecting a dishwasher or washing machine;
• taps to the sewerage;
• connecting screw made of stainless steel with a diameter of up to 8 mm.

A siphon for a kitchen or bathroom should be chosen, following, of course, practical purposes. But the features of the room should also be taken into account.

In the bathroom, the siphon must ensure that there are no odors from the sewage system, as well as quickly and on time to drain wastewater. It is better not to purchase siphons that have connecting elements made of solid materials, since the installation will be difficult. In this situation, a corrugated type of drain tube is an adequate option. Due to the flexibility of the device, it will not be difficult to install and change it in hard-to-reach places in the bathroom, all the more it will be quite easy to replace the siphon.

A bottle-type siphon is most suitable for the kitchen., because various parts of fatty and food waste will not enter the sewer system and contribute to its clogging, but will settle to the bottom of the flask. Moreover, if the device itself becomes clogged, then it can be easily and conveniently cleaned. For sinks in the kitchen with two drain holes, types of siphons, additionally equipped with overflows, are perfect.

Assembling and installing siphon structures for a washbasin, sink or bath usually does not take much time, and also does not require special skills. However, you should take into account various little things, so as not to redo everything several times later, whether it is installing a washing machine or dishwasher, as well as other various equipment. When buying a siphon, you need to check if all the elements are present, and also disassemble it with the instruction manual.

The siphon can be assembled even by someone who has never done this.

However, there are several nuances to consider.

• All connections must be tight. It is necessary to check the tightness of the bottom plug, which is usually under the pressure of the sewer. When purchasing a siphon, it must be well checked for defects that can violate the integrity of the gasket.

• When buying an assembled siphon, it is necessary to check the presence of all gaskets in it, to make sure that the elements of the device are well fixed and tightened.
• The assembly of the kitchen siphon must be carried out by hand to control the clamping force, and also so as not to break the product.
• When installing all siphon connections, especially the bottom plug, the gaskets of the device must be tightly secured to prevent leaks. A sealant will work here. Screwing the siphon elements must be done to the end, without pressing hard.
• Having completed the connection of the outlet pipe, thanks to which the installation height of the siphon itself is adjusted, it is necessary to fasten the fastening screw, while removing the excess sealant.

Before installing the siphon, preliminary work is carried out to start. For example, the kitchen has a new metal pipe, so it needs to be connected to a siphon, but before making this connection, it will need to be cleaned of dirt deposits and a rubber gasket should be installed. However, if a plastic pipe is installed, then first you should bring its end to a certain level (not higher than half a meter), only then you need to put a special adapter on it.

Next, the outdated siphon is dismantled using a screwdriver to unscrew the mounting screw. The place for planting a new siphon should be carefully cleaned of grease, dirt and rust. After all these manipulations, you can put the siphon on the sink. The main component of the siphon must be manually connected to the pipe under the sink. In the manuals for the operation of the siphon, it is immediately recommended to connect a washing machine or dishwasher, but nevertheless it is worth, first of all, to connect the structure to the sewer system, to perform an initial test, in which the auxiliary outlets are closed with special plugs that are part of the siphon kit.

After that, a check is carried out during which there should be no leaks. Only then can additional equipment be connected, the drain hoses of which are secured with clamps. During installation, it is important that the drain hose from the siphon is not twisted or kinked.

As usual, you need to disassemble the old device. Unscrew the rusted screw in the drain grate or remove the lower section of the obsolete siphon. Then wipe the drain hole.

Assembly can be done as follows:

• choose the widest hole of the drain device, attach the widest flat gasket there and the cap-cap on the side;
• screw the union nut onto the branch pipe, pull the tapered gasket with the blunt end onto the branch pipe inserted into the dorsal opening. And screw on the pipe. Some options provide for the combination of a branch pipe with a drain funnel;
• the gasket and nut are pushed onto a corrugated drain pipe, which is then screwed onto the siphon;
• Do not overtighten the elements of the siphon during assembly, so as not to damage them.

Having safely completed the assembly of the structure, you can continue to install it.

• A metal mesh with a ring must be placed over the washbasin. Fake a drain device under the sink drain by carefully holding and straightening it.
• Screw the connecting screw into the mesh.
• Connect the resulting structure to the sewer system using a corrugated pipe, which should be stretched to obtain the required length.
• Make a check in which the device should be filled with water, providing a water lock. There will be no leakage if the structure is correctly assembled and installed.

The assembly of the siphon for the bathroom is carried out in almost the same way as the previous two. When installing a new siphon on the bath, you need to first clean all its drain holes with sandpaper for a good connection of the gaskets in the future.

After that, it is necessary to apply the following action plan when assembling and installing the structure on the bath:

• using one hand, take the bottom overflow, on which the gasket is already installed, attach it to the bottom of the drain passage. At the same time, with the other hand, a drain bowl is applied to this passage, which is connected with a screw coated with a chromium layer. Further, while holding the lower element of the neck, the screw must be tightened to the end;
• in a similar way, assemble the upper passage, during the assembly of which the branch pipe used for draining sewage waste must be specially pulled in the direction of the drainage element of the structure, so that later they can be conveniently connected;

• the upper and lower passages should be connected using a corrugated hose, which must be fixed on them with gaskets and nuts intended for this;
• a water flap must also be connected to the drain passage. So that there are no overlays when installing the elements, they are checked for defects that can interfere with the good fixation of the drainage system:
• Next, a corrugated tube is connected, which connects the siphon to the sewer, to the water flap. It should be noted that some versions of the siphons are directly connected to the sewer pipe, while others are only connected with a sealing collar.

The following tips should be applied when using different types of siphons:

• daily cleaning products are not recommended. This contributes to damage to the drain pipe;
• to avoid the accumulation of dirt deposits or the formation of debris in the siphon, you need to use a protective grid in the sink;
• close the tap completely after using it, because constantly dripping water leads to wear of the siphon;

• periodic cleaning of the device from lime and mud deposits is required;
• wash the sink and drain, if possible, with a stream of hot water, but not with boiling water;
• if the siphon leaks, it is imperative to replace the gasket;
• do not turn on hot water immediately after cold, this can also damage the siphon.

Detailed instructions for assembling a sink siphon in the video below.