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Types of siphons

A siphon is an operating system designed to transport liquids from one container to another. It is most commonly used to release excess liquid from tanks and containers with high opening levels. This post describes the three types of siphons: Venturi, Piston, and Eddy Flow siphons. Venturi siphons create a vacuum effect from a pressure differential, while Piston siphons are activated by a piston that moves up and down to draw liquid up and out. Eddy Flow siphons are activated by the motion of the liquid, drawing it out when it is at a flowing level. Each of these siphons has its own advantages and can be used in various applications.

The husband of my beloved friend always grumbles that, having married, he actually ended up in an Italian family. The family is large, four generations are represented – from great-grandmother to grandson plus the cat Chizhik. All of them are active people, with their own outlook on life. They defend their position irreconcilably and fiercely from morning to evening. Family dinners and joint entertainment are hosted there. Not so long ago, having looked at them, I got to such a dinner, after which everyone began to have fun with a game of associations. A word is pronounced – and everyone must say what is associated with it. I, concerned about writing another article, naturally suggested the word “siphon”.

Great-grandmother remembered the hot asphalt, a stout aunt in a white apron, who poured fragrant thick syrup into a glass and diluted it with gas water. From the siphon. The grandmother told about the scarce cans of gas and a glass unit in an iron wicker, which was especially popular in the country. The younger generation, represented by a grandson and granddaughter, indignantly remarked: “We have no siphons, what cans, what syrup? There is plenty of soda water in plastic bottles on every corner in any tent “.

And only dad understood what I meant. And rightly said: “What does sparkling water have to do with it? We have siphons in our apartment, and not one, but four. In the bathroom, toilet, kitchen. This is a necessary and important plumbing device in the household “.

You probably already guessed what a siphon is and where, in fact, is it located? Everyone knows that under every sink in the bathroom and in the kitchen, under the bath and in the toilet, there is a pipe. Through it, dirty water flows into the sewer. Moreover, the pipe is bent in such a way that water, for example, from a sink, first flows down, then rises slightly upward and after this rise it finally drains into the sewer. This very design with a curved pipe is called the “siphon”. In the encyclopedic dictionary, I found the following definition: “A siphon is a curved tube with knees of different lengths through which liquid is poured from a vessel with a higher level into a vessel with a lower level, and the upper part of the tube is located above the level of the liquid in the upper vessel.”.

The question arises: why cannot water immediately enter the sewers, but must overcome incomprehensible bends? This is exactly the trick. When we close the tap, the last water flowing down the pipe cannot overcome the bend. Therefore, the pipe section before bending is always filled with water. This is a water seal. It prevents unpleasant odors from the sewer from entering the kitchen, bathroom and toilet. And, of course, without a siphon, we would “enjoy” the smells of freshly released sewage.

For myself, I came up with this definition: a sanitary siphon is a pipe (or pipe system) with a water seal. Dirty water goes through the pipes to the sewer, and the water seal does not let the smell from the sewer through. Wandering around plumbing shops, I was convinced that there are a great many varieties of siphons. What kind? I’ll tell you in order.

Bath siphons

Shower trap with automatic drain

What do we do when we want to take a bath? First of all, close the drain hole at the bottom with a lid, open the tap and wait until water is collected. If at this time an old friend suddenly called or an interesting film started and we forgot about the turned on tap, water will pour and pour … For such a situation, an overflow hole is provided in the tub on the side wall. It will not let the water overflow and save you from the flood. Because the bathroom siphon consists of two pipes: a drain and an overflow. They are combined in front of the water seal, and already through one pipe the water goes into the sewer. The design is as old as the world. What are the requirements you can make to her today??

There are a lot of baths now: round, square, triangular, large and small. Their drain holes are located in different places. This means that the siphon should not be a monolith. For a good siphon, the pipes should be easily adjustable in length and fit into any drain hole, regardless of its location. This is a look from the outside. If you look from the inside, then personally I am always amazed at the addiction of foreigners to taking baths. They will fill the bathtub, pour in all sorts of salts, flavoring agents and sit there bastard. Then they come out, put on a terry robe right on the soapy and fragrant body and are happy. Don’t even rinse. I can imagine how they then walk around all day and scratch themselves with unwashed soap. Or maybe they are not pouring into the bathtub that we are? Or do they have some other soap? For example, such a foreigner got out of the bath – and he was reluctant to stick his hand into dirty water and pull out the plug from the drain hole. You can, of course, pull on the chain with which the plug is attached to the overflow hole (as in a regular bath). But, apparently, the most squeamish of them came up with a siphon with an automatic drain. A pin is installed in the overflow hole. On the outside of the bath, it is connected to the drain plug. A cover is put on the pin. Turning it to one side makes the plug go down into the drain hole and does not let water through, and turning it to the other raises it – and the water is drained.

Siphons from Vega: for a bathtub with water supply through an overflow hole (left) and for a shower with a chrome-plated standpipe (right)

It should be noted that siphons with automatic drain are equipped with a cover and a drain plug. Usually, however, lids, plugs and drain funnels are bought together with faucets, of the same color and design. My advice: when buying any sanitary ware (bath, sink, bidet), be sure to ask the seller what it is equipped with.

The firm “Charus”, the official distributor of the Swiss company “Geberit”, offers just such a comfortable version of the bath siphon. In addition, there are 12 different cap colors to choose from, which are sold separately. On sale there are chrome plated, in harmony with the metallic luster of the taps, and made of colored plastic.

If you have a large and comfortable bathroom, and not a standard compartment in which you can wash and fill the bathtub with one tap, then it is not at all necessary to install an additional tap to fill the bathroom. On the wall above the bath, only a mixer is installed to regulate the temperature of the water, and water is poured into the bath through the overflow hole. To do this, you need a special siphon, to which the pipe from the mixer is connected. Such siphons of the German company “Vega” (Viega) can be purchased from the company “Concept” (Konzept).

Shower trap siphons

This siphon has another name – “ladder”. I must say that this nautical word has nothing to do with the sea, or the ship, or the stairs. The plumbing drain, firstly, is installed in the shower tray or simply installed in the floor. And secondly, it is designed to drain water. That is, it is never closed with a plug, unlike bathtubs and sinks.

The lower its height, the better. Indeed, in any case, you will have to raise the shower tray, thereby “eating” part of the height of the room, and, possibly, make steps. Or hammer the floor. Usually the height of ladders ranges from 8 to 20 cm.

Many people naively believe that washing in the shower cannot be improved in any way. Nothing like this! Firm “Concept” offers a special tube that is inserted into the drain hole. Its height (12 cm) is slightly less than the height of the shower tray. There is a water drain hole at the top of the tube. Therefore, the tray is filled with warm water while you shower. Accordingly, the legs are not chilly.

On the other hand, if you are bothered by the constant opening and closing of the shower curtains, you can do without it and without a shower tray. For this, there is a special ladder that is installed directly into the floor. A groove is hollowed out in the floor. A sewer pipe and a ladder are placed in it. The floor is tiled from above – and you’re done.

This design can be used not only for the shower. For example, to be installed in the bathroom floor. Then, if the water still overflows the edge of the bathtub, it will not flow in a universal flood down to the neighbors, but through the ladder it will go into the sewer.

You can even install a drain on the balcony, especially if you have a heated floor system there. Then rainwater and melted snow will flow through the ladder in a wonderful way. Another option is to make such a ladder in the garage to drain the dirt from the car. Such ladders are especially popular with the firms “Geberit” and “Vega”.

Siphons for sinks

In plumbing shops I was amazed by the strange inscriptions on the price tags: “pipe siphon”, “bottle siphon” and “corrugated siphon”. The word “pleated” reminded me of the old fashion for pleated skirts. As far as I remember, the dandies gave the fabric for them in the atelier, where it was impregnated with a special compound and then creased indelibly. So it is here: it turned out that the siphon is made of such a “folded” pipe.

Chrome Plated Basin Siphon Bottle

First, it bends in such a way as to form a water seal. This bend is secured with plastic tape. The rest of the siphon is movable and can bend in any direction. Imagine that you decide to change your kitchen environment. Decorated the ceiling, floor, walls. Planned out how everything will stand and wait for the ordered furniture. All of a sudden, your wife has a new idea. And she desperately wants to install the sink in a completely different place. We give a reference: instead of pulling sewer pipes through the entire kitchen (and your spouse may change your mind), buy a corrugated siphon for washing. I must say that the corrugated siphon is a domestic invention. True, unfortunately, the folds of the siphon are quickly clogged with dirt and grease. Siphons of such companies as Geberit and Vega resemble a designer with threaded connections. They can be wrapped in any direction and around any corner.

Now about the bottle siphon – this is a well-known rigid construction, shaped like a bottle. It is found in almost every home under the sink. A convenient thing – with it you can be calm about the safety of gold crowns lost when brushing your teeth and rings that slipped off when washing your hands. In short, all lost items will lie at the bottom of the bottle. By unscrewing its lower part, you will find your favorite rings and crowns. Yes, do not forget, before this simple manipulation, first place a bucket under the siphon so that the water seal will drain there, and not on the floor.

By the way, if a corrugated siphon is attached to the sink, then, alas, you will have to look for the loss in the Maryinsky aeration fields. In other words, nothing lingers in such a siphon. But to avoid such troubles, we advise you to buy a combined version – a bottle siphon with a corrugated hose.

The pipe siphon has practically no special features. It’s just a curved pipe.

The siphon of this sink is recessed into the wall!

In all cases, these siphons take up the “scarce” space under the sink, which is so necessary in our usually small bathrooms. For example, to install a washing machine under the sink. A kit is being advertised with might and main, which includes a miniature washing machine and a special sink. The idea behind this innovation is that the car can be shoved directly under the sink. Conveniently, no words. On the other hand, what to do if the bathroom already has a nice little sink from another company, lovingly matched in color and style with a bathtub, tiles and other accessories? Of course, I don’t want to buy another sink at all. And there is no need.

There is an exit. You can purchase a special siphon, which, in turn, is placed in a special box. For her, a hole is hammered in the wall under the sink. Therefore, only a thin pipe will be extended from the sink drain to the wall. Its length can be easily adjusted. In height, it occupies only 6 cm. For Geberit, this box is white, and Vega offers a chrome-plated version..

I must say that this design was originally designed for people with disabilities, so that a person in a wheelchair would not rest their feet on the siphon under the sink. (The photo shows that there are special handrails on the sides of the sink for convenience.)

Washing machine siphons

Siphons for washing machines

A similar design (when the siphon is placed in a box and inserted into the wall) is offered for washing machines. By the way, in the technical passport of some washing machines it is indicated that it is better to drain the machine to the sewer pipe precisely through a siphon. Agree, manufacturers know better what and how to connect.

So, how are washing machine siphons arranged? The front side of the box is closed with a decorative cover. The box is attached to the wall in the place that you like best: behind the washing machine, on top – above it, on the side of it. The drain is supplied from below under the decorative cover. If you suddenly need to move the washing machine, then everything is thought out – your eyes will not bump into ugly, bizarrely curved pipes. Only a pretty box will be visible.

Siphon pipe for double sink and dishwasher outlet

The dishwasher can be connected in the same way..

Moreover, the siphon can be completely removed into the wall. Outside, leave only the decorative cover and the “beginning” of the pipe on which the drain hose of the washing machine is put.

A third combined option is also possible. In this case, you can buy a siphon for a bathroom sink or for a kitchen sink, which has a special outlet for the washing machine hose..

Siphons for kitchen

Until recently, we needed a siphon in the kitchen exclusively “under the sink”. Times have changed now. It is fashionable to put a dishwasher and washing machine in the kitchen. And the sinks themselves have become diverse. Instead of one sink, the sink can have two or even three compartments. In one they wash the dishes, in the other fruit, in the third – I can’t even imagine what. But they probably wash something, since there is a third container.

So what happens? Do you need to buy three siphons for each drain? Absolutely useless. You just need to buy such a “branched” siphon, where the number of “branches” coincides with the number of drains.

Kitchen siphon with overflow hole and automatic drain

What are the options? For steel and plastic kitchen sinks the Charus company offers a siphon with an overflow and automatic opening of the drain plug. I talked about a similar bath siphon. So, here is the same construction. Modern sinks, though not all, have special slots. A pipe with an overflow hole is supplied to them so that the sink can be filled with water. A handle is installed in a convenient place: by turning it, we open the drain hole. True, the hole for the handle will have to be pre-drilled. But then you do not need to look for a drain plug in dirty water.

What siphons are made of?

Most often, siphons are made of plastic (polypropylene or polyethylene). It does not rust, does not rot, does not corrode. There are also pipes made of copper alloys – brass and bronze. They do not rust, but over time they become covered with a thin layer of oxide, the dirt begins to cling to all the irregularities and roughness and, naturally, accumulates on the walls of the siphon. Plastic in this respect is much more practical. Outwardly, they also look different: you can pick up a siphon made of white and black plastic, you can buy chrome plated.

Domestic siphons do not shine with beauty. Both in quality and in terms of design, they are much inferior to imported ones. One joy is the price. Our siphons can be purchased from 15 to 30 rubles apiece.

On the other hand, who needs what. For example, in the Santekhkomplekt company I was told how a wealthy client demanded that the sink drain funnel must be gilded. Moreover, gilded “no fools”, in the sense it is covered with gold. Another eccentric wanted to put a siphon not plastic, but metal. Motivating his desire by the fact that he loves to print photos and pour the developer directly into the bath. From this, they say, the plastic funnel of the bathtub darkens, and the metal one – at least that! And no matter how much they tried to persuade him to pour waste into the toilet, they say, it would be cheaper, nothing came of it. Not persuaded.

So, let’s summarize. If you bought excellent expensive plumbing fixtures and good mixers, then you need to buy high-quality siphons. They will serve faithfully, without leaking and clogging. I do not advise you to save money and look for what is cheaper. After all, the more complex the technology, the more carefully the manufacturing process is controlled, the better the siphon, but, of course, more expensive. And one more thing: if in Russia there is no strong dealer of a company supplying the siphon you bought to our market, then you will be tortured to look for spare parts. It is better to buy siphons of firms and companies popular with us.

Firms, of course, offer different options for siphons, at different prices and with different warranty periods. In our table, we tried to give information about those manufacturers whose products I found in our stores.

And the final choice is yours.

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Comments: 1
  1. Avery Palmer

    Could someone explain the various types of siphons? I’m curious to learn more about how they work and the different applications they have. Are there any specific siphons that are commonly used in everyday life? Thanks in advance for any insights!

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