Water trap for sewage: characteristics, types and installation

Full sewage not only removes all drains and sewage. It also effectively protects against the penetration into the room of bad odors. A significant role in protecting against them is played by high-quality hydraulic shutter.

A water lock for sewage (more precisely, for devices that accept waste water) is obligatory. This element helps to effectively combat the spread of foul-smelling, unhealthy, burning and exploding gases. The hydraulic shutter is occasionally mounted inside certain devices, such as urinals and toilet bowls. There is no need to supplement them with external blocking systems. From the very name it is clear how it works: there is a layer of liquid that impedes the movement of the gas mass.

The hydraulic valve can be considered a kind of sanitary siphon.A small amount of water inside helps to make the atmosphere in the serviced building more comfortable. Normally, the liquid must be present in a special device continuously. But with prolonged inactivity of the toilet (urinal) natural evaporation of water will gradually lead to loss of protective properties. Therefore, odor is inevitable at the first flush after a long break.

However, when sewage is actively used, the supply of fluid in the hydraulic gate is updated. Therefore, it is possible to successfully contain the flow of bad odors. The normal operation of fan ventilation is critical, because without it a shutter failure is likely. The fluid in this development goes into the system. Of course, the performance of the main task and speech can not be. But this should not be regarded as a disadvantage of the principle of operation of the device: with proper configuration and operation, problems are excluded.

The simplest type of hydraulic valve is designed as a U-shaped pipe. Water located in different parts of the improvised knee is located at the same level. No technical devices and sophisticated schemes for this purpose are used. The principle of communicating vessels is applied.Thanks to it, continuous overlapping of the lower part of the cross section inside the gate is ensured by the liquid.

It is enough to bend a corrugated plastic pipe to get a complete picture of how this valve looks. So that the plastic does not unbend under load and due to various mechanical stresses, plastic rings are used for additional fastening. In technical terms, such a solution is certainly reliable, but only if components of adequate quality are purchased. The problem itself is associated with poor aesthetic characteristics.

Where prestigious hydraulic valves are made of copper and stainless steel. Such designs are used in the most modern interiors. To prevent the intake of odor from the kitchen sewer helps not bent, and arranged in a vertical scheme of the hydraulic shutter. Such devices are different in that they are easy to disassemble. Therefore, the cleaning of the siphon is noticeably simplified, and for kitchens this advantage is very important.

The design is made of two blocks: one is inserted into the other. The difference in level of the edge between the top element and the drain hole helps to ensure a stable liquid level. As a result, the hydraulic barrier works as reliably as possible. But even when using the kitchen modification of the shutter, it is necessary to look for alternative solutions to how to protect yourself from a foul odor, if you have to use the sewage system only periodically. Returning to the classic knee water seal, it is worth noting that the distance between the lowest point of such a device and the lowest point of the pipe along which the drains flow should be at least 5 cm.

The phrase "dry odor trap" may seem like an inappropriate joke, but it is a very real product. Moreover, there are even two types of such devices - the float-type format and the sewer pendulum trap.In the float apparatus, the upper segment is trimmed to the required dimensions (usually from 1.2 to 7 cm). After that, the item is buried in the screed. If the water dries up, the float in it drops - it closes the pipe purely mechanically.

When the system is operating normally, the float on the water rises. Along with industrial structures, there is also an alternative, manufactured in artisanal conditions. Such a device is equipped with a float, resembling an inverted glass. Attach it in such a way that the bottom was raised above the drain hole to a greater distance than the diameter of the pipe. To overlap the output channel, a lightweight float in the form of a ball, whose diameter is larger than that of the hole, is used.

Pendulum design is arranged differently. Near the shutter, at the very bottom, there is a clearly visible pair of curtains, which are suspended at an angle to the vertical plane. It is these curtains and play the role of an insulating element. Own gravity allows the parts to be in the closed position by default. To open them at the time of discharge is capable of the flow of water. This device was first developed by German engineers.

Of course, they know how to work very well and soundly. But there is a nuance that must be taken into account. In Germany, sewers for urban housing plan to create a water column 5–6 cm high. If installed sanitary devices create a 3.2 cm high column in a water seal, this is absolutely not enough. In some constructions, instead of gravity, the curtains are closed due to the force developed by the spring. Such modifications are very diverse and have increased capabilities.

It is worth mentioning about another type of hydraulic valves of the dry type. On sale it is found under various sorts of intricate names. Marketers call these devices "memory materials at the cellular level." The bottom line is that the product will pass water with a small pressure. For country baths and other minor facilities such a solution is too difficult and expensive. For your information: skilled home masters can reproduce any type of hydraulic shutter in handicraft conditions.

Installation of even high-quality and reliable valves should be done very carefully.On the most reliable and externally flat floors it is required to make a coupler, orienting it along the beacons in the direction of the drain. It is required to complete trimming of the ladder elements only after a precise determination of the height of the floor covering approach to the drainage site. Competent and accurate work allows even with a small slope to exclude the occurrence of puddles.

The question of whether to provide full access and the ability to replace any element depends on the importance of the object. In houses it is quite relevant, but not in the baths. When installing the sewage system on the first floors of buildings, it is required to lay the system at a depth that at least coincides with the freezing line. It is recommended to warm the floors under a coupler with a layer of expanded clay, 200 mm thick, with the addition of a cement mortar of a fat consistency. It is also necessary to provide for the possibility of periodically flushing the closures from dirt entering them.

The sequence of mounting the hydraulic barrier on the sewage system is as follows:

• lattice fixing;
• siphon connection;
• pressing this siphon with a nut underneath.

Professional plumbers always recommend choosing their valves for any plumbing product.When two devices are placed on opposite sides of one wall, both of them must have a separate barrier. If the diameters of the drain and sewer pipes are different, use sealing rings. The thickness of such rings is at least 1.5 cm. Each point of the siphon and sewer connection has to be sealed.

Silicone sealants or cement mortar can be used to increase the tightness. Under the bathroom are placed tees, in which there is a separate input for overflow. Auxiliary safety devices can be used to support valves. Most often these are check valves and aerators. The choice of the place where the appliance will be delivered must be completed before the installation of the sewer system begins.

To do the job normally, you will need:

• screwdriver;
• adjustable wrench;
• sealing tape;
• silicone-based sealant (it is better than cement in a number of indicators).

An error in determining the appropriate diameter threatens with the appearance of abnormal discharges inside the sewage system. When the drained water fills the pipe with 100%, a vacuum region is formed after the overflowed area. This may cause a sewer and seals to break. In the most severe cases, the siphon body may be broken, so the necessary cross-section must be clarified carefully. The use of a mesh with a small cell and grille, which is mounted on the sink drain hole, helps to eliminate the accumulation of fine sediment near the bottom parts of the hoses and flasks.

Balloon type hydraulic shutter very well resists the breakdown of the pole. However, it is more difficult to operate such devices - they will have to be systematically cleaned of dirt. Such models are widely used in bathrooms. If you want to choose a device that is less susceptible to contamination, you must choose a double-turn format. The level of performance and protection from damaging factors are determined by the depth of the knees.

The double-turn hydraulic valve is often chosen for kitchens. After all, just such a device that is less susceptible to contamination is found with fatty and other impurities even earlier than catchers and cleaners. Dry shutter, as the manufacturers assure, helps to reliably prevent the ingress of gases outside the sewer. It is also claimed that such systems effectively block the return of fluid from the drain. However, the increased tendency to pollution allows one to safely apply such barriers only where sewage will be rarely used.

Other selection criteria are the sewer diameter and the number of drain channels. In bathrooms, usually used units with overflow. If the appliance has to service the washing machine, it must have additional taps. The same approach is practiced for servicing dishwashers. Sinks with two sinks should be connected to siphons equipped with a pair of nozzles.

The use of cast iron siphons is not recommended. This is an outdated option, now polymer modifications are being installed almost everywhere. Cast iron can only be used for the sewer element very rarely.The selection of a particular model is adjusted for the number of connected devices. The more of them, the higher should be the overall performance. The presence of a sump is good where there is a high risk of losing valuable things - most often it is shells.

The advantage of the bottle design is that you can guarantee a longer life than using corrugated pipes. Smooth tubular elements are used only in isolated cases, because the bending of the pipe is technically complicated, and the resulting construction requires a lot of space. Bottle trap of corrugated type pipe is universal in characteristics, and can be assembled by hand. Corrugated pipes with a cross section of 11 cm are used to connect to the toilet. If the need arises, adjustment of the loop length is possible even on the installed and connected system.

Another advantage of the “bottle” is the ability to dismantle and then move the sinks or toilet bowls over short distances without removing the siphons. The design of the ladder is always more complicated than that of other hydraulic valves.A similar element is mounted in shower tray trays or directly in floor coverings. The complexity of the product is justified by its advanced functionality. The ladder, along with the containment of extraneous odors and drainage of the liquid, maintains the tightness of the connection with the floor and becomes a kind of preliminary filter.

How to make a water seal for sewage with your own hands, see the next video.