Repair of a siphon for the drain in the bathroom
The bent pipe under your sink is called a siphon. Its purpose is to prevent harmful gases from backing up in the drain by retaining water in the bend and sealing the trap. In addition, its shape allows it to catch dropped objects (such as wedding rings) that might otherwise be lost down the drain.
Hair, soap scum and dirt can clog the drain over time, but this is easily remedied. It’s relatively easy to remove and replace a leaky or clogged trap without spending the money on a plumber.
Prepare
Before you begin, put on gloves to protect your hands from any contaminated material. Also, wear a face mask to prevent breathing in mold spores or other airborne contaminants that may be in the trap.
Next, make sure the water is completely turned off. Turn off the faucets, but also close the valves under the sink. You don’t want someone turning the water back on when you step away from work for a moment. Check to make sure the water is completely off by turning the faucet on again. Then place the bucket under the drain before pulling out the trap to catch any liquids or objects that splash out when you pull the trap out.
Removing the trap
Use needle-nose pliers to loosen the nuts at the top and bottom of the trap. If they are tight, you may need to use some force, but be gentle so you don’t damage the end piece coming out of the sink, the trap itself, or the drain spout coming out of the wall. After loosening the nuts, continue unscrewing them by hand. Once the nuts are loose, carefully remove the trap, making sure that the contents only fall into the bucket below.
Emptying and cleaning the P-trap
Empty out the entire contents of the trap. This is where the gloves come in. If you’re looking for an object that may have fallen down the drain, you should be able to spot it as you empty the contents. If you can’t find it, you may need to clean the trap completely with hot water and soap. Use a bottle brush to scrub the inside of the trap, as this will remove any extra debris in the drain and prevent further clogging. This should be enough to solve the clogged drain problem, but if the trap is broken or worn out, you should replace it at this time.
Buy a new trap
If the trap is leaking or broken, or if it is an old trap made of chrome, you should replace it with one made of ABS or PVC plastic. Siphons made of chrome look classy, but they corrode quickly. However, if it is an old siphon made of brass, you probably do not need to replace it. To make sure you get the right size siphon, take the old one to the hardware store. A plastic siphon comes as a complete package, which means it comes with nuts and gaskets.
Install the siphon
Now install the new siphon. It should be easy to install, and the threaded ends should be wrapped with Teflon tape. If you can’t do it by yourself, call the Emergency Plumber in Stockport. Our Customer Service is 24 hours available. After your call, they send a plumber to your place. Furthermore, the plumbers are licenced and professionals. Call us now, 01613941214.