Whenever we install a plumbing item in our kitchen or bathroom, we need to know a little about the essentials for that particular item. For example, if we are about to install a sink in our bathroom we must know what basic supporting items are required. In this case, a water trap is an essential and must-have item.

Purpose of water traps

Water traps are used to prevent the entry of insects and foul gasses from entering into your property. Traps are curved pipes that are installed underneath the plumbing fixtures like bathroom sinks, kitchen sinks, shower areas, bathtubs, etc.

Types of water traps

Traps are categorized depending upon the shape of the curved pipes. Following are the most commonly used types of water traps:

P-trap
S-trap
Shallow trap
Bottle trap

You need to choose among plenty of available traps. This is only possible when you know about different kinds of traps or waste pipes. You should have a basic knowledge of the pros and cons of various kinds of traps.

In this article, we will briefly explain a few types of water traps and focus on bottle traps and their installation in bathroom sinks.

P-traps

P-traps are U-shaped pipes that are used to block foul gasses and harmful bacteria from entering your building. These are vastly used underneath the toilet sinks. However, there are a few issues associated with the use of P-traps:

There is a chance that the debris will accumulate in these traps resulting in clog formation.
If the sink is not used for a long time the water in the trap will evaporate and the foul gasses can enter creating an unpleasant smell.

S-traps

S-traps are pipes of a shape similar to the letter “S”. These are the oldest versions of traps used. There is a problem associated with these traps that they siphon away wastewater and hence paving the path for bad and unwanted gasses to enter. P-traps have largely replaced the S-traps.

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Shallow traps

Shallow traps are similar in shape to the P-traps but shallower in depth. Because of this attribute, these traps are used to fit showers and bathtubs. These are not suitable to be used for the sinks as they require deeper pipes. It is important to note that these traps do not meet certain water regulations. That is why the use of these traps is rarely found.

Bottle traps

The bottle traps are popular in the compact-size bathrooms of European style. It is upside down bottle shaped leading towards the pipe. These pipes need to be fitted horizontally for appropriate working performance.

The waste is collected at the bottom of the bottle trap and the water is lighter in weight and hence flows through the pipe. When the bottom is filled with waste, just unscrew the bottom and clean it.

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Bottle traps take up smaller space and that is why it is suitable for compact washrooms. However, the water flow is not great using this trap. These traps are in tough competition with the P-traps.

Bottle trap vs P-trap

Let us draw a comparison between the two most used water traps. Each one has its advantages and disadvantages. We will try to cover the important aspects of the comparative analysis.

Bottle traps require very less space as compared to P-traps. So bottle traps are preferable for compact bathrooms.
Bottle traps are cleaned by removing their cap and the complete body is irremovable. In contrast, the P-trap is completely removed for cleaning purposes.
Bottle traps are relatively deeper than p-traps.
The water flow in P-traps is a lot more than in bottle traps.

The verdict

The comparison shows that both types of traps have their positives and negatives. Bottle traps have an unbeatable advantage of occupying less space than P-traps. Bottle traps are almost an extension of the existing drain pipe.

Similarly, bottle traps have an easy-looking cleansing mechanism. You just have to open the cap and the waste shall fall in whatever you have put under the sink to collect it. But it is not always simple because the waste can be deeper in the bottom and you may need some tools to clean it. On the other hand, P-traps need to be completely removed for cleaning.

P-traps have the advantage of better water flow than bottle traps and they are less prone to clogs. We have to choose one depending on the regional water regulations as bottle traps might not be matching them in many areas.

However, the comparison shows that P-traps and bottle traps are equally good and it is just a matter of selection for a particular case. The details are completely revealed to you so that you might be able to select the right one for your case. In the following section, we will discuss the installation of bottle traps underneath a bathroom sink.

Bathroom Sink Bottle Trap installation

Following are the easy steps to install a bathroom sink bottle trap:

Screw the waste plug to the bottle trap using “top hat” washers to make a good seal.
There is a tapered seal that goes, tapered end first, into the body of the bottle trap.
The outlet waste pipe is then horizontally connected.
Test the system works properly without any leakage.

Conclusion

Bottle traps are preferred to be used in compact bathrooms because they occupy less space. These traps are also deeper so they are suitable to be used for sinks. However, just to draw comparisons among different types of traps, we have briefly explained other types as well. A comparison of two of the best traps is also part of the article. Finally, the installation process of the bathroom sink bottle trap is explained.