How to choose a siphon for a sink

Not everyone knows what a siphon is and what it is needed for. And I will not only answer these questions, but also tell you how you can choose the perfect plumbing part for your sink.

Types of siphons for kitchen sinks

A siphon is a “comrade” that protects your sink from blockages, and you from unpleasant odors from the sewer. Regardless of the type, it accumulates water in one way or another, creating a so-called hydraulic plug. But its variety affects exactly how it does it.

There are three of them:

Corrugated is the most convenient to install of all. In fact, this does not require any special skills or calling a specialist. It takes up little space, and if you need to move the sink, you won’t need to disconnect it: the pipe is movable and easily changes direction. But in order to clean it, you will have to dismantle it, and it clogs faster than, for example, the next type.

The bottle siphon is the most popular model at the moment, which is not surprising. Thanks to the bottle-shaped storage, the risk of blockages is minimized, and for cleaning you just need to unscrew the bottom cap. This is especially true for those who “like” to lose jewelry in the sink - the bottle siphon will prevent them from getting into the sewer, and to get them out, you do not need to disassemble the entire system. It can be connected with either a corrugated or a rigid pipe, but, of course, the first is the most convenient.

Reference! It can also be equipped with additional inlet pipes for connection to a washing machine or dishwasher.

The tube one is good only for its compactness. But it becomes clogged almost instantly, it is more difficult to install than the first two, and a very small hydraulic plug is formed, so as the water evaporates, the protection against odors will weaken.

Attention! It cannot change its shape, which means it is very important not to make a mistake either with the size of the space under the sink or with the width of the sewer pipe.

Siphon selection criteria

When purchasing a new sink, I recommend choosing models with a standard drain size, since the siphon is less durable and will require replacement after a certain number of years. You understand that it will be much more difficult to find a suitable one for a non-standard model.

When choosing between pipe and corrugated, focus on the level of placement of the sewer pipe.

When inspecting the selected model, first of all pay attention to the quality of the rubber gasket. It should be soft and not form cracks when bent. Of course, there should be no cracks or chips on the siphon itself. Also check the quality of the thread: all elements should twist and unwind freely, while the joint should be as tight as possible.

If your sink is not built into the cabinet, then the appearance of the siphon is also important, which should be in harmony with the overall design of the kitchen.

Which siphon is best for a sink?

First of all, always choose a reliable manufacturer. I can recommend the following:

1. Viega. These German guys produce products that fully correspond to their slogan: “Quality matters most. Without quality, everything loses its meaning.”They have been leading the plumbing market for more than a hundred years, while following innovations and producing technically advanced siphons: from classic ones to those equipped with all sorts of tricks, like food waste grinders, etc. In addition to the usual plastic ones, they provide a wide selection of steel, copper and bronze models.
2. Alcaplast. A Czech company that does everything to ensure that their products bring comfort to consumers. I recommend buying their siphons for those who do not want to spend money on calling a technician, since their models are extremely easy to install, are equipped with detailed and understandable instructions and come with all the necessary fasteners, meaning you don’t have to buy anything additional.
3. Hansgrohe. If you are an esthete, then this is the place for you. If you stand up for the environment, then even more so. Their siphons not only look like works of art, but are also tested many times to ensure that they do not release any harmful emissions either during service or after processing.
4. McAlpine. A Scottish company that produces the most brutal siphons in their properties. They are not afraid of anything at all - neither crazy temperatures (and this is exactly what they are tested at during production), nor the most aggressive chemicals. They are also as airtight as possible.
5. Akvater. If you want to support a domestic manufacturer, this company is what you need. It is relatively new on the market and does not surprise consumers with anything unusual, it simply produces high-quality and reliable siphons that cope 100% with their functions.

As you can see, there is not much to consider when choosing. If you don’t want to rack your brains too much, take a standard plastic bottle siphon - you definitely won’t go wrong. Most importantly, do not forget to check its quality.