Toilet bowl( siphon, nozzle): types, choice, how to install

The toilet bowl is a plastic elastic tube in the fold, which stretches to the required length. It is used to connect plumbing equipment to sewer pipes.

Some time ago, instead of a corrugated pipe for connecting a toilet bowl with a drainage outlet, a complicated system of couplings, elbows and branch pipes, mostly made of cast iron, was used. This approach was characterized by great strength and durability, however, with the passage of time showed its shortcomings. Firstly, the surface of the cast iron is far from smooth, so mud, grease and small debris gradually accumulated inside the system, which led to clogging. Secondly, if the bathroom was repaired, then changing the height of the floor and the level of the walls led to the need to acquire new fastening elements to make the structure more reliable and airtight.

Today in the shops you can find several types of corrugation for the toilet. They differ in three main characteristics:

• Soft or stiff. Soft corrugation is suitable for toilets with any type of outlet - horizontal, oblique or vertical, so it is much more elastic. The installation of such a corrugation is made easier than the installation of a rigid, but the rigid corrugation is more wear resistant.
• Reinforced or unreinforced. The reinforced corrugation is reinforced with a thin wire, which reinforces the rigidity of the final structure. It is worth more than unreinforced, but its service life is longer.
• Short or long . There are toilet flakes for sale from 20 to 50 cm in length. The length should be chosen based on the distance between the toilet bowl and the sewer flare, but it is necessary to leave a reserve in order to avoid leaks.

It is not always necessary to install a corrugated pipe, in some cases it is easy to do without it, leaving the old sewer connection system.

However, in the following two situations, the use of a corrugation is the most suitable way of connecting the toilet bowl to the drainage system:

• The installation of the toilet is offset with respect to the sewer socket. This happens when the floor level has been changed during the repair.
• The type of release of the new toilet seat does not coincide with the type of release of the previous one, under which the sewer is installed. For example, if you buy an imported toilet in the apartment of Khrushchev's building, which for a long time did not change the engineering systems.

The application of the corrugation for the toilet has both advantages and disadvantages. Consider both sides of this phenomenon.

So, the advantages of using corrugated pipes:

• Mounting corrugation is not difficult even for those who are just starting to make their first steps in the field of plumbing.
• In difficult cases of connection without corrugation can not do, so it is the most plastic of all the options offered.
• Corrugation can be considered as a temporary connection option, which can be quickly dismantled.
• If the type of toilet outlet does not coincide with the sump funnel, the corrugated pipe easily solves this problem.

The drawbacks of this connection method are as follows:

• Thin walls can pierce a sharp object that has got into the sewer. In addition, temperature changes( for example, if poured into the toilet boiling water) can deform the plastic.
• The service life of the corrugated pipe is less than that of metal analogues.
• Gofra does not look as beautiful as chrome plated metal pipes. However, with a certain art of the master, you can set it so that it will be almost completely hidden from view.
• If the corrugation is stretched too far and not fixed, then it will sag in the middle. Water and debris will accumulate in the place of subsidence, which sooner or later will lead to a clogging.

If the listed shortcomings of corrugated pipes overpower in your eyes all of their advantages, you can show a little worldly skill and try to solve the problem of connecting the toilet to the sewer otherwise. Of course, this concerns only problematic situations, since it is usually possible to do with standard methods.

Situation 1. A toilet bowl with an oblique exhaust type is installed, which is higher than the sewer socket. In order to solve this problem, you will need a short pipe made of PVC or polyethylene. If necessary, the pipe must be cut off.

• First method: Attach the pipe to the toilet bowl on one side, and the socket of the sewer on the other. The joints should be sealed by means of sealing rubber cuffs of the appropriate diameter.
• Second method: Above the gas burner, heat the pipe until the plastic softens. Then quickly pull it onto the toilet bowl. Place the toilet on the floor. Connect the other end of the pipe to the sewer socket and fix the connection with cement mortar or sealant.

Situation 2. It is necessary to connect a toilet bowl with a direct type of outlet to an oblique socket of the sewage system. This problem can be solved by installing a special plastic corner. On sale there are two versions of such corners - at 90 and 45 degrees. To the toilet bowl is attached with a rubber cuff, and to the sewer, as in the previous case, cement mix or sealant.

In order not to be mistaken with the choice of corrugated pipe for the toilet, before going to the store, measure all necessary distances and dimensions and sketch a schematic drawing of the connection. This will help the seller pick up the right equipment for you. Together with the pipe, buy a suitable sanitary sealant to ensure that the design is not only reliable, but also aesthetic. The length of the corrugation depends on the distance between the toilet and the outlet of the sewer, but it is better to leave a margin of several centimeters.

We begin the installation from the preparatory works. If the socket of the sewer and the toilet outlet are not new, they should be cleaned of accumulations of dirt, mucus and debris. Do not forget to remove the remains of building materials. Cleaned surfaces should be wiped dry. If you are installing a new toilet, try to make the distance between it and the outlet of the sewer as little as possible.

We are about to install. To begin with, carefully consider the corrugated pipe you bought: at one end there are external sealing rings, and on the other - internal membranes. The end with the rings must be inserted inside the sewer pipe. The end with the membranes - put on top of the toilet bowl, the rubber mount, so it stretches well. All joints should be treated with sealant

• Do not stretch the corrugation before installing it on the toilet. You can do this only just before the beginning of the installation work. If you stretch the corrugation too much, it will be difficult to return it to its original state.
• Do not use corrugated pipe as an additional shelf for various household items. If you put a heavy object on it, it can burst.
• When buying corrugation, pay attention to the thickness of the walls: than it is bigger, the longer the product will last. In addition, try to buy products from European manufacturers. They are more expensive, but its quality is much higher than that of domestic and Chinese counterparts.
• If you are a happy owner of your own home, then you should seriously think about the need for a plastic corrugated pipe. The fact is that mice, rats and other small rodents consider plastic a very tasty product. If these uninvited guests are seen in your house, then you better choose the metal pipes.

A corrugated toilet pipe can be a real salvation in difficult situations related to the mismatch of the parameters of the connected equipment. Like any other modern technical solution, it has its advantages and disadvantages. Use light and flexible corrugation or take advantage of more cumbersome, before and longer-lasting methods of connection - it's up to you. But, whatever your decision, we hope that our article has helped you make the right choice.