Bottle trap

A bottle trap is a compact cylindrical alternative to the traditional U-bend, commonly used under wash basins where space behind a pedestal or vanity unit is limited. Internally, the water seal is maintained between an inlet dip pipe and an outer chamber, holding the required minimum seal depth set out in UK Building Regulations Part H1. Bottle traps are easy to remove for cleaning, as the lower body unscrews to allow access to trapped hair, soap residue and other debris. They are often chrome-plated where they are visible on designer cloakroom installations. While neat and visually unobtrusive, bottle traps can be more prone to gradual blockage than wider U-bends due to their reduced internal cross-section, so regular cleaning is generally recommended.