Bathroom and Kitchen Plumbing Accessories: Traps, Waste Fittings and Flexible Tap Connectors

The components that connect appliances to waste and supply pipework are some of the most frequently replaced items in domestic plumbing — and some of the most frequently confused. The wrong trap seal depth causes siphonage. The wrong flexible tap connector size leaks. The wrong bath waste results in a return visit. This guide covers the full Embrass Peerless range of traps, bath and sink waste fittings, and flexible tap connectors stocked at APM.

Traps — How They Work and What Seal Depth to Use

A trap holds a standing water seal in the waste pipe between the appliance outlet and the drainage system. The seal prevents drainage gases (which include methane and hydrogen sulphide) from entering the building. Traps must maintain their seal under the full range of operating conditions — which is why Building Regulations specify minimum seal depths and maximum unvented run lengths.

The standard seal depth is 75mm for most applications. 38mm seals are permitted on washbasins where the trap is part of a fully vented system. Bath traps use a 19mm seal because the bath waste is less prone to siphonage than a basin.

1¼″ Basin and Bidet Traps

Washbasins and bidets use 1¼″ (32mm) outlets. Plastic traps connect to 32mm waste pipe; brass traps provide a decorative option where the trap is visible beneath a wall-hung basin.

Plastic 1¼″ Traps

• 1¼″ × 75mm Seal Telescopic Bottle Trap — adjustable outlet height; for basins where the trap-to-wall run needs to be adjustable to suit the waste pipe position
• 1¼″ × 75mm Swivel P Trap
• 1¼″ × 38mm Swivel P Trap — 38mm seal for vented systems
• 1¼″ × 75mm Swivel S Trap — S-trap for floor-outlet waste connections (less common in modern installations but still required on some refurb work)
• 1¼″ × 75mm Running Swivel P Trap
• 1¼″ Adjustable Swivel P Trap

Brass 1¼″ Bottle Traps

• Embrass Peerless 1¼″ Brass Bottle Trap CP — chrome plated brass; for exposed trap installations under wall-hung basins where a plastic trap would look out of place
• Embrass Peerless 1¼″ Brass Bottle Trap Square Style 300mm Pipe — designer square-body bottle trap for contemporary bathrooms; 300mm adjustable outlet pipe

1½″ Bath, Sink, and Appliance Traps

Baths, kitchen sinks, and large washing appliances use 1½″ (40mm) outlets. P-traps connect to 40mm horizontal waste pipe; S-traps for floor connections.

Bath Traps

• Embrass Peerless 1½″ × 19mm Plastic Bath Trap — the standard shallow-seal bath trap; 19mm seal, 40mm outlet
• 1½″ × 75mm Seal Telescopic Bottle Trap — deep seal for bath connections where siphonage risk is higher

Swivel P and S Traps — Bath and Kitchen Sink

• 1½″ × 75mm Swivel P Trap
• 1½″ × 75mm Running Swivel P Trap
• 1½″ × 75mm Swivel S Trap
• 1½″ Adjustable Swivel P Trap

Appliance and Standpipe Traps

Dishwashers and washing machines connect via a standpipe trap — the appliance discharge hose enters the top of the trap. The trap must be at least 600mm above the finished floor level to prevent siphonage.

• 1½″ × 3″ Appliance/Washing Machine Trap
• 1½″ × 75mm Appliance/Standpipe Trap
• 1½″ × 75mm Appliance Swivel P Trap c/w 135° Nozzle
• 1½″ × 75mm Appliance/Swivel P Trap c/w Nozzle
• 1½″ × 75mm Appliance Swivel P Trap c/w Twin 135° Nozzle — twin nozzle for dishwasher and washing machine on a single trap

Shower Traps

• 1½″ Fast Flow Shower Waste and Trap
• 1½″ Combined Shower Trap Waste 90mm — Chrome — 90mm waste grid and trap for shower trays; removable grid for cleaning
• 1½″ Combined Shower Trap Waste 90mm — Matt Black

Pan Connectors

• Pan Connector Flexible 100/110mm — for connecting a WC pan to a 110mm soil pipe where the pan outlet does not align directly with the pipe socket; flexible to accommodate misalignment
• Pan Connector 90° Flexible Long 4″ — for WC pans where the outlet faces the floor or the pipe entry is at 90° to the pan outlet

Bath Waste and Overflow Fittings

Bath Combo Waste and Overflow

• Embrass Peerless Bath Combi Overflow Waste Centre Screw 1½″ — connects bath waste plug hole to overflow to a 1½″ trap; the standard fitting for new bath installations
• Bath Pop Up Waste and Overflow 1½″ 1020mm Cable — cable-operated pop-up waste; no plug required
• Black Bath Pop-Up Waste with Overflow
• Bath Filler Waste Mushroom Pop Up 1½″

Sink Waste and Overflow

• Sink Combi Overflow Waste Centre Screw 1½″
• Sink Combi Overflow Waste 1½″ Brass Body
• Sink Waste Stainless Steel Basket Strainer with Overflow
• Sink Waste Stainless Steel Basket Strainer with Square Overflow Face
• Spare Basket Strainer Square Overflow Face

Overflow Fittings

• 21.5mm Overflow 90° Bend Connector White
• 21.5mm Overflow 135° Elbow White
• 21.5mm Overflow Tee

Mechanical Waste Fittings (Multi-Fit)

Multi-fit mechanical waste fittings connect waste pipes to trap outlets without solvent cement — the nut and washer system compresses onto the pipe for a watertight seal. Used on push-fit waste runs and where the pipe is polypropylene.

• 1¼″ Mechanical Waste 90° Elbow
• 1¼″ Mechanical Waste 135° Obtuse Bend
• 1½″ Mechanical Waste 135° Obtuse Bend
• 1½″ Mechanical Waste Trap Connector Elbow M × F
• 1½″ × 1¼″ Mechanical Waste Reducing Coupler

Flexible Tap Connectors

Flexible tap connectors bridge the gap between rigid copper supply pipe and the tap tail. They accommodate minor misalignment, absorb vibration, and make tap installation and removal faster. Available in compression × BSP, push-fit × BSP, and ½″ × ½″ BSP-to-BSP configurations across lengths from 150mm to 900mm.

Compression × BSP — 15mm

• 15mm × ½″ × 150mm
• 15mm × ½″ × 300mm — the most common length for basin tap supplies
• 15mm × ½″ × 500mm
• 15mm × ½″ × 900mm
• 15mm × ⅜″ × 300mm — for taps with ⅜″ bottom-entry tails
• 15mm × ¾″ × 150mm
• 15mm × ¾″ × 300mm — for kitchen mixer taps with ¾″ tails
• 15mm × ¾″ × 500mm
• 15mm × ¾″ × 900mm
• 15mm × 15mm × 300mm (both ends compression)

Compression × BSP — 22mm

• 22mm × ¾″ × 150mm
• 22mm × ¾″ × 300mm
• 22mm × ¾″ × 500mm
• 22mm × ¾″ × 900mm

BSP × BSP (straight connectors)

• ½″ × ½″ × 300mm
• ½″ × ¾″ × 300mm
• ¾″ × ¾″ × 300mm

Push-Fit × BSP

• Push-Fit 15mm × ½″ × 300mm
• Push-Fit 15mm × ¾″ × 300mm
• Push-Fit 22mm × ¾″ × 300mm

Monobloc Tap Tails (M10 / M12)

Monobloc mixer taps have slim ½″ or ⅜″ threaded tails, with M10 or M12 top-fixing nuts. These connectors have the correct slim body to enter the tap body through the mounting hole.

• Monobloc Tap Tails M10 × 15mm × 300mm (pair)
• Monobloc Tap Tails M12 × 15mm × 300mm (pair)

With Integral Isolating Valve

• 15mm × ½″ 300mm c/w Isolating Valve
• 15mm × ¾″ 300mm c/w Isolating Valve
• 22mm × ¾″ 300mm c/w Isolating Valve

Washing Machine Hoses

• Embrass Peerless 1.5m Washing Machine Inlet Hose Red — ¾″ × ¾″ BSP both ends; red indicates hot feed, but red hoses are commonly used for cold supply too

The full Embrass Peerless traps, waste fittings, and flexible connector range is in stock at APM's Acton trade counter — same-day collection available.

APM Plumbing & Electrical | 24 Western Avenue, Acton, London W3 7TZ | 020 8702 8080 | apmi.uk