Gio Bella Bottle Traps

Thirteen bottle traps from Gio Plumbing, round and square, almost all of them 32mm. A trap is the bend below a basin that holds a small volume of standing water, and that water is the seal that stops drain air coming back up through the waste. A bottle trap does the same job as the older bent tube, but the seal is held in a short cylinder instead, so the whole assembly is tidier and takes up less depth under the basin.

Why a Bottle Trap

The reason to choose one is almost always that the plumbing is on show. A wall hung basin, a countertop basin on an open slab or a vanity with no doors leaves the trap visible from across the room, and a chrome or brushed cylinder reads as part of the fitting rather than as pipework. That is also why these are stocked in the same finishes as the tapware rather than in white plastic. Behind a closed vanity, nobody sees it and the choice matters far less.

The other practical point is clearing a blockage. The lower cup of a bottle trap unscrews, so whatever has settled in the bottom comes out into a bucket without cutting into pipework. The trade off is that a bottle trap seal is typically shallower than a deep bent trap, so on a waste that goes unused for long stretches, a holiday house or a guest bathroom, the seal can evaporate and let smells through. Running the tap for a moment refills it.

Reading the Sizes

The 32mm on these titles is the nominal waste size, and 32mm is the standard for a hand basin in South Africa. Baths, showers and kitchen sinks step up to 40mm. So 32x32 means both connections are basin sized, which is what you want if you are replacing a trap under a basin like for like. One item is listed as 40x32, pairing the two standard sizes, and one is a floor mounted 32mm. Check the basin waste outlet and the pipe in the wall before ordering, because those two set the size, not the basin brand.

What Goes With It

A visible trap normally gets matched to a visible valve, so most people buy these alongside the Gio angle valves in the same finish. The basin itself is on Gio Bella countertop basins, and the wastes, spouts and the rest of the fittings are on plumbing and wastes. The full range is on Gio Bella.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a bottle trap actually do?

It holds a small amount of standing water below the basin. That water is a seal, and it is the only thing stopping air from the drain line coming back up through the waste and into the room. A bottle trap holds that seal in a short cylinder rather than in a bent tube, which is why it is more compact and easier to look at.

What does the 32mm on a bottle trap mean?

It is the nominal waste size, and 32mm is the standard for a hand basin in South Africa. Baths, showers and kitchen sinks normally step up to 40mm. A trap listed as 32x32 has both connections at basin size. Check the outlet on your basin waste and the waste pipe in the wall, because between them they decide the size you need.

Should I use a bottle trap or a normal P trap?

If the plumbing under the basin is visible, use a bottle trap: it is compact and it is finished to match the tapware. If it is hidden inside a closed vanity, a standard trap does the same job out of sight and holds a deeper water seal. The deeper seal is worth having on a basin that goes unused for weeks at a time.

What is a heavy pattern bottle trap?

Heavy pattern is the supplier designation that separates those items from the standard versions of the same size and shape. Four of the thirteen carry it. The titles do not state the wall thickness or the weight behind the term, so rather than guess we will check the specific code with the supplier if it matters to your specification.

Which finishes are the bottle traps available in?

Brushed nickel, gold, brushed gun grey and matt black across the round and square bodies, plus plain versions where the title does not name a finish. Because the trap sits directly under the basin and directly above the floor, it is worth matching it to the basin mixer and to the angle valves on the wall rather than choosing it on its own.