POP UP WASTE

Pop Up Waste: With Overflow or Without

A pop up waste is the plug and drain fitting in the bottom of a basin, and the wrong one is the usual reason a new basin leaks or will not hold water. The choice comes down to one question: does the basin have an overflow hole? This category holds mushroom-top pop up wastes with and without overflow, plus a ceramic-capped version that matches a coloured basin. Check the basin first, then choose the waste.

Buying guide

Choosing the Right Pop Up Waste

Match the pop up waste to the basin: overflow to overflow, no overflow to no overflow, and the rest is finish.

What to Look For in a Pop Up Waste

Overflow or not. A basin with a small hole near the rim has an overflow, and needs a slotted waste so water reaching the rim drains away through the slots. A basin without one needs an unslotted waste; put a slotted waste in it and water leaks out of the slots into the cabinet.

Mushroom or lever. A mushroom top opens and closes when pressed, which suits a counter-top basin whose tap has no lever hole. A lever waste needs a pop-up rod through the tap body.

The cap. A metal cap in the tap finish or a ceramic cap in the basin colour. Decide which the eye should read when the basin is empty.

Body material. A brass body outlasts plastic, but the parts that fail are the thread, the rubber washer and the plunger, which scales up in hard water. Ask whether the top lifts out for cleaning.

Fitting and Looking After It

Fit it before the basin goes on. Use the supplied washers, and a thin bead of silicone under the flange if the basin surface is uneven. Do not overtighten a ceramic basin; the nut cracks it.

Sizes. A basin waste is 32mm (1 1/4 inch); a kitchen sink waste is 40mm. Check the bottle trap matches the waste. Bottle traps are a separate item; ask when you order the waste.

Hair and scale. The mushroom top lifts out, so the stem can be cleared monthly. White vinegar softens scale. If a new basin drains slowly, the trap or the waste is misaligned, not the basin.

Pop up wastes are sold in the same finishes as the basin taps, so the two can match.

Common questions

What is a pop up waste?

A pop up waste is the plug and outlet fitted in the bottom of a basin. Press or lift the top and it opens to drain; press again and it seals to hold water. It replaces a plug on a chain.

Overflow or non-overflow pop up waste?

It depends on the basin, not on preference. A basin with an overflow hole needs a slotted (overflow) waste. A basin without one needs an unslotted (non-overflow) waste. Fitting the wrong one either leaks or leaves the overflow useless.

How do I know if my basin has an overflow?

Look for a small hole in the inside of the bowl near the rim, usually at the back under the tap. If it is there, the basin has an overflow. Most counter-top bowls do not; most wall-hung and cabinet basins do.

Why does my basin leak into the cabinet?

Most often a slotted waste has been fitted to a basin with no overflow, so water escapes through the slots. The other usual causes are a washer left out, a nut overtightened until the seal deformed, or a trap that does not match the waste size.

How do I clean a pop up waste?

Lift or unscrew the top, pull out the hair, rinse, and soak the top in white vinegar if there is scale. Doing it monthly takes two minutes and avoids the slow-draining basin that gets blamed on the plumbing.

Does a pop up waste fit every basin?

Almost every basin takes a standard 32mm waste, but the overflow question still has to match. A ceramic-capped waste also needs the colour checked against the basin. Bring the basin model code and we can confirm.

Look for the overflow hole before you order: it is the one detail that decides which waste you need.

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