ADP wastes and traps guide
This collection holds the ADP wastes and traps: the Universal Ultra Mushroom Waste in three finishes, and two bottle traps, the Waterloo and the Subway. It is a small range, so the decisions are few and specific. For the waste, they are the outlet size, the overflow and the finish. For the trap, they are the connection size, the height and the room under the basin. The sections below cover each product, how sizing works, and what to check before ordering. They cover the waste first and the traps second.
The ADP universal ultra mushroom waste
This waste combines the clean look of a pop-up plug with the flexibility of a waste that fits any basin or bath. The specification is the useful part. The waste is suitable for 32mm and 40mm overflow and non-overflow wastes, with a 40mm connection, and it has a removable plug and a 40mm thread connector. It suits baths or basins, and the box holds one universal mushroom plug and waste.
The mushroom shape is the cap. It is a dome that sits above the surface when the waste is open, so The Blue Space calls it a pop up waste. A pop down waste sits flush when open instead. The two designs are compared on pop up basin wastes, and the wider sizing guide is basin wastes.
Finishes
The waste comes in three two-tone finishes: Gloss White and Chrome, Matte White and Chrome, and Matte Black and Chrome. In each, the cap takes the colour and the body is chrome, so the waste coordinates with the rest of the bathroom. The bottle traps add Brushed Brass on the Waterloo and Matte White on the Subway.
The cap is the coloured part, so the waste works as a small accent on a basin. A matte black cap suits matte black tapware, and a white cap suits a white basin, and both keep a chrome body that wipes clean. Chrome shows fingerprints and water spots more easily than other finishes, while a matte surface is flatter and hides them better, so the two-tone design splits the difference. Clean the cap and the body separately, since they do not behave the same way.
32mm or 40mm, and the 40mm connection
Buyers often ask whether basin waste is 32mm or 40mm, and whether basin wastes are a standard size. Basins are usually 32mm and baths 40mm, though vanity basins can take either and larger fixtures take 40mm. Adaptors such as 32mm to 40mm bridge a mismatch, and most Australian basins take 32 or 40mm, measured at the part inside the basin. A 32mm waste can connect to 40mm pipe with an adapter. So there is no single standard, and the basin's own specification sets the size.
One part covers both sizes: the ADP waste suits 32mm and 40mm wastes, with a 40mm connection below. That is the universal approach, and it is why the same waste suits baths and basins. The word universal needs a caution. Choosing on the nominal 32mm or 40mm figure alone is a common mistake. Check the size lines, which name both baths and basins, and measure the opening in the basin or bath, not the cap.
Pop up or pop down
The choice between the two types puts the difference plainly. A pop up closes with a push and has a slightly domed cap. A pop down also closes with a push but sits flush, with no cap standing proud once it is open. The choice mostly comes down to that physical profile and not to how they operate. The mushroom shape on the ADP waste is a dome, so it belongs with the pop ups, and anyone who prefers a flat bowl floor should look at pop down basin wastes.
Overflow or no overflow
The overflow is a small hole near the top of the bowl that lets water drain away if the basin or bath overfills. An unslotted waste is completely watertight when closed, while a slotted waste has a slot that carries overflow water away whether the waste is open or closed. A basin or bath with an overflow needs a slotted waste, and one without needs an unslotted waste. The wrong type can cause leaks or stop the overflow from working. The ADP waste suits overflow or non-overflow basins, so one product covers either arrangement.
Do not assume that an above-counter basin has no overflow, and remember that an overflow is a drainage route and does not protect against overfilling. Look for the hole near the rim before you order, and do not judge by the style of the basin.
Fitting checks for a basin waste
These checks apply to the ADP waste as much as any. Start with the basin maker's waste specification, then compare the product's technical details. Do not measure across an installed plug, since the cap is larger than the opening. Check the permitted installation thickness, because a waste that is too short may not secure properly and one that is too long can cut into the space under the basin. Leave clearance under the vanity for the waste body, the trap and the connections. If you are replacing an old waste, photograph the basin and the waste before you remove it.
Before you order, run through five quick measurements. Measure the diameter of the waste hole in the basin with a tape. Look at the inside rim for an overflow slot. Measure the thickness of the basin base. Note the connection size of the trap or the pipe below. Then check the clearance between the waste, the trap and the back of the vanity. Five minutes with a tape saves a return.
A licensed plumber should do the plumbing work, and the licence rules differ by state. In New South Wales, for example, the appropriate licence or certificate is required regardless of the cost of the job. Basin waste outlets require WaterMark certification, so verify the certification of the specific product by its model, not just the brand. Ask the plumber who will fit the waste about the rules in your state.
The ADP bottle traps
A bottle trap replaces the plastic trap under a wall hung basin, and because the pipe is on show it is finished to match the room. The ADP range has two. With open shelf units and wall basins a mainstay of bathroom design, ADP offers a range of coloured bottle traps for open installations, and the finishes complement the rest of the ADP range.
The Waterloo is designed for straightforward assembly beneath a basin, in residential or commercial settings. It is minimalist in design and effective at preventing odours, since all bottle traps retain some water that blocks sewer gases. It is brass and suits 32mm or 40mm basin waste sizes, with one 40/32 reducer included. The Matte Black has a diameter of 31.7mm and a G1-1/2-11 thread, and the Brushed Brass fits a standard 32mm or 40mm waste pipe. Confirm the connection with your plumber before ordering, since the finishes describe the fit in different words.
The Subway has a 40mm connection that will suit most bathroom basins. It is adjustable in height and suited to wall hung vanities with a 40mm connection, and it comes in Matte White. Choose between the two by the connection you need and the finish you want. For traps from every maker, see bottle traps.
Cleaning and smells
Bottle traps collect debris in the base, so they need cleaning more often than a concealed trap. Clean the trap body every three to six months, avoid caustic cleaners, and run unused drains monthly to keep the seal. A dried-out trap is the most common cause of a smell in a bathroom with no blockage, and topping it up with water restores the seal. If the smell returns quickly, a plumber should check for siphoning and venting.
The care note for the Waterloo is simple: wipe with a warm, soapy damp cloth, rinse with clean water and dry with a soft cloth. Do the same for the waste, and lift out the removable plug to rinse off hair and soap. Avoid abrasive pads and strong chemicals on the chrome and the coloured caps.
To clean the pop up waste, lift the cap to its open position and turn it anticlockwise where the design allows. Do not force it. Clear the hair and soap from the screen and the body below, rinse the parts, dry them and refit the cap so the push action stays smooth.
Matching the basin, the bath and the vanity
ADP makes basins, baths and vanities as well as accessories, and the finishes here are made to sit with them. The basins are on ADP basins and the baths on ADP baths. A wall hung vanity with open space beneath is where a bottle trap shows, and the Subway is made for exactly that. For a closed vanity, the trap sits out of sight and the visible part is the waste in the bowl. When you mix finishes, stick to similar undertones and buy fixtures from one brand to avoid mismatches, which is the reason to take the waste, the trap and the basin from one range where you can. Two whites from different makers, or two blacks, will not always match.
How to choose
Measure the opening in the basin or bath and decide whether it has an overflow. Choose the Universal Ultra Mushroom Waste in the cap colour that suits the basin and the tap. For a wall hung basin, add a bottle trap: the Waterloo if you need the 32mm option or the brass body, the Subway if a 40mm connection and an adjustable height suit the pipework. Check the installation thickness and the room under the vanity. Book a licensed plumber for the connections. Give the plumber the basin's specification and a photo of the existing waste and the space under the basin before the parts are ordered. That short step settles most sizing questions before anything is cut. The parent page for every maker's wastes, traps and grates is wastes, traps and grates.
