Pop down basin wastes guide
A pop down basin waste is a push-button plug and waste that sits flush with the basin when it is open. Press it to close the waste and fill the basin, press again to open it, and the whole mechanism lifts out as a cartridge for cleaning. The Blue Space uses the term for that flush design, and keeps pop up for wastes that sit proud of the surface when open. This page holds the ART Australia Basin Pop Down in 32mm, 32/40mm universal and 40mm versions, in chrome, black, white, nickel, gold, grey and brass finishes. The sections below cover how the mechanism works, what its limits are, and how to match a size and a finish to the basin. For every basin waste size and type, start at basin wastes.
How a pop down waste works
The action is simple. Pushing the waste down seals it so the basin can fill, and pressing it again releases the water into the pipe below. There is no lever, rod or chain to adjust. The ART Australia Pop Down is push to close, push to open, with a solid brass stopper that stays flush when open. To clean it, lift the stopper out, wipe it and put it back.
The ART Australia range has a quick close waste that sits flush in the most commonly used open position, with smooth opening and closing and a quick remove cartridge for cleaning and drain access. The cartridge has polymer fins and a vortex design meant to keep the flow high, a slot near the top is intended to catch rings and earrings before they fall down the drain, and the centre button comes out. The cartridge can be removed without a plumber.
Pop down, pop up and plug and waste
Three common basin wastes are worth comparing. A pop up waste lets you drain the basin or push the plug down to seal it. It is the most popular and comes in many finishes. Clean it regularly so the seal stays smooth, and keep the cap clear of the stream from the spout.
The pop down is a waste that sits recessed when sealed and flush while water drains. Its flush design prevents accidental sealing and its inner cartridge makes cleaning, blockages and replacement easier. A plug and waste, the third type, uses a separate plug. It is easy to install and widely available.
What follows from that is a layout rule more than a verdict. Place the waste away from the line of the spout if you can, and expect a cartridge to be a part that gets cleaned and sometimes renewed. The wider pop up range is on pop up basin wastes.
The profile is the difference
The choice between pop up and pop down is plain. 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 the two operate, since both are quick, plug-free ways to seal a basin or bath. If you like a flat basin floor and a clean line in the bowl, the pop down is the one. If you prefer a dome, see the pop up page.
Bath or basin
The Basin Pop Down is made for basins. Baths need a separate pop-down waste, in overflow and non-overflow versions. The ART Australia bath version is a different product, with a 40mm outlet. For bath wastes, see pop down bath wastes, which also covers the pop down waste for baths in more detail.
Sizes: 32mm, universal and 40mm
The ART Australia range here comes in three size lines. The 32mm versions in Brushed Gold, Brushed Nickel, Chrome and Polished Brass suit basins with a 32mm outlet, with or without an overflow. The universal versions suit basins with a 32mm or a 40mm outlet, with or without an overflow, and come in Chrome, Brushed Gold, Brushed Nickel, Gold, Gun Metal Grey, Brushed Gun Metal Grey and Satin Chrome. The Matte Black and White versions are 40mm products. Check the option on the product page for the size you need.
Both sizes exist for a reason. Basins are usually 32mm and baths 40mm, vanity basins usually take 32mm and larger fixtures take 40mm, and adaptors such as 32mm to 40mm bridge a mismatch. Most Australian basins take 32 or 40mm, measured at the part inside the basin, and a 32mm waste can connect to 40mm pipe with an adapter. So the answer to whether basin wastes are a standard size is that there is no single standard. The basin decides, and the universal waste exists so one part covers both.
32mm is the most common size, and a qualified plumber should confirm the outlet your basin needs. Measure the opening in the bowl, not the cap. The sibling pages cover the sizes in detail: basin wastes 32mm outlet size and basin wastes 40mm outlet size.
When a pop down waste gives trouble
The common problems are few. A waste can stick or jam when hair and toothpaste build up in the mechanism, so clean the cartridge regularly. A spout directly overhead can push the plug down under high pressure, even on a pop down, so keep the stream clear of the cap.
The fixes follow from the causes. Clean the cartridge regularly, keep the water stream off the plug, and renew the cartridge or seal when it wears. A plug and waste is the fallback some owners choose after trouble with a push-button waste, though the grate is harder to clean and the plug can go missing. A push-button waste suits households that will clean it and keep it clear of the tap stream.
Wall hung basins and the trap below
The waste connects to a trap, and on a wall hung basin the trap is on show. A bottle trap suits exposed pipework, and most take a 32mm or 40mm inlet, with 32mm the most common on basins. The ART Australia universal waste suits both outlet sizes, so choose a trap whose inlet matches the pipework you have. The checks are short: confirm the waste size, confirm the trap inlet, and check the pipework behind the wall. A waste and a bottle trap are separate components with different functions, and both need to be compatible. For the full range of traps, see bottle traps.
Overflow
The overflow is a small hole near the top lip of the basin. 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 with an overflow needs a slotted waste and one without needs an unslotted waste. The ART waste suits basins with or without an overflow, so one product handles either arrangement. An above-counter basin does not automatically have no overflow, so look at the rim, and remember that an overflow is a drainage route and not protection against overfilling.
Finishes
The standard finish on the ART range is chrome, and other finishes are available for some products. The finishes in this collection are Chrome, Satin Chrome, Matte Black, White, Brushed Nickel, Brushed Gold, Gold, Gun Metal Grey, Brushed Gun Metal Grey and Polished Brass. The Gold is a polished gold finish, and the Brushed Gold is a brushed version of the same tone.
The Polished Brass version is different in kind. The raw brass finish is not coated and is designed to patina over time, so it will darken and warm with use. That suits a room built around ageing metal and does not suit one where every metal should stay as it arrived. If you want the colour fixed, choose one of the coated finishes. Match the finish to the basin tap, since each maker mixes its own colour and two golds or greys from different makers rarely match exactly.
A replacement part may be enough
The cartridge design means a worn waste does not always need a new body. Replacement pop down basin mechanisms and O-rings are available for the ART Australia range, and replacing the whole waste when a compatible service part may be enough is a common and avoidable cost. If the waste sticks, jams or stops sealing, check the cartridge and seal first. Hair and toothpaste build-up is the usual cause of jamming.
Care and cleaning
Lift the cartridge out, rinse off hair and soap, wipe the seat and press it back. Use a soft cloth and warm water on the finish, and avoid abrasive pads and strong chemicals. Avoid vinegar on PVD in particular, because vinegar and abrasive cleaners can damage it. Hard water can leave scale that stops the seal from closing, so rinse and dry afterwards. On the raw brass version, expect the patina and leave it alone if you like it.
Test the action after every clean: press the waste closed, fill an inch of water in the basin and check it holds, then press it open and watch it drain.
If you are fitting the waste to a basin you have not used before, dry-fit it first without sealant, check that the flange sits flat on the basin and that the thread leaves a few turns for the nut, and only then seal and tighten. A waste that rocks in the hole needs a different thickness, not more force.
How to choose
Measure the opening in the basin and decide whether the basin has an overflow. Choose the 32mm version for a 32mm outlet, or the universal version if you are unsure or want one part for either size. Check the installation thickness against the basin. Place the waste away from the line of the spout. Then pick a finish to suit the tap. The full ART Australia range, previously known as Bounty Brassware, is on Bounty Brassware, and the parent page for every maker's wastes, traps and grates is wastes, traps and grates.
