Pop Up Basin Wastes

Pop up basin wastes guide

A pop up basin waste is a plug and waste in one part. A domed cap sits above the drain when the waste is open, and a push closes the basin or opens the drain again. This collection holds pop up wastes for basins from Fienza, Phoenix and Caroma, Eight Quarters and Meir, Otti and Turner Hastings, Nero, Clark and Modern National. The wastes differ in outlet size and in whether they suit a basin with an overflow. The cap can be brass, ceramic or concrete. The sections below answer the questions people ask most: how a pop up waste works, whether they are all the same size, how the overflow works, and how to choose one. For the full range of basin wastes, start at basin wastes.

How a pop up waste works

The mechanism is a push. Phoenix wastes work by pushing the waste to pop it up and down. Press the cap and it lifts to open the drain. Press it again and it drops to seal the basin. The waste is one fitted part, so the basin has no chain and no loose plug to keep track of.

The cap sits proud of the basin floor when the waste is open. That is the sense of pop up at The Blue Space. A pop down waste, by contrast, sits flush when it is open, and those are collected at pop down basin wastes. The two terms are used differently across the industry, and one Fienza flat cap waste has a pop-up/pop-down mechanism, so check the product description when the wording matters to you.

Are all pop up wastes the same size

No, and this is the most common source of a wrong order. Basin outlets in Australia are usually 32mm or 40mm, and the usual rule is 32mm for basins and 40mm for baths. Measure the outlet at the part inside the basin. A 32mm waste can connect to 40mm pipework with an adaptor, and several wastes in this collection are made that way.

The threads are G1 1/4 inch and G1 1/2 inch, written a few ways. G1 1/4 inch goes with the 32mm outlet and G1 1/2 inch with the 40mm outlet. Others suit a hole range. For the sizes in detail, see 32mm outlet basin wastes and 40mm outlet basin wastes.

Universal wastes and the 42mm to 58mm hole range

The Nero Project pop up waste is a universal design for basins with or without an overflow. It has a standard 40mm bottle trap connection and fits basin waste holes from 42mm to 58mm, with a G1 1/2 thread and a required hole size of 43mm. The finish is PVD, the construction is brass, the top diameter is 66mm and the overall depth is 105mm.

A universal waste is made to cover more than one case, but each defines the word for itself. The Otti universal mushroom waste is a 32mm waste that suits basins specifying a 32mm waste and connects to 40mm pipework. The Phoenix universal waste works the same way. When a waste is called universal, check which sizes it covers.

With or without an overflow

An overflow is the small hole near the rim of a basin. One rule applies. A basin with an overflow needs a slotted waste, which drains overflow water whether the waste is open or closed. A basin without one needs an unslotted waste, which is watertight when closed. A mismatch can cause leaks or stop the overflow working, with the risk of floods and damage.

The overflow is handled in three ways. Universal wastes suit both kinds of basin. Some makers sell separate versions: the Modern National 32mm waste comes in a with-overflow model for basins that have an overflow hole and a non-overflow model for basins that do not, and the Fienza flat cap wastes follow the same split. A few are for non-overflow basins only, such as the Eight Quarters concrete wastes. For the overflow wastes in detail, see basin wastes with overflow.

Ceramic, concrete and brass caps

The cap is the part you see, and the collection offers it in several materials. The Eight Quarters ceramic pop up wastes have a ceramic top with brass and chrome construction, no overflow, a 32mm waste outlet and an included 40mm adaptor. The Eight Quarters concrete wastes have a concrete top over the same brass and chrome construction, are designed for basins without an overflow, and are compatible with a 32mm outlet. The Fienza dome wastes use a ceramic or cast stone cap on a solid brass body. The Fienza flat cap wastes use a vitreous china cap.

These caps are designed to sit with the basin they match. The Eight Quarters wastes are made for the Eight Quarters range, and the concrete basins are at Eight Quarters concrete basins. A gloss marble ceramic top suits the Eight Quarters Regency basins.

Wastes made for particular basins

Some pop up wastes are range-specific. The Caroma dome wastes are designed specifically to fit the Liano II, Urbane II or Contura II basins and will not fit other basins. The Clark pop up waste is for wall hung, under counter, semi-recessed and semi-inset basins only. Treat a named basin range or basin type as a requirement. The brand collections are at Caroma wastes and traps and Clark wastes and traps.

If you are matching an existing basin, check your basin by name against the waste before you order.

Pull-out and convertible tops

Some pop up wastes add a removable top. The Fienza universal pop-up and pull-out wastes have a brass dome cap, and the entire top section pulls out for cleaning and draining. They are convertible for use with or without an overflow, with the overflow adjusted by a centre screw, and they suit a 32mm or 40mm outlet, with the 40mm size using an included adaptor. The finishes include chrome, brushed nickel and urban brass, brushed copper and gun metal, matte black, and concrete versions.

One part covers several basins. The overflow is adjusted by a centre screw, so set it to match your basin at fitting and keep the instructions.

Thick basins and benchtops

A basin set into a thick top can leave a standard waste short. Extended wastes exist for thick vanity tops. Two wastes in this collection have ranges worth knowing: the Phoenix dome wastes have an adjustable installation range of 10 to 60mm, and the Nero Project waste fits basin waste holes from 42mm to 58mm. Check the range before you order, and measure the depth from the top of the basin hole to the underside of the bench.

Heights and clearance under the basin

Overall heights differ. The Fienza flat cap wastes have an overall height of 70mm. The Modern National waste is 78mm. The Nero Project and Eight Quarters concrete wastes are 105mm. The Eight Quarters ceramic wastes measure 68mm by 68mm by 120mm. These are the part of the waste that sits within the basin and below it, so check them against the space between the basin and any shelf, drawer or trap.

A taller waste needs more room below. If the cabinet leaves little space under the basin, compare the heights and choose accordingly, and confirm with a plumber if the fit is tight.

Care for the finish

Wipe the cap with a soft cloth and a mild cleaner, and dry it if your water is hard. Keep abrasives away, because scale can stop a seal working. Vinegar and abrasive cleaners can damage PVD finishes, so keep both away from the PVD versions. Lift out any removable top and rinse it under the tap, then refit it and test the action.

After cleaning, press the waste closed, run a little water into the basin and check it holds, then press it open and watch it drain without gurgling.

Clear hair and soap from under the cap when the basin drains slowly. If the waste still will not seal or open, a licensed plumber can check the seat and the connection below.

Matching a waste to your basin

Start with what the basin has. Check whether it has an overflow, measure the outlet, and note the basin type and range. Then look for the words with or without overflow, 32mm or 40mm, and any range or basin type the waste names. Confirm anything unclear with a licensed plumber.

The trap below the waste

The pop up waste is the visible part of the drain. The trap sits below it, and the two must connect. The Nero Project waste has a standard 40mm bottle trap connection, and several 32mm wastes connect to 40mm pipework. For the traps themselves, see bottle traps.

Basin wastes for baths

This collection is for basins. Baths use their own wastes, which have different outlet and overflow arrangements, and those are collected at pop up bath wastes. Baths are usually 40mm and basins 32mm, which is one reason a basin waste should not be assumed to suit a bath. Universal wastes that suit both exist, and the Meir universal all-in-one is an example of a waste for basin and bath.

Brand collections

If you are buying tapware from one maker, that maker's collection keeps the finish consistent. Phoenix wastes are collected at Phoenix wastes and traps, Meir wastes at Meir wastes and traps, Nero wastes at Nero wastes and traps and Turner Hastings wastes at Turner Hastings wastes and traps. Otti wastes sit alongside Otti basins.

How to choose

Measure the outlet in the basin and decide between 32mm and 40mm. Check whether the basin has an overflow, or choose a universal waste. Look for any basin range or type the waste names. Then choose the cap material and shape, and the finish that matches your tapware and your trap.

After that the choice is about appearance and cleaning. If you want a part you can lift out, look for the pull out plug and pull-out top wording. If you are comparing the full range, return to the basin wastes pages and filter by what you need.