Different plugs for kitchens and bathrooms

Choosing the plug in your bathroom or kitchen is pretty straightforward, and below are some considerations when finding a replacement.

Sizes
There are only 2 sizes – bath wastes and kitchen wastes are 1.5” BSP size and basin waste are 1.25” BSP size – this actually refers to the thread part of the waste that connects to the plumbing pipework.

Basin size plugs are usually around 37mm diameter whilst bath plugs are around 43.5mm diameter.

Types of plug
Wastes are made up of the following types:

• Removable plugs/plugs with chains.
• Pop up wastes which have a separate plug that moves up or down by pulling a separate lever.
• Clicker wastes where the plug is part of the waste and opens or closes by pressing down on it ‘clicking’ open or closed.
• Spin, swivel or flip top plug waste where the plug is held in the waste and spins to open or close.

Choosing a replacement plug for a spin plug or clicker waste is the hardest to replace as often it is not interchangeable. There are also a limited number of replacement clicker mechanisms and clicker plugs but often designed to suit only that manufacturer.  However, where a plug is needed for a regular plug, plug and chain or pop-up waste, the good news is that these can very easily be found.

Once you have selected the size, then here are some further considerations:

Material
Plugs are mainly made from chrome plated metal (either brass or zinc alloy) or from poly plastic or rubber.

From a quality and visual appearance, the metal ones look much nicer whilst the rubber plugs tend to be cheaper, however they are more flexible so may seal better than the metal plugs which rely on a small o-ring to create the seal.

When choosing one of these plugs adding a chain means it is easier to remove the plug. Note that the length of chain is usual is 12” (30cm) for a basin plug and 18” (45cm) for a bath/sink plug.

Pop Up waste plugs
These are invariably metal and have an adjustable length stem that can be adjusted to sit correctly on top of the moving ‘finger’ inside the waste. Again,  these will be in only 2 sizes – either 1.25” for basin wastes and 1.5” for bath wastes.

Kitchen Plugs
If your kitchen waste is a basket strainer waste, then this requires a basket strainer plug – these can vary a bit but tend to be about 78-80mm diameter.  If it is a solid plug or plug and chain then any 1.5” plug that measures 43.5mm diameter should be suitable.

What if the plug isn’t sealing?
Occasionally a plug just won’t seal and so the basin or sink won’t hold water.  When this happens, the good news is that there is still a solution. There are ultra flexible ‘super-plugs’ available, made from silicone, that will seal on the face over the waste and the weight of water keeps the seal which allowing you to bath or wash as normal without water leaking away. For example, the Universal Super-plug.