Drainage and drain protection requirements differ between kitchens and bathrooms. In the kitchen, you’ll want to use a good filter (perhaps even in conjunction with a garbage disposal ) to protect your drainage system from large food particles. Your biggest concern in the bathroom is hair loss, especially if you occasionally flush thick lotions or makeup down the drain.
Many kitchen sinks these days come with full drains and filters by default, which means you don’t have to think about these parts of the sink at all. Bathroom sinks tend not to come with drains, but pressure is usually less important, and there aren’t that many drain types. Shower drains come in a variety of looks, with the most common being grid drains and pop-up drains. But underneath the differences in appearance, their functions are often very similar.
Whether you want to improve or replace your filter, plug, or drain, there’s actually a lot to consider. We will discuss the different sizes of sink drains, see what types of kitchen sink strainers are available, and then see what stoppers and drain protectors are available for your bathroom sink and shower.
1. Are sink drain pipes available in different sizes?
Yes! First of all, the sizes of sewers in kitchens and bathrooms are different. Additionally, there are no universal sizes for any type of drain, drain hole, pipe, or fitting, but there are common sizes.
No matter which room or pool you are purchasing a drain, stopper, or strainer for, know that there are two dimensions to consider: the drain hole and connecting pipe size (outlet) and the size of any top ring or lip on the drain assembly (flange). There is some wiggle room in measurements because of how the assemblies fit together. Putting most of these pieces together is like putting a bowl into a slightly larger bowl – as long as they’re the right size, they’ll still fit if you follow the installation instructions.
The standard drain hole size for almost all kitchen sinks is 3.5 inches, but some larger settings also exist. Bar sink drain holes are smaller, ranging in size from 1.875 (1 7/8) inches to 2.25 inches, but some are larger.
If you have a garbage disposal, the disposal itself replaces any previous standard drain assembly. To use a filter on a disposal unit, you will need a filter with a wide (more than 3.75 inches) flange on the top of the disposal drain pipe, or a filter specifically compatible with the disposal unit flange. Strainers and stoppers specific to garbage disposals are more likely to be straight-sided and can be deeper for thicker sinks, such as fireclay sinks.
While some filters are designed to fit specific kitchen drain components, many will fit a variety of drain pipes. Make sure to check the size range if available, but if the drain hole is about 3.5 inches, a standard filter assembly will probably fit. If you’re really unsure, just find a strainer with a large flange so it completely covers your drain pipe.
As for installing a stopper or filter/hair clip in the bathroom, expect it to be a little tricky. Bathroom drain sizes are slightly less universal than those found in kitchens, and existing drain assemblies may be more complex.
While most bathroom sink drain holes are 1.25 inches in diameter, 1.5-inch and 1.625 (1 5/8)-inch drain holes are also common.
Shower drain holes are typically 1.5 to 3 inches in diameter, but the flange on the shower drain varies greatly depending on the design of the tub or shower. You can find large square floor drains, as well as long linear floor drains. Despite these different designs, most still connect to a drain pipe 2 or 3 inches below the surface.
2. Types of Kitchen Sink Filters
All kitchen sink strainers are basket strainers and “double cup” strainers. A separate “cup,” the basket, fits into the main body of the drain, another so-called “cup.” The basket collects food particles and other debris, preventing waste from sliding down the drain or reaching the garbage disposal. Also, the holes in the basket allow water to pass through freely, as long as the basket is not overfilled. You simply remove the basket as needed and dump its pieces into the trash.
If your local water treatment system doesn’t use collected food waste to generate energy, this helps protect your pipes and works better than a garbage disposal. As a bonus, many basket strainers also feature a plug.
So, if all sink filters are basket filters and double cup filters, are all sink filters the same? No! Basket filters differ in their design and materials. You’ll see manufacturers and marketers describe kitchen sink strainers and stoppers in many different ways. The surest way to tell them apart is to look at pictures and understand how they work.
1) Silica gel filter
If you don’t need or want to replace your drain assembly, a silicone sink strainer is the best filter type for your existing drain line. They have a wide flange (outer lip), usually made of silicone, plastic, or stainless steel, that sits above the drain pipe.
With some products, you can simply place them on top of your drainpipe and they will function as small open baskets. With others, you press a post in the center of the filter and the flexible silicone tilts inward, dynamically forming a basket filter.
These are a great choice for most families. They won’t scratch your sink, are dishwasher safe, clean thoroughly, and are easy and affordable (<$10) to replace when they wear out. However, they do have some disadvantages.
First, silicone filters don’t have plugs, so if you need both a filter and a plug, you’ll need to buy the plug separately. The second drawback is that pulling the post version of these filters out of the drain can be messy if the post pops the flex basket out during removal.
Still, for most homes that don’t plan to completely replace their drains, silicone filters are great for using or buying a separate plug.
2) Kitchen Sink Mesh Strainer (Dirty Basket Strainer Trap)
Like silicone filters, stainless steel mesh filters are simple and as close to a standard-sized filter as possible. You put them over the existing drain pipes and that’s it. There are no posts for these. They are just little baskets.
Like the silicone filter, the metal mesh filter does not have a plug and is dishwasher-safe. One advantage they have over silicone is that they are often sold in sets of two or more. If one piece gets dirty and dirty, just pop it in the dishwasher and use the other piece.
3) Column basket filter (fixed column filter, fixed column filter)
Pillar basket strainers have a plug underneath the basket. There is an accessible post in the middle of the basket that allows you to use and release the stopper, meaning these basket strainers can be used as both a filter and a stopper.
With these, you can pull up the post to use the filter alone, allowing water to flow freely, or you can push the post down to wedge the plug into the drain, blocking the sink. Some later models are twist/unlock instead of push/pull.
Sometimes you’ll see these called fixed column or fixed column basket filters. The names are a bit misleading because their posts are removable. Their positions will function as described above.
4) Large basket filter
Some basket strainers are designed to hold more debris at once, allowing you to go longer between cleanups. They are indeed baskets.
A deep basket strainer may or may not work for you. While it’s nice to not have to clean filters as often, these filters can become filled up, making it harder for water to flow freely through them, thus defeating their purpose since you’ll be forced to clean them faster, anyway.
The large basket strainer comes with a separate stopper. It just sits on top of the strainer basket, blocking the drain.
5) Spring clip filter
At first glance, a spring clamp sink strainer looks like any other column basket strainer. Indeed, they had baskets and pillars. The plug can be used or released by pushing down or pulling up. Putting them into a separate category is because of how the post works, or rather, what it does or doesn’t fit into.
Some sink drains—especially older sink drains—have basic filtration built into their design. Larger debris cannot pass through their narrow openings, but water can. This can be great when you don’t have a garbage disposal, but they are hard to clean and gross. It’s natural to want to equip them with a filter.
Most sink drains have a narrow, central keyhole-like opening. This is where the spring-clamp filter “clips” into place. In other words, your drain can be used with or without a spring-clamp filter.
Another major difference? Unlike the more modern column basket strainers, you’re unlikely to see many complete drain line assemblies with this type of drain. They are outdated.
6) Twist lock filter (twist lock filter)
Similar to spring clamp strainers, twist locks, or twist locks, the strainer must be used with the correct type of sink drain. Unlike sink drains, which have a narrow keyhole-like opening that supports a spring clip, sink drains that support a twist-lock strainer have a circular opening. Their posts feature an S-curve twist key that allows you to engage and release the plug.
Finding spin-lock filters is easy, but finding the drain components that support them is not so easy. Like clip-on strainers, these types of drains are no longer popular.
3. Types of bathroom drain plugs
Bathroom sinks and bathtubs tend to have simple plug/pull-out drain arrangements, although some also come with built-in or optional filter units. In bathroom sinks, you are most likely to see grid drains and pop-up drains. The former type has a cap to plug in (or no plug at all), while the latter is pressed down to activate or release its plug. Some pop-up drains are available with an optional lift rod that runs along the back of the bathroom sink and can be pulled up or down like a plunger to activate and release the drain plug.
Bathtub drains are most likely to have a grid, pop-up (in which case sometimes called a touch-toe or toe faucet), or lift-type designs. Lift-type gutters are the most common. They work similarly to a spin-lock kitchen sink strainer/stopper. Turn counterclockwise to lift the plug, and turn clockwise to insert it into place.
While some bathroom sinks and tub stoppers include built-in or optional filtration, most do not. This means that hair can easily slip into these drains, causing clogs, especially if there is thick and sticky environment, toothpaste, and makeup. You can also easily lose jewelry in an unsqueezed bathroom drain. If you have the option of installing a drain filter or protector on your bathroom drain pipe, be sure to consider it.
4. Types of bathroom filters
Some sink filters that can be used in bathroom sinks and tubs look and work very similarly to filters that can be used in the kitchen, but others function very differently. Generally speaking, bathroom drain protection is simple: you set the filter on top of the drain and nothing else is required. Many filters designed for home bathrooms will also fit in caravans and some utility room basins (depending on drain and filter size).
1) Suction cup hair catcher
Want to keep your drain pipe clear but not sure about its size or don’t want to interfere with your existing clog mechanism? Then you might consider a silicone suction cup filter.
Unlike other bathroom filters on the market, these filters don’t fit in your drains at all. They sit on it, suckers surrounding its edges. These products are easy to install and cheap to replace, making them a good choice for renters.
2) Mesh Bathroom Sink and Tub Filter
Most stainless steel mesh strainer baskets made for bathroom sinks or tub basins fit common bathroom drain sizes. Their outer lip or flange is large enough to fit around the edge of the drain pipe flange.
While effective, affordable, and easy to clean, the main disadvantage of bathroom mesh filters is that they don’t work well with the existing drain plugs in most bathrooms. For example, to use them with a pop-up bathroom sink drain, you’ll need to completely remove the plug and replace it with a mesh basket strainer. You can always replace it with a simpler stopper, but if you’re looking for something to work with an existing drain that has a stopper mechanism, a basket strainer may not be the best choice.
5. What does it take to replace a sink drain?
As you can see, you don’t need to replace your sink’s drain assembly to protect your drainage system from food waste, hair, or other debris. However, if your drain must be unclogged, you can do it yourself as long as you are somewhat familiar with basic home repairs.
For a kitchen sink, you’ll need to choose a new drain line/strainer, a sink wrench, a drain wrench, and a plumber’s putty.
6. Conclusion
That’s it for this guide, summarizing the types of kitchen sink strainers and bathroom drain plugs. After reading this article, you are sure to find the right product for your house.
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