Pros and Cons of Pop-Up Drains

If you're installing a new sink in your bathroom, you'll need a new drain. While you have many options, the pop-up drain is often the most economical and easiest to install. However, it also has some downsides. This guide to the pros and cons of pop-up drains will help you determine if one is right for your project.

What Are Pop-Up Drains?

Pop-up drains have a lever on the outside of the sink that you can open or close to start or stop water drainage. You push down on the lever to close the stopper and not let the water drain. When you want to reopen the drain, you pull the lever up. They are a popular design in bathrooms.

Pros of Pop-Up Drains

Consider these benefits when choosing a pop-up drain:

1. Easy to Install

Installing a pop-up drain yourself takes only a few common tools and a couple of hours. Before installing the new drain, you must remove the existing one. If you need help with how, consider enlisting the help of a professional.

2. Budget-Friendly

Home renovations can get costly, so it’s nice to know that adding a pop-up drain to your bathroom or kitchen sink is inexpensive. However, the cost varies based on the finish, as these drains are typically available in brushed gold, brushed nickel, chrome, rubbed bronze, stainless steel, and satin nickel.

3. Options Include Overflow Opening

You can purchase pop-up drains with an overflow opening. If your sink has an overflow opening, your drain must, too. This ensures that the water doesn't overflow if it keeps running while the drain is closed. 

4. Keep Your Hands Clean

Unlike its alternative, you don’t have to stick your hands in dirty water to open or close a pop-up drain. With the lever on the outside of the sink, you keep your hands clean and still open or close the drain as needed.

Cons of Pop-Up Drains 

Here are some disadvantages of pop-up drains to consider when renovating your kitchen or bathroom: 

1. Challenging to Clean

Since pop-up drains are beneath the sink, you must disassemble them to clean the drain properly. While cleaning it can be a DIY task, it takes time and a little knowledge of how to unscrew the stopper plug and get in there with the proper tools to clean out the soap scum, toothpaste, hair, and debris. If you run into a problem, it becomes essential to call a professional drain cleaner near you, as it could lead to backups and water damage if not corrected.

2. Potential to Leak

If a pop-up drain isn't properly installed, it will leak. Something as simple as not putting enough putty or silicone between the sink and the flange can cause the drain to leak.

3. Can Be Challenging in Small Areas

A pop-up drain can be challenging in a small bathroom because you must get underneath the sink to start or stop the drain. This is especially true if you need to take it apart to clean it or if you have a clog.

Pop-Up Drain Alternatives

While pop-up drains are one of the most common bathroom options, click-clack and grid drains are two alternatives.

1. Click-Clack Drain: Instead of reaching underneath the sink to open or close the drain, you push down on the drain itself to open or close it. When you open the drain, it makes a 'clacking' sound, and when you close it, the drain makes a 'clicking' sound. This drain is also known as a push-button or sprung waste drain.

2. Grid Drain: Grid drains are decorative alternatives that don’t close. They have a grid top and work well with vessel sinks without an overflow hole. 

Are Pop-Up Drains Right for You?

Pop-up drains are an economical choice for a bathroom drain. You can install them yourself, and they keep your hands clean when you need to open or close the drain. However, keeping them clean and accessing them can be challenging in smaller bathrooms.

If you're considering installing a new drain in your bathroom, contact a professional plumber in your area to ensure the job is done right.