Pop up wastes -v- plugs

archess200

I have had ongoing problems with 2 pop up wastes in washbasins.  They stick down, and now I can't get them back up, the inner part that is normally held in by a screw has come out, so screw has broken, and cannot undo the outer housing. I cannot see how to get into the chromed part to unscrew the outer housing, which is solid in there.   Basically, I think they were cheap units.  What I really want to do is replace with a plug:  Can This Be Done?  Suggestions please

nofoollikeold

Do you mean pop up or click clack? Photograph would be useful.

Jonesya

Yes perfectly do-able but typically you need to remove the waste fitting from the sink and replace it with a new waste designed to accept a plug, so it does take some DIY/plumbing ability to do it.

You'd need to measure the diameter of the existing waste, but could fit something like this (thye come in slotted/unslotted, slotted to accept the water from an over-flow built into the sink - it flows inside the sink and into the side of the waste fitting).
https://www.toolstation.com/1-14-basin-waste-chain-poly-plug/p23484

Or this:
https://www.toolstation.com/1-14-brass-basin-waste-cp/p22767

Your other option is a waste with a captive plug, which rotates. I fitted one in a small WC type basin to get rid of the plug, still more to go wrong than a simple hole and plug though.

https://www.toolstation.com/1-14-rotative-brass-basin-waste/p52512

chrisw

Your sinks might not have the hole in the back to attach the plug chain to. I replaced my click clack wastes with the swivelling type because of this and they've been fine.

archess200

I do mean a pop up waste, I would have said a click clack if it was a click clack.  A pop up waste and having looked at plug wastes instead, there are a large number of owners of pop up wastes that agree they are poorly designed and need replacing or repairing regularly.  
Modern basins often do not have an overflow, strangely, so no fitting to attach a plug.  There are stick on containers to take a plug, but don't like to spoil the design of the basin.  I don't like the captive plug, which as Jonesya says, some things can go wrong plus it is difficult to clean. Chromed steel plugs look good, better than rubber, but some feedbacks state they do not all fit well, particularly a screw fix waste.  Plus, the plastic nut can leak because being plastic if you tighten well it can split.
So I'll get an unslotted waste that takes a plug, a chromed one and if that doesn't fit well I'll have to splash out on a rubber one {why are they £2?}.  I shall remove the chain and make up a handle with something like a big wooden bead on a thick black nylon cord to pull it out.  I am wary of the metal hitting the basin and causing damage, but I'll take that risk at the moment.  I'm an Architect, and despair at so many poorly designed products that do not take into account usage, practicalities, cleanability, repairability.  Too many consumers are interested only in appearance not functionality.
We should all complain more.

EssexExile

archess200 said:

I do mean a pop up waste, I would have said a click clack if it was a click clack. 

It was just a question, probably because click clack wastes are known to be troublesome whereas pop up wastes are not.