Newbie question, replace a depresser plug in a sink

alichambersUK · Jan 13, 2022

I have a bathroom sink with an old Bristan depressable plug, see picture.

The depresser thingey has broken and I have removed the plug.

Is it easy to replace these things with other plugs that slot into the waste pipe? I dont want to have to remove the waste pipe, just put in a new plug.
Are there standard sizes?

Thanks 🙂

exedon2 · Jan 14, 2022

If it's not clicking in and out chances are it's muck congealed soap hair or all of above.
Take it to bits clean silicone grease.
If you would rather replace get identical bristan waste and swap plug.

alichambersUK · Jan 14, 2022

exedon2 said:
If it's not clicking in and out chances are it's muck congealed soap hair or all of above.
Take it to bits clean silicone grease.
If you would rather replace get identical bristan waste and swap plug.

Thanks - I think the depresser is broken as it has permanently stuck and I cant see any stuck muck in it.

Is there an easy alternative solution?
I could just put a straight plug in there, but there's no protection against objects going down the waste pipe...

Basher · Jan 14, 2022

alichambersUK said:
Thanks - I think the depresser is broken as it has permanently stuck and I cant see any stuck muck in it.

Is there an easy alternative solution?
I could just put a straight plug in there, but there's no protection against objects going down the waste pipe...

The brass "depresser" is a replaceable part.
If you Google "click clack waste spring mechanism", you will see there are at least two different types.

It might require some perseverance to get yours apart, as it may have thread locking compound on it to stop it coming unscrewed accidentally. Then you can see, and measure, the spring mechanism you have.

Alternatively you could go to a local Plumbing merchant with the whole waste plug you show in the photo, and ask them for the part - they might even fit it for you 😀
Or as Exedon suggests, buy a replacement waste (the same brand and model) and swap the plug bit.

It's not normally the case that a replacement plug assembly from a different manufacturer will fit. I suspect many people would replace the whole waste assembly on the basin, but I appreciate that may not be the favoured approach!