Pop-up Drain Vs. Push Down Drain: Features And Key Differences

If you’re comparing a pop-up drain and push-down drain, the biggest difference is how you open and close the stopper.

A traditional pop-up drain is operated by a lift rod behind or near the faucet. That rod connects underneath the sink to a clevis and pivot rod, which raises or lowers the stopper.

A push-down drain—also called a push pop-up, clicker, click-clack, push-button, or push-and-seal drain—is operated directly at the stopper. Press it once to close the drain and press it again to open it.

Both can work well in a bathroom sink.

For me, a push-down drain is usually the cleaner and simpler choice for a modern bathroom. A traditional lift-rod pop-up still makes sense when you want to operate the stopper without putting your fingers into the sink basin or when your faucet is specifically designed around a lift rod.

There is one complication, though:

The term “pop-up drain” is used for both designs.

Delta, Kohler, Pfister, and other manufacturers sometimes call push-operated drains “push pop-ups” or “clicker drains.” So when shopping, don’t rely on the words “pop-up” alone. Check how the stopper actually operates.

A Quick Comparison Table

Here’s a quick comparison between the pop-up drain and push down drain –

Pfister’s troubleshooting documents show the traditional design using a ball/pivot rod connected to a perforated clevis beneath the sink. By contrast, its Push & Seal system operates simply by pressing the stopper to seal and pressing again to open.

Differences Between Pop-Up And Push Down Drain

• Material

Pop-up drain and push-down drain both are made of solid metal.

However, the pop-up drain has more options in terms of the material it is made of.

They are created with materials such as Chrome, Polished Brass, Antique Brass, Brushed Nickel, Venetian Bronze, etc.

On the other hand, push-down drain only comes with three different materials – Chrome, Bronze, and Brushed Nickel.

So, if you’re looking for some varieties, the pop-up drain is for you.

• Price Differences

Pop-up drain is more common in the market, and its price is also less than push-down drain’s. The price of a lift rod pop-up drain with overflow usually starts at almost $75.88, and a pop-up drain without overflow costs nearly $70.34.

However, the price mostly depends on the metal that has been used for the making. You will find a chrome pop-up drain to cost less than the other options.

Push-down drain is considered a more modern option, and its price is comparatively higher than the pop-up drain. The advantage of a pushdown drain is that, with or without overflow, it costs the same.

A chrome push-down drain with or without overflow costs around $96.79, which is almost $26 higher than the chrome pop-up one.

• Sink Styles

Both the pop-up drain and push-down drain fit in different styles of sinks. Pedestal, Under-mount Vessel, Drop-in, etc. are the most common stylish sinks, and both kinds of drains go with these perfectly.

Though pop-up drain usually comes with pedestal sinks, you can also use this drain with any other type of sink.

• Mechanism

A pop-up drain’s mechanism is a little bit more complicated than that of a push-down drain. The pop-up simultaneously works with a lift rod, a pivot rod, and a lever. It follows the push and pulls method.

On the other hand, the push-down drain is really easy to use and the mechanism is also simple.

With one push, the spring inside the drain blocks the path and prevents the water from passing, and another push removes the block to pass the water.

• Design Options

Pop-up drain bathroom sink and tub come with slightly less designed options, whereas push down drain has plenty of designed and colored options.

So, if you want your bathroom sink and tub to be more aesthetic-looking and classy, you can go for a push-down drain.

• Unclogging

It is obvious that everyone wants a sink or tub that never gets clogged. Unclogging is such a hassle, and people want an easy solution for this.

As the pop-up drain operates with rods, it is easy to clean the hair or other waste from it.

Push-up drain works with spring, and hair gets tangled up with the spring quickly. Sometimes it gets a bit difficult to unclog the hair from the spring.

But once you learn the tricks to unclog this push-down drain easily, it won’t be a problem.

Which Seals Better?

A good version of either drain should hold water properly.

There is no reason to claim that a traditional pop-up automatically seals better because it uses rubber, or that a push-down stopper uses a “metal-to-metal seal.”

Modern push stoppers also use sealing components.

Pfister’s Push & Seal uses a compression-lock design that the manufacturer says can keep the sink filled even overnight.

If either drain leaks water from the basin when closed, common causes include:

• Dirty stopper seal
• Damaged O-ring or gasket
• Stopper adjustment
• Debris
• Worn mechanism

A leak underneath the sink is a different issue. That usually involves the drain flange, gasket, putty, or drain-body connection rather than the operating style of the stopper.

Overflow Vs. No Overflow: This Is Critical

This is probably the most important installation detail buyers overlook.

The overflow is not simply an optional feature built into the stopper.

Look inside your bathroom sink.

If it has an overflow opening near the upper part of the basin, water can travel through an internal channel in the sink and into special openings in an overflow-compatible drain body.

You need a drain designed for that type of sink.

Delta confirms that its traditional RP5651 pop-up is intended for sinks with overflow holes. Kohler separately sells clicker drains specifically labeled with overflow and without overflow.

Sink has an overflow

Buy an overflow-compatible drain.

Sink has no overflow

Buy a non-overflow drain.

This is especially important with vessel sinks, many of which don’t have overflow channels.

For example, Kohler’s K-33151 clicker is specifically a non-overflow drain with a 1-1/4-inch connection.

Don’t choose solely by appearance.

Match the drain to the sink.

Pop-Up Vs. Push Down Drain: Pros and Cons

Now let’s examine the advantages and disadvantages of each drain type.

Pop-Up Drain Pros

• Hand free lift rod operation
• Tight water-tight seal from rubber gasket
• Adjust height to fit any sink
• Smooth open/close motion from spring assembly
• Easy installation
• Components are serviceable and replaceable

Pop-Up Drain Cons

• More parts mean higher likelihood of failure
• Lift rod takes getting used to and can be noisy
• More regular maintenance required
• Prone to hair clogs around pivot rod

Push Down Drain Pros

• Extremely simple operation
• Metal-to-metal seal resists leaks and drips
• No springs or moving parts to repair or replace
• Compact, low-profile style
• Lower cost on average

Push Down Drain Cons

• Requires manually pushing to open and close drain
• Fixed height doesn’t adjust to sink depth
• Rubber seal provides better water-tight closure
• No lever for hands-free operation

As you can see, there are convincing reasons to select either a pop-up or push down drain. The pros and cons come down to your priorities and the existing sink setup.

Pop-up Or Push Down?

Let’s first talk about pop-up drain for your better understanding. Pop-up drain plug consists of a lift rod, pivot rod, and lever.

When you pull the pop-up stopper, it pulls the lift rod as well as the pivot rod. Then it pops up and opens the drain to pass the water through the plug.

That is why it is called a pop-up drain. Again, when you need to block the drain, just push the pop-up stopper, and the drain will be sealed.

On the other hand, the technique push-down drain follows is less complicated than the pop-up drain. There is a spring inside the push-down drain plug, which does the main job.

When you push down the plug, the spring blocks the drain, and thereby, the water can’t pass through.

It needs another push to open up, and that’s why it is called push down drain. You might have also heard about sprung waste, click-clack, push-button; these three are exactly the same as a push-down drain.

After going through all the differences between the pop-up drain and push-down drain, you might ask, “Which one stands out?”

Actually, the answer pretty much depends on you. Because everyone has different choices and demands. Some might consider the price; some might consider the model before buying. So, decide your priority first.

Keeping the price aside, the push-down drain will be the best option for modern households. Because –

• Push down drain is easy to use. When used in the bathtub, it can operate with toe as well, and works similarly to toe touch drain stopper.
• Pop-up drain is considered backdated nowadays because of its mechanism. The lever of pop-up drain stands on the faucet, which some people do not like.
• Push down drain comes with different models and styles. It easily goes with stylish sinks and bathtubs.
• When push down drain is used in bathtubs, it gives ultimate comfort as the surface of its cap is plain and there’s no lever outside of the drain.
• Push down drain is also easy to install.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Final Words

There is endless debate on pop-up drain vs. push-down drain. Both drains are suitable for bathroom sinks or tubs compared to other types of drains. Choosing the right drain is such a big deal because we all want a leak-free drainage system that is also easy to use and install.

Push-down drain can always be the best option for your bathroom/ kitchen. But if you want to go for a relatively cheap option, pop-up drain is there for you.

Finally, whichever drain you are going to use, make sure that you clean the drain regularly.