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How To Install A Vessel Sink Drain Without Overflow (FULL Guide)

Installing a Vessel Sink Drain without Overflow

Need to know how to install a vessel sink drain that has no overflow hole? Here’s a complete guide and step-by-step process.

Installing a vessel sink drain without an overflow differs from installing a vessel with overflow.

You may require paying much attention and committing a little of your time to the procedure, but it’s not as complicated as most homeowners think. It is a straightforward process.

How to Install a Vessel Sink Drain without Overflow

How To Install A Vessel Sink Drain Without Overflow

Step 1: Assemble the Required Materials

You must have;

  • A pop-in drain
  • A knife
  • Waterproof, silicone putty
  • P-trap
  • A leveling tool
  • Wrench
  • Plumber’s glue
  • Hacksaw
  • A mounting ring for only the glass made vessel sinks
  • Chalk or pencil

Step 2: Turn Off the Sink’s Water Source

Turning off the water supply is an essential precautionary step when dealing with plumbing. It prevents inconveniences from water spillage.

But first, you’ll need to check if your home has water shut-off valves. Put them off instead of switching off the main water supply source if it does.

Step 3: Position the Sink in Place

You can now set your vessel sink to place after switching off your home’s main water supply line or shut-off valves. Begin by placing the sink on the countertop.

Ensure it aligns with the drain holes. Then take a pencil and mark its edges to create a visual guide. Alternatively, you can use a piece of quality chalk.

Next, turn the vessel sink upside down and apply waterproof silicone putty on its bottom edge. Then place the sink on its place on the countertop.

Use the marks you made with the pencil to guide you to its perfect position. Ensure the vanity and countertop holes align before the putty dries.

Also, the sink should rest evenly on the countertop. Use a leveling tool to ensure it sits evenly on the counter surface. If not, adjust it until it does before the putty dries.

If you choose a glass vessel sink, you’ll need to use a mounting ring before caulking. Why is it so?

Because some glass vessel sinks don’t come with an even base due to their design and craft method. Placing a mounting ring on the countertop before placing it helps correct this problem.

It’s a cinch to do it. Put some waterproof silicone putty on the bottom side of the ring and place it on the sink mounting position.

Then apply the putty on its upper side and place the sink. Ensure both the sink and the mounting ring levels evenly on their bases.

Don’t be tempted to wipe off the oozing putty from the bottom before drying up. It will mess up the area, giving you extra work to clean it up. It will come out effortlessly and clean after drying. Use a putty knife to remove it.

Step 4: Install the Drain

With the sink well set, it’s time to install the drain. Some vessel sinks come with drain assemblies. It may or not fit the sink. If that’s the case, you’ll need to buy a separate vessel sink drain assembly that fits perfectly.

Fortunately, most drain assemblies that come with vessel sinks fit those sinks accurately. Also, the drain doesn’t consist of a separate exit because the sink doesn’t have an overflow drain.

The installation process reduces, minimizing the work and effort involved. Drain installation for a vessel sink without overflow becomes easy and fast.

Begin the drain installation process by applying waterproof sealant around your vessel’s drain hole. Put enough to hold the drain tightly.

Then insert your pop-up drain into the sink’s and countertop’s drain hole. Ensure it fits snugly.

Inspect underneath the sink to ensure that the rubber gaskets and other apparatus rest firmly. You shouldn’t over-tighten the drain. It may make the vessel crack if made of glass or ceramic. It may also damage the drain.

As illustrated above, installing a vessel sink without overflow is a walk in the park. What if your vessel sink is square? You can follow the same procedure. It does not matter the vessel sink’s shape.

The above process applies to all vessel sink shapes.

Do You Need a Special Drain for Vessel Sink?

Yes, if the vessel sink has no overflow. You can use a pop-up or grid drain.

Pop-up drains are best to use when you want to plug or unplug the drain periodically. You cannot do that with a grid drain, but one with large holes works like magic in draining the water.

Sinks with overflow allow proper drainage because of the overflow channel feature. With this system, air enters the drain pipe.

So, when water fills the sink and covers the overflow openings, no air can go into the drain through the water. As a result, a suction effect gets created, slowing the water flow down the drain.

There’s no need for an overflow because of the vessel sinks’ installation method. You can only make the sink drain empty of overflowing water by incorporating an alternative method. That’s why vessel sinks require special drains.

Some manufacturers are innovating and have started creating vessel sinks with an overflow feature. Because of the added feature, you may need to dig deeper into your pockets to acquire such a vessel sink.

Apart from such vessel sinks, the market has many drains for vessel sinks without overflow. The problem is choosing the right one.

Can You Use a Drain With Overflow On a Sink Without Overflow?

No. If your sink does not have an overflow opening, you cannot install a drain with an overflow. Before we go further, let’s clarify a drain with overflow.

It’s a drain containing a small hole on its threaded upper portion. The hole allows the sink’s overflow water into the drainpipe.

You can only install this drain in a sink with an overflow feature and vice versa. Otherwise, your sink and drain system will not function properly.

Wrap Up

As demonstrated above, installing a vessel sink drain without overflow is not rocket science. It’s an excellent simple DIY home project you can do with the right tools and procedure.

Vessel sinks don’t have an overflow feature. They come with unique drain systems to accommodate the overflow. The most popular drainage systems for vessel sinks without overflow include the pop-up and grid drain.