Hair Catchers | Sink Strainers | Drain Tools

A drain part has one job, and it only does that job if it fits. A hair catcher that is too small slides off the grate. A plug that is a few millimetres out will not hold water. This guide covers how to measure, which product suits which problem, and when the job belongs to a licensed plumber or drainlayer.

Start by measuring

Use a ruler or tape measure and work in millimetres. Measure straight across the inside of the drain opening. That is the inside diameter of the outlet. If you are replacing a grate, strainer or plug, measure across the outside of the old one too. Write both numbers down.

Then check them against the product page. We list sizes in millimetres where the maker gives them. Drains come in several common sizes and older homes can have odd ones, so measure your own and do not assume.

Hair catchers: over the drain or inside it

Over the drain. These are flat or domed covers that lie on top of the shower or bath drain. They only need to be wider than the drain opening, so the fit is forgiving. You can see the hair collect and lift it off.

Inside the drain. These drop into the outlet. They sit out of sight and do not move underfoot, but they have to match the inside diameter of your drain. Measure carefully for this type.

Either kind only works if you empty it. Clear it before water starts to pool around your feet.

Kitchen sink strainers and plugs

A sink strainer sits in the kitchen sink outlet and catches food scraps. A basket strainer drops into the outlet, so measure the inside of the hole. A flat mesh strainer rests on top and needs to be wider than the hole.

For a replacement plug, measure the plug hole, or the old plug across its widest point. Basins, kitchen sinks, laundry tubs and baths often take different sizes, so measure each one.

Plunger or drain snake

When a plunger works. A plunger moves water back and forth against a blockage. It works best on a soft clog close to the fixture, with enough water in the sink or bowl to cover the rubber cup. Cover the overflow hole with a wet cloth so the pressure goes down the pipe.

Cup or flange. A cup plunger has a flat rim that seals against a flat surface, so it suits sinks, baths and shower floors. A flange plunger has an extra rubber sleeve that folds out of the cup and sits in the toilet outlet. Use the flange type for toilets, and keep a separate plunger for the kitchen sink.

When a drain snake is better. Hair catches on the fittings inside a shower or basin drain, and a plunger will not pull it free. A drain snake goes down the pipe, hooks the hair and brings it back up. It also reaches further along the pipe than a plunger can.

We sell tools, not caustic chemicals. You will not find chemical drain cleaners here.

Drain brushes and jetter hoses

A long flexible brush cleans the build-up you can reach: the plug hole, the overflow slot and the first stretch of pipe. A drain jetter hose connects to a pressure washer and sends water down the pipe. Check the connector type and the hose length on the product page against your pressure washer before you order.

Floor drain covers and odour seals

Under a floor drain is a bend of pipe called a trap. It holds a little water, and that water stops sewer air coming back into the room. When a drain is rarely used, the water can dry out and the drain starts to smell. Pouring a jug of water down it refills the trap.

A silicone cover lies flat over the drain. An odour seal insert sits inside the drain. People use both to help keep smells and insects from coming up between uses. Measure across the grate for a cover, and the inside of the outlet for an insert.

Shower grates and floor wastes

For a grate, measure the length and width of the old grate and the size of the outlet underneath, then check the size and material on the product page. Lifting out a loose grate and dropping in one of the same size is simple. A grate that is fixed to the drain line is a different job, covered below.

Gutter and downpipe guards

Gutter guards sit in or over the gutter and let rainwater through while holding leaves back. Downpipe guards sit in the top of the downpipe so leaves do not wash into it. Measure the width of your gutter and the size of the downpipe opening. Guards cut down on cleaning, but gutters still need a check and a clear-out now and then.

Washing machine and dishwasher drain hoses

Measure the run from the back of the appliance to the existing outlet, following the path the hose will take, and allow some slack so the hose does not kink. Check the hose diameter and the end fittings against your appliance. Your appliance manual gives the longest drain hose the pump can handle, so read that before you buy an extension.

When to call a licensed plumber or drainlayer

Some problems are not a tool job. Call a licensed plumber or drainlayer if a blockage keeps coming back, if there is a sewage smell, or if several fixtures back up at the same time. Those are signs of a problem further down the line than a household tool can reach.

The same goes for anything that means cutting into, moving or connecting fixed pipework. That is a plumber's job.

Your drain buying checklist

Name the problem. Pick the category. Measure the inside of the drain opening, and the outside of the part you are replacing, in millimetres. Check the size, the material and the drain it fits on the product page. Then check the price, in New Zealand dollars, and the delivery cost.

The short version

Measure first, buy the part that fits, and leave fixed plumbing to a licensed plumber or drainlayer. Every product page here lists size, material and fit so you can decide before you order, and you have 14 days from delivery to change your mind.