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 drain. A stopper that is a fraction of an inch 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.
Start by measuring
Use a ruler or tape measure. Measure straight across the inside of the drain opening. That is the inside diameter of the drain. If you are replacing a cover, strainer or stopper, measure across the outside of the old one too. Write both numbers down.
Then check them against the product page. Drain parts in Canada are sold in inches, so we list sizes in inches as the maker states them, with millimetres in brackets where a figure is given. One inch is 25.4 mm. 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 tub 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 drain opening. 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 stoppers
A sink strainer sits in the kitchen sink drain and catches food scraps. A basket strainer drops into the drain, so measure the inside of the opening. A flat mesh strainer rests on top and needs to be wider than the opening.
For a replacement stopper, measure the drain opening, or the old stopper across its widest point. Bathroom sinks, kitchen sinks, laundry sinks and tubs 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, tubs and shower floors. A flange plunger has an extra rubber sleeve that folds out of the cup and sits in the toilet drain. 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 bathroom sink 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 sewer jetters
A long flexible brush cleans the build-up you can reach: the drain opening, the overflow slot and the first stretch of pipe. A sewer jetter kit 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.
Outdoor and floor drain covers
For a replacement floor drain cover, measure across the old cover and across the drain opening, and note how the old cover is held in place. For a yard drain grate or a French drain emitter, measure the pipe it has to fit. Size and material are on each product page.
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.
Shower drain covers
A round shower drain cover either snaps in or screws in. Measure across the old cover, note which way it is held, then check the size and material on the product page. Swapping a cover for one of the same size and type is simple. Anything that means cutting or connecting pipes is a different job, covered below.
Gutter and downspout guards
Gutter mesh sits in or over the gutter (some call it an eavestrough) and lets rainwater through while holding leaves back. Downspout strainers sit in the top of the downspout so leaves do not wash into it. Measure the width of your gutter and the size of the downspout opening. Guards cut down on cleaning, but gutters still need a check and a clear-out now and then.
Washer and dishwasher drain hoses
Measure the run from the back of the appliance to the existing drain, 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
Some problems are not a tool job. Call a licensed plumber 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, moving or connecting pipes. That should be done by a licensed plumber, and may need a permit where you live.
A blockage in the sewer main under the street is the municipality's to clear. If you live in a condo or apartment, ask the building manager before working on a shared drain.
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. Check the size, the material and the drain it fits on the product page. Then check the price, in Canadian dollars, and the delivery cost.
The short version
Measure first, buy the part that fits, and leave fixed plumbing to a licensed plumber. 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.