This is normal
Nothing is broken: a fixed strainer plate is not a stopper
A plate or grid that is screwed in place has no stopper to close, so it will not hold water. Use a stopper that is made for your drain.
Why this happens
Kohler's strainer guide shows a plate that fits in the strainer body and is secured with screws, and Elkay says some models come with a strainer grid, screwed into the drain body, in place of a strainer basket. Danco describes a different part: a basket strainer that acts as both strainer and stopper, where you press the knob down to stop the water and twist it to drain. A plate with no moving stopper cannot do that job.
What to do
- Check the cabinet under the sink before you add any water. This page is for a drain with a fixed plate or grid and a cabinet that stays dry. If anything under the sink is wet or dripping, do not add water and use the kitchen sink guide again, then choose the wet cabinet answer. If a plug, cord or outlet under the sink is wet, do not touch it and call an electrician. Turn off the breaker only if you can reach the panel safely. If you cannot, stay away from the area and call an electrician or emergency services.
- Look at the drain. A lift-out basket with a knob in the middle is a stopper. A plate or grid held with screws is a strainer only.
- To hold water for washing, you need a stopper that fits your drain or a strainer basket that includes one, as Danco describes.
- Elkay says drain bodies and baskets vary by model, so check the maker's instructions or parts list for your drain, or take a photo of it with you to the store.
- Fit the stopper by its own instructions and fill the bowl a few inches to test it. If this bowl has a garbage disposal, keep its power off while you fit the stopper, because Waste King says a batch feed disposal runs only when its stopper is in place over the opening, and call a plumber if you are not sure which type you have.
When to stop. If you expected a stopper and the drain body looks cracked, loose or corroded, stop and call a plumber.
If it still worries you, tell the plumber
- The drain has a fixed plate or grid and no stopper.
- The brand of the sink or drain, if you know it.
- What you want the stopper to fit, such as the size of the drain opening.
Build the full list: what to tell the plumber.
Start this troubleshooter over
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