View source for Sink

{{Short description|Bowl-shaped plumbing fixture}}
{{Other uses}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2009}}
[[File:Luxury sink.jpg|thumb|A sink/basin in a [[bathroom]]]]
[[File:Enamel wash basin and jug, South Africa.jpg|thumb|Enamel washbowl and [[jug]]]]
[[File:Sink in Croatian National Theater, Zagreb.jpg|thumb|Sink in [[Croatian National Theater in Zagreb]], [[Croatia]]]]
A '''sink''' (also known as '''''basin''''' in the [[United Kingdom|UK]]) is a bowl-shaped [[plumbing fixture]] for washing [[hands]], [[dishwashing]], and other purposes. Sinks have a [[Tap (valve)|tap (faucet)]] that supplies hot and cold water and may include a [[spray (liquid drop)|spray]] feature to be used for faster rinsing. They also include a [[Drain (plumbing)|drain]] to remove used water; this drain may itself include a [[sink strainer|strainer]] and/or shut-off device and an overflow-prevention device. Sinks may also have an integrated [[soap]] dispenser. Many sinks, especially in [[kitchen]]s, are installed adjacent to or inside a [[countertop|counter]].

When a sink becomes clogged, a person will often resort to using a chemical [[drain cleaner]] or a [[plunger]], though most professional plumbers will remove the clog with a ''drain auger'' (often called a "[[plumber's snake]]").

== History ==
[[File:Bell-krater louterion Louvre CA1341.jpg|thumb|Woman washing at a water basin (''louterion''). Side B from an [[Ancient Greece|Ancient Greek]] Boeotian [[Red-figure pottery|red-figure]] bell-[[krater]], 450–425 BC. From [[Boeotia]].]]

===United States===
The [[washstand]] was a bathroom sink made in the United States in the late 18th century.<ref name=ohj>[https://books.google.com/books?id=3BYa3h-UGooC Sinks]. ''The Old-House Journal''; August 1986, Vol. 14, No. 6: pp. 270–77. Published by Active Interest Media, Inc. {{ISSN|0094-0178}}</ref> The washstands were small tables on which were placed a pitcher and a deep bowl, following the English tradition. Sometimes the table had a hole where the large bowl rested, which led to the making of dry sinks. From about 1820 to 1900, the dry sink evolved by the addition of a wooden cabinet with a trough built on the top, lined with [[zinc]] or lead.<ref name=ohj /> This is where the bowls or buckets for water were kept. Splashboards were sometimes added to the back wall, as well as shelves and drawers, the more elaborate designs usually placed in the kitchen.

== Materials ==
Sinks are made of many different materials. These include:<!-- PLEASE RESPECT ALPHABETICAL ORDER -->
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Ceramic]]
* [[Concrete]]
* [[Copper]]
* [[Vitreous enamel|Enamel]] over [[steel]] or [[cast iron]]
* [[Glass]]
* [[Granite]]
* [[Marble]]
* [[Nickel]]
* [[Plastic]]
* [[Polyester]]
* [[Porcelain]]
* [[Soapstone]]
* [[Stainless steel]]
* [[Rock (geology)|Stone]]
* [[Terrazzo]]
* [[Wood]]
{{div col end}}

[[Stainless steel]] is most commonly used in kitchens and commercial applications because it represents a good [[trade-off]] between cost, usability, durability, and ease of cleaning.<ref>{{cite web|last1=M. Sadler|first1=Michael|title=Usage of Stainless Steel Kitchen Sink|url=https://www.nivito.com/kitchen/kitchen-sink/cu-500-series.html?surface=brushed-steel&option=brushed-steel|website=www.nivito.com|access-date=28 February 2015|date=11 September 2010}}</ref> Most stainless steel sinks are made by [[Drawing (manufacturing)|drawing]] a [[sheet metal|sheet]] of stainless steel over a [[Die (manufacturing)|die]]. Some very deep sinks are fabricated by [[welding]]. Stainless steel sinks will not be damaged by hot or cold objects and resist damage from impacts. Stainless steel sinks are widely celebrated for their durability, sleek appearance, and resistance to rust and corrosion. However, many homeowners are baffled when they spot rust stains on their stainless steel sink.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Addison |first1=Riley |title=Why Is My Stainless Steel Sink Rusting? |url=https://plumbingadvice.online/why-is-my-stainless-steel-sink-rusting/ |website=Plumbing Advice |publisher=Riley Addison |access-date=28 November 2024}}</ref> One disadvantage of stainless steel is that, being made of thin metal, they tend to be [[Noise|noisier]] than most other sink materials, although better sinks apply a heavy coating of vibration-damping material to the underside of the sink.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Julie|first1=Taylor|title=הלבשת אמבטיה|url=http://www.bath.co.il/הלבשת-אמבטיה/|website=www.bath.co.il|access-date=14 June 2016|date=15 February 2008}}</ref>

Enamel over cast iron is a popular material for kitchen and bathroom sinks. Heavy and durable, these sinks can also be manufactured in a very wide range of shapes and colours. Like stainless steel, they are very resistant to hot or cold objects, but they can be damaged by sharp impacts and once the glass surface is breached, the underlying cast iron will often corrode, [[spall]]ing off more of the glass. Aggressive cleaning will dull the surface, leading to more dirt accumulation. Enamel over steel is a similar-appearing but far less rugged and less cost-effective alternative.
[[File:Sink at Ritz Carlton Dubai.jpg|thumb|Double sink with a marble countertop]]

Solid ceramic sinks have many of the same characteristics as enamel over cast iron, but without the risk of surface damage leading to corrosion.

Plastic sinks come in several basic forms:
* Inexpensive sinks are simply made using injection-molded [[thermoplastic]]s. These are often deep, free-standing sinks used in laundry rooms. Subject to damage by hot or sharp objects, the principal virtue of these sinks is their low cost.
* High-end [[acrylic glass|acrylic]] drop-in (lowered into the countertop) and undermount (attached from the bottom) sinks are becoming more popular, although they tend to be easily damaged by hard objects – like scouring a cast iron [[frying pan]] in the sink.
* Plastic sinks may also be made from the same materials used to form "solid surface" [[countertop]]s. These sinks are durable, attractive, and can often be molded with an integrated countertop or joined to a separate countertop in a seamless fashion, leading to no sink-to-countertop joint or a very smooth sink-to-countertop joint that can not trap dirt or germs. These sinks are subject to damage by hot objects but damaged areas can sometimes be [[Sandpaper|sanded]] down to expose undamaged material.

Soapstone sinks were once common, but today tend to be used only in very-high-end applications or applications that must resist [[Caustic (substance)|caustic]] chemicals that would damage more-conventional sinks.

Wood sinks are from the early days of sinks, and baths were made from natural [[teak]] with no additional finishing. Teak is chosen because of its natural waterproofing properties – it has been used for hundreds of years in the marine industry for this reason. Teak also has natural antiseptic properties, which is a bonus for its use in baths and sinks.

Glass sinks: A current trend in bathroom design is the handmade glass sink (often referred to as a vessel sink), which has become fashionable for wealthy homeowners.

Stone sinks have been used for ages. Some of the more popular stones used are: marble, travertine, onyx, granite, and soap stone on high end sinks.

Glass, concrete, and [[terrazzo]] sinks are usually designed for their [[Aesthetics|aesthetic appeal]] and can be obtained in a wide variety of unusual shapes and colors such as [[Flower|floral]] shapes. Concrete and terrazzo are occasionally also used in very-heavy-duty applications such as janitorial sinks.

==Styles==
[[Image:Stainless Steel Sink.jpg|thumb|upright|Bathroom [[stainless steel]] vessel sink standing on a [[wood]] surface]]
[[Image:Sink.jpg|thumb|upright|Sinks are available in many colors]]

===Top-mount sinks===
{{Anchor|Self-rimming|top-mount|srs|tms}}''Self-rimming'' (''top-mount'') sinks sit in appropriately shaped holes roughly cut in the countertop (or substrate material) using a [[jigsaw (power tool)|jigsaw]] or other cutter appropriate to the material at hand. They are suspended by their rim which forms a fairly close seal with the top surface of the worktop. If necessary, this seal can be enhanced by clamping the sink from below the worktop.

===Bottom-mount sinks===
[[File:Hemingway marble vanity.jpg|thumb|upright|A bottom mount sink at the [[Ernest Hemingway House]]]]
{{Anchor|Bottom-mount|under-mount|bms|ums}}''Bottom-mount'' or ''under-mount'' sinks are installed below the countertop surface. The edge of the countertop material is exposed at the hole created for the sink (and so must be a carefully finished edge rather than a rough cut). The sink is then clamped to the bottom of the material from below. Especially for bottom-mount sinks, [[silicone]]-based sealants are usually used to assure a waterproof joint between the sink and the countertop material. Advantages of an undermount sink include superior [[ergonomics]] and a contemporary look; disadvantages include extra cost in both the sink and the counter top. Also, no matter how carefully the cut out is made, the result is either a small ledge or overhang at the interface with the sink. This can create an environment for catching dirt and allowing germs to grow.

Solid-surface plastic materials allow sinks to be made of the same plastic material as the countertop. These sinks can then easily be glued to the underside of the countertop material and the joint sanded flat, creating the usual invisible joint and eliminating any dirt-catching seam between the sink and the countertop. In a similar fashion, for stainless steel, a sink may be [[Welding|welded]] into the countertop; the joint is then [[Grinding machine|ground]] to create a finished, concealed appearance.

===Butler's sink===
{{Anchor|butler|bs|butlers}}A ''butler's sink'' is a rectangular ceramic sink with a rounded rim which is set into a work surface.<ref name="Blower232">Blower, 2006, p. 232.</ref> There are generally two kinds of butler's sinks: the London sink and the Belfast sink.<ref name="Blower232" /> In 2006, both types of sinks usually were {{convert|62|cm|in}} across and {{convert|46|cm|in}} front-to-back, with a depth of {{convert|22.5|cm|in}}.<ref>Blower, 2006, p. 232-233.</ref> London sinks were originally shallower than Belfast sinks.<ref name="Blower232" /> (One plumbing guide in 1921 suggested that the Belfast sink was {{convert|38|cm|in}} deep.)<ref>Fletcher, 1921, p. 96.</ref> Some believe this was because London had less access to fresh water (and thus a greater need to conserve water), but this theory is now contested. It is more likely the two sinks had different roles within the household.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}} But that difference usually does not exist in the modern era, and both sinks are now shallow.<ref name="Blower232" /> The primary difference both in the past and today between a Belfast and London sink is that the Belfast sink is fitted with an overflow [[weir]] which prevented water from spilling over the sink's edge by draining it away and down into the wastewater [[plumbing]].<ref>Blower, 2006, p. 233.</ref>

===Farmer's sink===
{{Anchor|farmer|fs|farmers}}
A ''farmer's sink'' is a deep sink that has a finished front. Set onto a countertop, the finished front of the sink remains exposed. This style of sink requires very little "reach-over" to access the sink.

===Vessel sink===
{{Anchor|vessel|vs}}
A ''vessel sink'' is a free-standing sink, generally finished and decorated on all sides, that sits directly on the surface of the furniture on which it is mounted. These sinks have become increasingly popular with bathroom designers because of the large range of materials, styles, and finishes that can be shown to good advantage.<ref name="koh-ca">{{cite web |url=http://www.kohler.ca/planning/detail.jsp?aid=1138050337486 |title=Vessel Sinks: Bathroom Style to Spare |website=KOHLER Canada |access-date=8 April 2015 |archive-date=14 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414035517/http://www.kohler.ca/planning/detail.jsp?aid=1138050337486 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
{{Further|Bowl sink}}

===Food catering sinks===
[[Catering]] sinks are often made in sizes compatible with standard size [[Gastronorm]] containers, a European standard for food containers.

<gallery>
Bulthaup faucet.png|Undermount sink where the countertop has been milled up to the top-laminate
Grifo monomando de cocina.jpg|Undermount sink on a stone countertop (no milling)
Luxury sink.jpg|Flushmount sink
Small sink 2017 - B.jpg|Traditional top-mount sink
Hand wash sink.jpg|Welded steel sink for a seamless transition to a steel worktop
</gallery>

==Ceramic basin construction==
Pottery is made by a blend of clays, fillers and fluxes being fused together during the firing process. There are high fire clays and glazes which are heated to over 1200&nbsp;°C (2200&nbsp;°F) and are extremely resistant to fading, staining, burning, scratching and acid attack. Low fire clays, fired below 1200&nbsp;°C, most often used by large commercial manufacturers and third world producers, while durable, are susceptible to scratching and wear over time. The clay body is first bisqued to about 1000&nbsp;°C (1900&nbsp;°F). In the second firing a white or coloured glaze is applied and is melted by heat which chemically and physically fuses the glass (glaze) to the clay body during the same firing process. Due to the firing process and natural clays used, it is normal for the product to vary in size and shape, and +/− 5&nbsp;mm is normal.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

==Accessories==
<!-- Should be expanded with a further reference to the [[tap (valve)]] article and more exposition about drains. -->Some [[public restroom]]s feature [[automatic faucet]]s, which use a motion-sensing valve to detect the user's hands moving beneath the tap and turn the water on. Some kitchen sinks also come equipped with a sink sprayer.

Sinks, especially those made of stainless steel, can be fitted with an integrated [[drainboard]], allowing for the draining of washed dishes.

==Gallery==
There are many different shapes and sizes of sinks.
<gallery>
File:Belfast sink.jpg|An old [[butler]]'s (Belfast) sink in a [[kitchen]]
File:Sinks in a public toilet, Edinburgh, Scotland.JPG|Basins in a [[public toilet]], [[Edinburgh]], Scotland
File:White glass basins.jpg|White glass basins
Image:Multi user sink.jpg|A number of people can use this sink at the same time
File:Wood Sink in SAIC Printmaking Department.JPG|Wood sink in an art school
File:Nypotatis - 2016.jpg|A [[stainless steel]] sink in a [[restaurant]] kitchen
File:-41 sink.jpg|Double sink designed for manual dish washing
File:Ivy Manor sink.jpg|A sink with an offset drain
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Dipper well]]
* [[Domestic water system]]
* [[Floor plan]]
* [[Garbage disposal]]
* [[Lavabo]]
* [[Kitchen sink realism|Proverbial kitchen sink]]
* [[Trap (plumbing)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book |last1=Blower|first1=G. J.|title=Plumbing: mechanical services|date=2006|publisher=Prentice Hall |location=Harlow|isbn=0131976214|edition=5th }}
* Fletcher, Banister Flight, Sir. ''Architectural Hygiene''. London: Sir I. Pitman & Sons, 1921.

== External links ==
* {{Commons category-inline|Sinks}}
* {{Wiktionary-inline}}

{{Plumbing}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Plumbing]]
[[Category:Kitchen]]
[[Category:Bathrooms]]