Have you ever taken a minute to examine the back of the basin in your bathroom? If you have, chances are you have noticed a small hole under the faucet often located towards the back of the bowl. This little hole, known as an overflow hole, is one thing a lot of people never think about.
To ensure your bathroom basin stays clean and fresh, it is essential that you understand the purpose of this little negative space.
A standard basin overflow is a hidden channel running along the underside of the sink basin. You may not be able to see it from the top of the sink and often can't see it from below, either. At the top of the overflow channel, there will be one or two holes near the rim of the basin. The bottom of the channel has an outlet hole that lets water flow into the drain just below the basin. The basin and the overflow empty into the same drain pipe, but the overflow is always open and isn't affected by the sink stopper.



The overflow opening serves two important functions:

Function 1  Preventing Water From Overflowing

The basin overflow can help when you have your plunger down and forget to turn off the water. When the water is filled up to the level of the overflow hole, the water will begin draining into the overflow opening and down the drain. This helps prevent water from spilling onto your counter or floor, which could result in water damage. But because basin overflow holes are usually small, they may not prevent an overflow for very long.
It's a common misconception that the sink overflow prevents overflowing water in the event that the sink drain is clogged. But the overflow outlet on most sinks is very close to the drain opening in the basin, and it's unlikely that a clog can occur between the drain opening and the overflow outlet so that it clogs up the former but not the latter. A bathroom sink overflow really protects against overflow when the stopper is closed and the faucet is accidentally left running, not in the event of clogs.

Function 2 Improve Draining speed

The sink overflow helps the basin drain faster by allowing air into the drain pipe via the overflow channel. When there's enough water in the basin to completely cover the drain opening, the drain can't get air through the water, creating a suction effect that slows the flow of water going down the drain. But with the overflow feeding air to the drain pipe, the suction effect is reduced and the water drains much faster. By contrast, sinks that don't have overflow openings commonly send up bubbles as they drain, and they typically drain more slowly.
 
 

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