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Does a butler sink need an overflow?

A bright farmhouse kitchen with a white butler sink set into a wooden worktop, a brass bridge tap and a window above.

The answer

Not always: some sinks have an overflow slot and others have none. An overflow helps prevent water spilling over the rim if a tap is left running, but it needs a compatible waste and a tap that does not block it, and a sink without one means taking care not to leave a tap running. Check the specification of the sink and ask your installer and your water supplier which rules apply where you live.

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