How to Fix a Lift-Bucket Drain Stopper
- Remove the Cover Plate and Stopper. Back out the mounting screws that hold the overflow cover plate onto the overflow tube. ...
- Adjust the Linkage. If necessary, adjust the linkage to lengthen the connecting rod. ...
- Reassemble the Stopper. Insert the stopper and drain linkage back down through the overflow opening. ...
Full Answer
How to remove and replace a bathtub drain stopper?
- Push the stopper handle all the way down to expose the bottom of the stopper linkage underneath the sink.
- Locate the tension clip that secures the clevis to the stopper linkage.
- Disconnect the clevis from the stopper linkage.
- Remove the clevis from the sink's drainpipe.
- Lift the stopper out of the sink.
How do you remove the stopper from a tub?
- Place a towel in the bottom of the bathtub to protect the tub's finish while you work.
- Lift the toe-tap stopper with your fingers until it will lift no farther.
- Pull upward on the stopper as you turn it counterclockwise if the stopper only spins instead of unscrews from the drain.
How to get the drain plug out of a tub?
- The faceplate will be on the tub wall near the faucet, not on the bottom of the tub with the drain.
- These type of drains will stop a tub when a trip lever is activated. ...
- Set the tip of the screwdriver underneath the lip of the loosened drain if you need some leverage as you pull it out.
- Make sure to pull away from the tub wall.
How to unstop a bathtub drain?
Method 4 Method 4 of 5: Using Chemical Drain Cleaners
- Buy a chemical drain cleaner from the store. Chemical drain cleaners unclog drains with chemicals such as potassium hydroxide or sulfuric acid.
- Read the instructions on the back of the cleaner. These are the manufacturer’s instructions, and all drain cleaners will have slightly different ones.
- Remove any standing water from the bathtub. ...
How to lower a stopper on a tub?
How to keep water in tub when it drains out?
What is a tub drain?
How long does it take for a bathtub to drain?
Who is the master plumber of the old house?
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How do you fix a bathtub drain stopper?
0:221:35How to Repair a Pop-Up Tub Drain Stopper - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAre different sizes. Make sure you take it with you to match it up get yourself a new one reinstallMoreAre different sizes. Make sure you take it with you to match it up get yourself a new one reinstall that use your screwdriver to tighten it into place reinstall the top cap.
How do you fix a pop up drain stopper?
1:483:34How to fix pop up drain waste plug - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd you'll notice on the top here there's a little slot on either end that's designed for yourMoreAnd you'll notice on the top here there's a little slot on either end that's designed for your adjustable wrench to bite onto. So simply line that one there up turn it anticlockwise.
What are the different types of bathtub drain stoppers?
The six most common types of bathtub drain stoppers are push-and-pull, pop-up, lift-and-turn, flip-it, toe-touch, and trip lever. It does not matter what type you have unless it must be fixed or replaced. The sole purpose of a bathtub stopper is to keep the water in the tub while you soak.
How do I fix my stopper?
2:0913:57Bathroom Sink Drain Stopper Not Working - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou can go down there check if it's not tight you see that free flow you just reset it in and thenMoreYou can go down there check if it's not tight you see that free flow you just reset it in and then put your stopper in the up position. So then you can put your rod down.
How do you fix a spring loaded pop up sink plug?
1:267:43How to fix a spring loaded pop up waste plug in a hand basin or bath tubYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo what we typically do I would vies people to do is. You can just twist. This little plug piece itMoreSo what we typically do I would vies people to do is. You can just twist. This little plug piece it just spins. So loose right there. And it just comes off you just put that aside there.
Can you replace a pop up sink plug?
Pop up sink plugs can be removed and replaced easily. For more complex installations, use an adjustable wrench or wrench.
How to lower a stopper on a tub?
To lower the stopper, thread the bottom lock nut down. Next, spin the adaptor that the plunger hangs from down until it reaches the bottom lock nut, and then tighten the upper locknut to the adaptor. Place the plunger, threaded rod, and trip lever back into the hole in the tub and screw the plate back into place.
How to keep water in tub when it drains out?
Close the stopper, run some water into the tub, and see if it stays. If the water drains out, repeat the process above and lower the plunger a little bit more until you get the bathwater to stay in.
What is a tub drain?
Bathtub drains consist of a visible trip lever, a plunger that seats in the drain to stop water, and two pieces of threaded rod which connect the lever and plunger. The assemblies are adjustable to fit a wide range of tubs. The first step is to unscrew the plate that holds the trip lever.
How long does it take for a bathtub to drain?
10 to 20 minutes. Bathtub drain assemblies are mysterious things. Somehow, a lever placed well above the bottom of the tub controls whether the water stays in the tub when it’s wanted, and then allows it to drain when bath time is over. When a tub won’t hold water, the two potential causes are easily repaired.
Who is the master plumber of the old house?
In this video, This Old House master plumber Richard Trethewey shows how bathtub drains work, and how to fix them when they don’t.
In This Article
Soaking in a hot, relaxing bubble bath is the perfect way to wrap up your day — unless that water slowly drains out due to a damaged bathtub drain stopper. Whether it doesn't hold water well or won't move at all, your drain stopper can make bath time a hassle.
Fixing a Trip Lever With Plunger
If your tub has a trip lever, you'll see the lever on the overflow plate, which is on the vertical portion on the front of the tub near the faucet. You can flip it up or down to open or close the drain. The type with a plunger, also called a lift bucket stopper, doesn't have a visible stopper that you can see in the drain.
Fixing a Trip Lever With Rocker
This type of bathtub drain stopper also uses a trip lever on the overflow plate to open and close the drain. The difference is that you can see the stopper in the tub drain, and it moves up and down, which is why it's often called a pop-up stopper. A spring-loaded rocker arm extending through the waste pipe connects the trip lever and the stopper.
Fixing Stoppers Without a Linkage Assembly
The other broad category of bathtub drain stoppers includes styles that don't have a linkage assembly in the overflow drain. They're attached to the drain itself and are controlled at the stopper rather than with a trip lever. These stoppers sometimes have setscrews to hold them in place.
What does it mean when a bathtub drain stopper doesn't work?
Any bathtub drain stopper that doesn't do its job is an annoying inconvenience. Usually, the problem is easy to fix, though the procedures vary depending on what type of tub stopper you have. Some drains have stoppers that are spring-loaded, operated by a push of the toe or by hand, while others use a trip-lever mounted on ...
How does a trip lever drain work?
Rather than a lift-bucket plunger that seals a drain opening at the bottom of the overflow tube, there is a spring at the end of the connecting rod. This spring pushes down on a pivot arm that levers the pop-up stopper up into an open position when the trip lever is moved. When the trip lever is moved to the closed position , gravity allows the stopper to drop back down and seal the drain opening.
Where is the lift bucket on a bathtub?
The small up-and-down lever you see protruding from the overflow plate on your bathtub is connected to a vertical connecting rod inside the overflow pipe behind the front tub wall. Near the bottom of the connecting rod is a plunger of some kind—usually a weight that works by sealing the drain opening at the bottom of the overflow tube. This type of drain stopper is sometimes known as a lift bucket.
How to shorten a spring loaded tub stopper?
For example, shorten a spring-loaded stopper linkage if the stopper won't close and the tub won't hold water. Alternatively, if the stopper is a weighted plug, lengthen the linkage to make the tub hold water. Turn the nut clockwise to lengthen the linkage and counterclockwise to shorten it, using pliers.
What does it mean when a tub stopper is invisible?
If the stopper is invisible, it gets lowered into the drain when you raise the lever. The repair procedure is the same in both cases.
What is the linkage on a bathtub?
Some people refer to the system of adjustable rods that connects the drain stopper of a bathtub to the trip lever as the "guts" of the bathtub. Plumbers call it the linkage, and when moving the lever has no effect on the stopper, the problem is usually that the linkage isn't properly adjusted.
How to remove linage from tub?
Pull the lever out, then lift it straight upward to remove the linage from behind the tub. On the end will be a weighted plug or a spring, depending on the kind of stopper mechanism you have. If there is nothing attached, it may have fallen off, which accounts for the fact that the trip lever doesn't work.
How to get a plug back on a linkage?
If you don't have such a tool, tape a magnet to the end of a length of string. Hook the plug or spring back onto the end of the linkage.
How to lower a stopper on a tub?
To lower the stopper, thread the bottom lock nut down. Next, spin the adaptor that the plunger hangs from down until it reaches the bottom lock nut, and then tighten the upper locknut to the adaptor. Place the plunger, threaded rod, and trip lever back into the hole in the tub and screw the plate back into place.
How to keep water in tub when it drains out?
Close the stopper, run some water into the tub, and see if it stays. If the water drains out, repeat the process above and lower the plunger a little bit more until you get the bathwater to stay in.
What is a tub drain?
Bathtub drains consist of a visible trip lever, a plunger that seats in the drain to stop water, and two pieces of threaded rod which connect the lever and plunger. The assemblies are adjustable to fit a wide range of tubs. The first step is to unscrew the plate that holds the trip lever.
How long does it take for a bathtub to drain?
10 to 20 minutes. Bathtub drain assemblies are mysterious things. Somehow, a lever placed well above the bottom of the tub controls whether the water stays in the tub when it’s wanted, and then allows it to drain when bath time is over. When a tub won’t hold water, the two potential causes are easily repaired.
Who is the master plumber of the old house?
In this video, This Old House master plumber Richard Trethewey shows how bathtub drains work, and how to fix them when they don’t.
