Repairing Guides

how to repair stopper in bathroom sink

by Prof. Simeon Kulas Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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How to Fix a Bathroom Sink Stopper

  • STEP 1: Determine what type of sink stopper you have.. The first step of cleaning and repairing your sink stopper is to...
  • STEP 2: Take apart the existing bathroom sink stopper assembly.. If you have a universal bathroom sink stopper, simply...
  • STEP 3: Thoroughly clean and inspect the parts.. Stoppers can create sink clogs if they are...

Full Answer

How to fix sink stopper that will not stay up?

Steps Download Article

  1. Understand a bit of what's going on under your sink. ...
  2. Push and pull the rod. Notice whether the drain stopper moves. ...
  3. Adjust the nut. ...
  4. Make sure the two rods are connected. ...
  5. Attach the stopper to the lower rod. ...
  6. Adjust the location of the lower rod.' If you have trouble getting the hook over the rod so that it's in the notch, or if nothing you do seems ...

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How to unclog bathroom sink?

How to Unclog a Sink Using a Plunger

  • Prepare for Plunging. If you are working on a bathroom sink, seal the sink overflow outlet found at the top of the sink bowl, just under the rim.
  • Fill With Water. Fill the sink bowl, tub, or shower pan with several inches of water. ...
  • Seal the Plunger. ...
  • Use Your Plunger. ...
  • Run the Water. ...
  • Replace the Stopper. ...

How to put the drain stopper back in the sink?

Part 4 Part 4 of 4: Installing the New Sink Stopper Mechanism

  1. Align and place the drain stopper into the sink's drain opening. ...
  2. Insert the tapered plastic washer into the horizontal stub on the tailpipe. ...
  3. Feed the pivot rod into the stub and through the hole on the drain stopper. ...
  4. Feed the pivot nut over the pivot rod and tighten it onto the pipe stub. ...
  5. Install and connect the lift handle and extension bar. ...

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How to fix a loose faucet in bathroom sink?

To assemble, proceed as follows:

  • Remove all disturbing objects under the sink.
  • Lie on your back under the sink. You may need a flashlight to see the screw connection.
  • Loosen the nut from the threaded rod. The best way to do this is to use a faucet wrench.
  • Remove the nut and washers.
  • Now place the stabilizing triangle between the sink and washers before you hand-tighten the nut.

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How do you fix a broken bathroom sink stopper?

0:235:29How to Fix a Bathroom Sink Stopper | This Old House - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOkay now this piece called a tail piece is threaded into the cast piece above okay and i don'tMoreOkay now this piece called a tail piece is threaded into the cast piece above okay and i don't really care about that so i'm going to use my pliers. And just back it out.

How do you fix the sink plug stopper?

1:4713:57Bathroom 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.

Can you replace stopper in bathroom sink?

0:004:21Replace a Bathroom Sink Stopper - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf you want to replace your bathroom sink stopper perhaps the finish on it is marred. And it'sMoreIf you want to replace your bathroom sink stopper perhaps the finish on it is marred. And it's installed so that you can't just lift the stopper out of the drain hole.

How do you fix a sink stopper that won't stay up?

0:392:26How to Fix Sink Stopper that Will not Stay Up - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWith that simple simple fix. So all I'm doing is just finger tightening this knot.MoreWith that simple simple fix. So all I'm doing is just finger tightening this knot.

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 does bathroom sink stopper work?

SO HOW DOES A SINK POP-UP MECHANISM WORK? It's actually a fairly simple design. When the lift rod is pulled upwards, it pulls the pivot rod up as well. This pivot rod is attached to the stopper, which is pulled down, effectively sealing the sink.

How much does it cost to replace a sink stopper?

Replace a Kitchen Sink Drain: national average cost The national average materials cost to replace a kitchen sink drain is $10.61 per drain, with a range between $9.52 to $11.70.

How do you replace a pop up stopper?

1:393:31How to Install a Pop-Up Drain in a Bathroom Sink | Repair and ReplaceYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPush the drain collar down into the hole any excess putty will be pushed out and can be easilyMorePush the drain collar down into the hole any excess putty will be pushed out and can be easily removed after the rest of the drain is installed slide the rubber gasket onto the shaft.

How much does it cost to fix a sink stopper?

How much does sink and faucet repair cost? The national average cost to repair a sink or faucet is $194.

Why won't my bathroom sink stopper stay closed?

If the stopper moves as it should but doesn't stay put, all you need to do is tighten the nut (turn it clockwise). If the action is too stiff, loosen the nut a little. Check the action and adjust until it feels about right.

Disassemble and Clean the Pop-Up Stopper Assembly

Follow these steps to learn how to remove a sink stopper and clean the under-sink assembly.

Reassemble and Adjust the Pop-Up Stopper Assembly

Follow these steps to fix a sink stopper and reassemble under-sink components.

What to do if your sink drain kit has a metal tailpipe?

If your sink drain kit has a metal tailpipe, the exposed threads may be on the tailpipe instead of the sink drain. If so, smear the pipe joint compound on the exposed tailpipe threads instead.

How to make a sink ring?

Then, roll it into a “snake” about the thickness of a pencil, and form a ring by pressing the ends together. Press this ring onto the rim of the opening in your sink basin.

How to tighten a pivot rod?

Feed the pivot nut over the pivot rod and tighten it onto the pipe stub. Tighten the nut by hand onto the threads on the end of the tailpipe's horizontal stub. If you overtighten the nut, the pivot rod may not be able to move up and down freely — test the rod's movement, and loosen the nut slightly if necessary.

How to loosen a PVC tailpipe?

If your trap is PVC, the connector will be a PVC compression nut that you can loosen by hand. If the trap is metal, it will be a metal nut that requires a large wrench or channel locks to loosen. In either case, loosen the nut completely so that the two sections of pipe are disconnected.

How to remove pivot rod from drain?

The pivot nut is threaded onto a short stub on the drainpipe, and is the entry point for the pivot rod into the drain. Turn the nut counterclockwise by hand — or use a wrench if necessary — to unthread it. Pull it straight off along with the inserted pivot rod. You should now see the pivot ball nestled inside the nut, along with the stub of the pivot rod that connects to the stopper inside the pipe.

How to install a plastic washer on a car?

Insert the tapered plastic washer into the horizontal stub on the tailpipe. Your kit will come with a small plastic ring that is slightly wider in diameter on one side than the other. Place the narrower side into the opening first. This washer will help hold the ball on the pivot rod in place and provide a watertight seal.

Where to put gaskets on sink?

Stack any included gaskets on top of the locknut or bell housing. Without these one or more gaskets that came with the kit, you'll have a metal-to-metal compression connection under the sink that won't be watertight. Follow the provided product instructions regarding the order and placement of the gasket (s), then put them on top of the locknut or bell housing before you slip it over the threads of the sink drain's bottom.

How do you know if a drain stopper is working correctly?

How do you know if things are working correctly? If everything is correct you should be able to pull up and push down on the lift rod and the drain stopper should move up and down.

What to do if your lift rod pulls out of the hole?

If your lift rod literally pulls out of the hole in the back of the faucet, you probably need to tighten the bolt at the top of the lift rod strap. Alternatively, you might be dealing with an issue with your pivot rod which will be covered in point #2.

What happens when you tighten a lift rod?

From there, you’ll be at the correct adjustment. So when you tighten it, your lift rod will be down. You’ll be able to pull it up and then that will seal the stopper in the closed position.

How to tighten a pivot rod?

Insert the pivot rod back in place with the seal’s concave side facing out – and hand-tighten the nut.

Why does my stopper never pull down?

Is your issue that you can push the stopper up – but it never pulls down? A common reason for that is the bottom of the stopper is positioned 90 degrees offset.

Do you need a channellock plier for metal?

Note, if you’re working with plastic you may not need any tools. With metal, you’ll probably need to use channellock pliers.

Does drain stopper travel up or down?

Note that the further your clip is out at the end – the longer travel your drain stopper will have moving up and down. On the other hand, the further you go in, the less travel. So this can be customizable depending on what you want.

How to remove a C-shaped retainer clip?

Pinch the ends of the "C"-shaped retainer clip together and slide off the end of the linkage rod. See the text boxes.

How to tighten a pop up assembly?

Tighten the nut on the pop-up assembly body. This plastic one is made to tighten sufficiently with fingers only and no pliers. Tighten the body nut as tightly as your fingers can tighten it. Be careful that the body of the pop-up assembly does not rotate out of its position. Hold it firmly while tightening.

Can you tighten a pop up nut?

If your pop-up assembly is metal, be careful not to tighten the nut too much with a pair of pliers. Part of the metal nut is a thin washer mounted in the nut and it can push out. Once it does, you will have difficulty making the nut hold the ball on the linkage rod so there are no leaks.

Why Is My Sink Stopper Stuck?

Generally, sink stoppers are on bathroom sinks. However, kitchen sinks stoppers are typically no different, so you can use this same guide. There are numerous types of stoppers, such as push-down stoppers, rubber drain plugs, and the like. Popup stoppers are very common in bathroom sinks, which we will address in this article.

How Do Sink Stoppers Work?

Bathroom sink stoppers aren’t complex to figure out, as many mechanisms only have a few parts. Each component works with the others to move the plug up and down as you adjust the controlling portion above the sink.

Troubleshooting A Stuck Sink Stopper

Your first step in this process will be to clear out anything in the cabinet beneath the sink. You will have to spend some time up close and personal with the stopper mechanisms behind the drain pipe, and trying to work around random items in the cabinet is no fun. So, move everything you can out of your workspace.

Repair The Issue

Once you have determined what is causing your push-to-pop-up sink stopper to stuck down, you can move forward with fixing the issue. Disconnected parts are a quick and easy fix as long as they are still in good shape. Simply reattach them to their rightful place, and test the mechanism to verify it works.

How to remove a sink stopper?

If it seems to be linked to the mechanism below, reach under the sink and unscrew the pivot rod retaining nut and pull out the pivot rod to disengage it. Use locking-jaw pliers to loosen it if necessary.

Why won't my sink pop up?

Water may leak or refuse to drain around a sink pop-up for a number of reasons. If your sink pop-up won’t pop up or seat properly, fixing it is quite easy—usually just a matter of adjusting a few parts. The culprit is often a buildup of hair around the base of the stopper or the pivot rod mechanism. Or, the clevis may be out of adjustment (see illustration to identify the various parts).

How does a pop up drain stopper work?

Pop-ups are simple mechanical devices that use a system of links and levers to move a drain stoppers up and down to seal a sink bowl or bathtub. Bathroom sink pop-ups are raised and lowered with a lift knob or lever, usually located on or near the faucet body.

How to keep a drain stopper in good working order?

Keeping the drain clear of hair, soap and shampoo residue, and other debris is one of the best ways to help keep the stopper in good working order.

How to adjust pop up stopper?

Depending upon the type of pop-up, you adjust the way the stopper seats either by adjusting the length of the striker rod or by adjusting the rocker arm.

What is the pivot rod on a sink?

The pivot rod beneath the sink connects the pop-up to the sink-top lever. LightWaveMedia / Shutterstock.com

How to fix a water dripping on a pivot ball?

6 If water drips from around the pivot ball, tighten the retaining nut that holds the ball in place. You may also need to replace the gasket or washer (or both) inside the pivot ball-and-rod assembly.

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