
How to Repair the Trip Lever in a Tub Drain
- 1.. Unscrew the cover plate from the front of the bathtub, using a screwdriver. It's usually held on by two...
- 2.. Pull the lever out, then lift it straight upward to remove the linage from behind the tub. On the end will be a...
- 3.. Excavate for the plug or the spring with a magnetic retrieval tool, if necessary. If you don't...
Full Answer
How do you replace a tub drain plug?
Replacing Bath Tub Drain
- Choose Your Tools. Items needed to remove and replace a modern screw in bath tub drain (not all drains are like this). ...
- Remove the Old Drain. Insert the Drain Key into the drain. ...
- Clean the Seating Area and Apply Fresh Plumbers Putty. ...
- Insert the New Drain. ...
- Remove Excess Putty and Install the Drain Plug. ...
- Test Out Your Finished Repair. ...
How to remove a drain from a tub?
Remove the faceplate of a trip lever drain.
- 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 do you change a bathtub drain?
- Move the rotating dial to the open setting.
- Gently remove the stopper from the drain opening and use wiggling movements to remove the whole arm linkage from the same opening.
- Wipe off any grime from the pop – up stopper and rocker arm. ...
- Restore some shine by polishing the stopper with commercial chrome polish. ...
How to fix a leaking bathtub faucet quick and easy?
- The first step is to remove the faucet spout. ...
- Use a utility knife to score the sealant where the spout and bathtub wall meet for easier removal.
- Remove the length of pipe, called a pipe nipple, with a wrench.
- Wrap the threads of both ends of the nipple with plumber’s tape or Teflon tape.
- Install the nipple into the 90-degree elbow pipe within the wall. ...

How do I fix the lever on my bathtub?
How to Fix a Pop-Up Drain StopperRemove the Cover Plate and Plunger. Back out the mounting screws that hold the overflow cover plate to the overflow tube. ... Clean the Spring. Clean away any debris on the spring at the end of the stopper linkage. ... Adjust the Connecting Rod. ... Reassemble the Stopper.
How do you fix a drain stopper lever?
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 does a tub drain lever work?
With the trip lever down, the plunger is lifted and the drain is open; when the trip lever is up, the plunger is forced down and the drain is closed. And if the tub is accidentally overfilled, excess water can still run down the overflow tube behind the trip-lever plate and can drain away because the plunger is hollow.
How do you fix a lift and turn a bathtub drain?
0:153:31Replace broken lift and turn bathtub drain (Kohler) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAfter taking out the drain stopper you have to clean it up from the door and that two remainingMoreAfter taking out the drain stopper you have to clean it up from the door and that two remaining plumbers putty find myself a cheap replacement that I bought at Home Depot.
How do you fix a twist handle bath control mechanism?
0:041:34How to fix a twist handle bath plug mechanism - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf we take it off you can see it's actually just a screw on the top there. That's have to be comingMoreIf we take it off you can see it's actually just a screw on the top there. That's have to be coming loose.
Why won't my pop up plug stay down?
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.
How does a tub drain linkage assembly work?
With a pop-up drain, linkage forces the drain stopper up or down by way of a rocker arm. With the plunger type, a hollow brass plunger slides up and down inside the drain assembly to seal the drain opening.
How do you replace a lift and turn drain stopper?
0:351:49How to remove a lift and turn stopper - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAs you look for the screw. The kind I have is one where you close the stopper and then you rotateMoreAs you look for the screw. The kind I have is one where you close the stopper and then you rotate the stopper counterclockwise. Well try not to loosen the the top of it.
How do you replace a lift and turn stopper?
0:512:14Removing a lift-&-turn stopper (1-step) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBut basically you'd grip it underneath that top part and just grip it tight turn it once he getsMoreBut basically you'd grip it underneath that top part and just grip it tight turn it once he gets loose. Enough. Just keep turning. And it comes out.
How do you take apart a pop up bathtub drain?
0:061:38How to Remove any Bathtub Stopper, Pop-up, Grate, or Plug - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt it'll sometimes be a set screw right here you'll take your screwdriver loosen that screw. AndMoreIt it'll sometimes be a set screw right here you'll take your screwdriver loosen that screw. And then this part will separate from the metal bar. And you just unscrew that metal bar.
How does a lift and turn stopper work?
A lift-and-turn drain stopper has a small knob on the cap, which is used to twist the stopper open and closed. It's closed by turning the knob until it goes down, and it's opened by lifting and turning the knob in the opposite direction.
How do I remove a lift and turn drain stopper?
0:462:14Removing a lift-&-turn stopper (1-step) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBut basically you'd grip it underneath that top part and just grip it tight turn it once he getsMoreBut basically you'd grip it underneath that top part and just grip it tight turn it once he gets loose. Enough. Just keep turning. And it comes out.
Types of Bathtub Drains
Foot Lock: A drain that's pushed down with the foot to change the setting
How to Fix Foot Lock and Rollerball Tub Drains
Bathtub drain replacement should be an easy fix if you're fortunate enough to have one of these types of drains. To remove the plug from a foot lock or rollerball tub drain, simply rotate the plug counterclockwise until it's free of the drain. Clean the plug with a mild cleaning solution or vinegar and reinstall.
How to Fix a Pop-Up Bathtub Drain
These drains have moving parts that may need cleaning and lubrication.
How to Fix a Plunger Bathtub Drain
Like pop-up drains, plunger tub drains have moving parts that may need attention.
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.
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 ...
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.
Why won't my tub drain?
Issues with your tub draining or holding on to water often result from a faulty trip lever. If the trip lever gets stuck or has damage, this could prevent it from opening all the way. When this happens, the water won’t drain properly from your tub.
What are the two types of drain levers?
Typically, there are two types of drain systems that you can operate with a trip lever. The two types are lift-bucket plungers and pop-up stoppers.
What Exactly Does a Trip Lever Do?
You likely know exactly what a trip lever does. It’s located behind your tub wall, usually under the faucet, and controls the drain stopper. A metal plate usually hides the trip lever, and you operate it via a switch connected to the lever.
What causes a trip lever to stick?
What Could Cause a Faulty Trip Lever? Various things can cause a faulty trip lever or make your trip lever stick. In a lift-bucket system, sometimes the plunger can get caught in the overflow tube. When this happens , the plunger can’t move freely, so it won’t go up and down correctly.
What is a plunger in a drain?
Usually, the plunger is a spring that pushes down on the arm to push the stopper into an open position. When you move the trip lever to a closed position, gravity drops the stopper down and seals the drain.
Why won't my plunger seal the drain?
Another possibility is an ill-adjusted vertical rod. If the vertical rod is in an improper position, the plunger may not be able to drop far down enough. Therefore, it won’t be able to seal the drain opening adequately.
How does a pop up drain work?
Pop-up drains use a horizontal rocker arm. The trip lever controls the arm, which works a pop-up plug that fits into the drain opening. Therefore, the plunger in this situation connects to the horizontal rocker arm. Usually, the plunger is a spring that pushes down on the arm to push the stopper into an open position.
