Apply Pipe Joint Compound
Apply a thin layer of pipe joint compound to the top side of the rubber washer that will fit against the sink. Using joint compound on the rubber will ensure that it seals against the bottom of the sink drain opening. While pipe joint compound is not strictly necessary, without it you might have trouble getting the rubber to seal.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
Does The Lift Rod Move Up And Down But The Stopper Doesnt Move
Potential solution: Tighten the bolt at the top of the lift rod strap.
A common problem is that the lift rod moves up and down but the stopper doesnt move and it stays in either the up or down position. Either way, this is a pretty simple problem to fix.
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.
Heres how to fix this:
- Go down in the vanity cabinet and check if the lift rod is not tight. If it is tight proceed to the next step.
- Put your stopper in the up position. This is the position where the sink should drain.
- Then, youll want to position the lift rod in the lowest position where the top of the lift rod is sitting on the faucet
- From there, youll be at the correct adjustment. So when you tighten it, your lift rod will be down. Youll be able to pull it up and then that will seal the stopper in the closed position.
But what if the lift rod is completely out of the strap ? Youll have to re-connect it first.
- If you see the lift rod completely out of the strap youll lift it up and pass it through the hole. Make sure the stopper is in the up position.
- Then tighten the nut at the top of the lift rod strap with a wrench or a crescent wrench.
Disconnecting The Sink Stopper Drain
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First Remove The Stopper
To unclog your sink, you’ll need to remove the bathroom sink stopper. Sometimes, the stopper is helping to form the clog, and by removing it, you may pull up or release some of the gunk that’s causing the slow drain.
Start by pulling by hand or turning the stopper. Some are made to be easily removed. If that’s not the case, you may need to use some tools and unfasten or unscrew the part holding the stopper in place under the sink. Heres what to do:
Types Of Sink Stoppers
- Lift-and-Turn Sink Stopper
The first and most common sink stopper is the lift-and-turn drain stopper. It has a special cap.
You need to turn it to a clockwise or anticlockwise direction to open and close it.
In order to completely close the stopper, locate it to the upper part of the stopper and twist the knob until you make it down.
When you want to open it, lift the switch and turn it in the anticlockwise direction.
Installing this type of sink stopper requires following a specific direction. You need to install a center setscrew into the threaded middle area of the drain crossbar. Normally, you will notice the setscrew at the upper part of the stopper
However, be cautious while installing it for the first time. Excessively tightening the screws may prevent you from removing the lift or turning the stopper conveniently.
But you have nothing to worry about since this type of sink stopper has a simple design.
Take an example of DANCO Lift and Turn Tub and Bath Drain Stopper, which is easy to use and can be a versatile fit for various tubs or sink drains.
It is compatible with various advanced models from well-known brands such as Carpers and Duracraft, Sterling, Rapid Fit 1200 series, etc.
Push-and-pull stoppers are almost identical to lift-and-turn stoppers in terms of appearance and style.
Instead of lifting and turning, you will push and pull the knob to open and close the sink.
- Flip-It Sink Stopper
- Pop-up Sink Stopper
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Installing The New Sink Stopper Mechanism
How To Fix A Bathroom Sink Drain Stopper: 4 Easy Solutions
Is your bathroom sink drain stopper not working effectively? Youre in the right place! In this blog, youll learn how to maintain or fix your lift rod and the associated drain stopper. Its very common for these pieces to break. But luckily, the fixes are pretty simple. Sometimes all you need is a tool or two and youll get your sink back to normal .
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How To Buy The Right Pop
For those sinks that don’t come with a drain, finding one for yourself is often the last step in a bathroom remodel. While there are a variety of bathroom sink drain options, the right one should match the style of your bathroom and add the perfect finishing touch. Follow a few simple guidelines to ensure you find the right flow.
1. Measure the sink
The sink drain must match the drain opening of your sink to work properly. Measure this opening to ensure you are getting the correct drain size, or refer to the manufacturer’s instructions that came with the sink as they should include the appropriate drain size. Most drain holes are 1 1/4 inches, although 1 1/2 inches and 1 5/8 inches are also common sizes.
Drains are measured at the threaded portion of the drain . A standard sinkhole is 1½ inches in diameter and will fit most toilet drains. This information is listed with waste products.
2. Choose popup or grid functionality
Sink drains are either overlay drains or lattice drains, with the difference being that overlay drains close and water can collect in the sink. Grid drains have small holes that cannot be closed, so water always runs out.
3. Complement the style of your sink
Make sure your bathroom has a stylish look by choosing a drain that matches the sink. This does not mean that the drain has to match the sink and faucet. In fact, a drain with a different material or finish often works well as an accent for the sink.
4. Check if your sink has an overflow
How To Install A Pop
Aaron Stickley is a licensed plumber with 15 years of experience in commercial, new residential plumbing, and residential service and repair. He started his own residential service and repair plumbing business. Aaron’s articles about plumbing on The Spruce span four years.
The Spruce / Ana Cadena
- Working Time: 30 mins – 1 hr
- Total Time: 30 mins – 1 hr
- Skill Level: Beginner
- Estimated Cost: $20 to $50
For most bathroom sinks, the drain stopper apparatus is a pop-up assembly that works by means of a small vertical rod attached to a pivot rod below the sink. This lift rod slides up and down through a small hole in the back of the faucet body. The pivot rod moves a linkage inside the drain tailpiece, lifting or lowering the stopper as needed.
You’ll need to install a new drain stopper whenever you install a new sink. And sometimes when you are installing a new faucet, it may come with a stopper assembly that needs to be swapped out with the old stopper. Finally, if a sink drain begins to leak, you can buy a new stopper assembly to replace the old faulty one.
Installation of a drain stopper is usually fairly straightforward and simple, but occasionally the process can become a little more complicated due to variations in the fixture or fittings.
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How To Fix A Slow Bathroom Sink Drain
It can be annoying and smelly when your bathroom sink starts draining slowly. Often thats caused by a buildup of hair and other debris between your drain and your p trap. That gunk constricts the waters path down your pipe. Some homeowners first reaction when this happens is to grab a bottle of chemicals. But that option is hard on your pipes, and can cause some serious damage if used long term. Luckily, the solution is simpler than you might think.
That solution is to clean out your drain. Below youll find a list of instructions if you want to tackle the job yourself. We designed each step with the do-it-yourself homeowner in mind. But if you decide that its a bigger project than youd like, any plumber should be able to help you out.
Tools Needed: a bucket, paper towels, a toothbrush, a pipe wrench
Take A Picture
The first thing youll need to do is get your sink ready to work on. With that in mind, take a picture of your drain pipes. It will help you later on when youre putting everything back together. Youll also want to set a bucket underneath the drain pipes to catch any water or debris.
1. Take Apart Your Fixture
Once you have your set-up done, its time to take apart your drain. The connection points should be hand-tight, but you may need a pipe wrench to loosen them up. Once theyre loose, youll need to lower the p trap off the rest of the assembly. Theres probably going to be sludge buildup that you can already see.
2. Remove Stopper
3. Clean Drain
Common Reasons For Bathroom Sink Clogs
Whats causing your bathroom sink to clog in the first place? One of the most common culprits is hair. If you shave or cut your hair at the bathroom sink, hair can be washed down the drain. There, it clumps together and, eventually, causes clogs. Even if you don’t intentionally rinse hair down the sink, hair that falls out or breaks naturally during the process of brushing or styling can eventually collect in the plumbing below the sink.
Other common reasons for bathroom clogs include:
- Soap and soap scum buildup
- Dried or clumped product, including toothpaste
- Small items stuck in the P-trap
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Does The Stopper Go Up But Not Down And The Stopper Is Not Damaged
Potential Solution: Make sure the loop of the stopper is facing the faucet.
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.
Heres why that matters: The pivot rod is supposed to go through the plastic loop at the bottom of the drainer stopper and then move it up and down. Sometimes when people get in a hurry they install the pivot rod and then they have the plastic loop on the wrong side, so it will push it up but it will not pull it down because theres nothing to hook on to.
You need to make sure that the loop of the stopper is facing the wall/faucet and when you install it, check that the loop is directly open to the pivot rod coming through. This can be a little tricky but take your time and youll be in good shape.
Once you have your pivot rod reinstalled make sure the drain is operating accordingly.
How To Replace A Sink Stopper
This article was co-authored by James Schuelke and by wikiHow staff writer, Christopher M. Osborne, PhD. James Schuelke, along with his twin brother David, is the co-owner of the Twin Home Experts, a licensed plumbing, leak detection, and mold inspection company based in Los Angeles, California. James has over 32 years of home service and business plumbing experience and has expanded the Twin Home Experts to Phoenix, Arizona and the Pacific Northwest. This article has been viewed 256,361 times.
When you pull up on that rod sticking up behind your bathroom faucet, the drain stopper is supposed to pull down and plug the sink. But what if the stopper doesn’t pull down, and you can’t plug your sink? Or, even worse, what if the stopper is stuck down and you can’t drain your sink? Your first instinct may be to call a plumber, but you can save some money and earn some satisfaction by replacing the sink stopper yourself. Whether you want to replace just the stopper mechanism or the entire drain and stopper system, you should feel confident that it is a job most DIYers can handle without much fuss.
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Removing The Stopper Lift Handle And Connectors
Put The Drain Stopper Into Place
Insert the pop-up stopper down into the drain opening inside the sink, making sure the hole in the linkage is facing toward the back of the sink. From under the sink, insert the pivot rod into the opening in the side of the tailpiece. Usually, there is a plastic washer on each side of the plastic ball. You should be able to feel the tip of the pivot rod slide through the opening in the stopper linkage inside the drain assembly.
Screw the pivot rod nut onto the threaded fitting on the side of the tailpiece, so the ball is secured inside the tailpiece. Test the action of the pivot rod to make sure the stopper goes up and down freely in the drain. If the pop-up is working properly, you can tighten the nut hand-tight. If the pop-up is not working, reposition the stopper and pivot rod so the pieces connect properly.
If the pop-up assembly is hard to move when you move the pivot rod, it’s likely that the pivot rod nut has been tightened down too much and needs to be slightly loosened.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
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