How To Remove The Most Common Tub Drain Stoppers
Its easy to learn how to remove a tub drain stopper once you determine the type of stopper you have. The following are two removal options of the most common tub drain stoppers with easy removal instructions:
Removal Option #1:
- Place the bathtub stopper in the closed position.
- In the event the knob is difficult to turn, you may need to use pliers on the knob while holding on to the stopper base.
- Then begin removing the bathtub stopper by turning the knob in a counter clock-wise motion. Be sure to hold down the stopper base with your bare hand while you are turning the knob.
- At this point the stopper should come out of the drain.
Removal Option #2:
- If the stopper does not come out of the drain look for a set screw underneath the top of the stopper. Loosen the set screw and remove the top of the stopper.
- Then take a pair of pliers or a flathead screwdriver and remove the stem.
- In the even the knob comes off, but the stem stays in the drain take a flathead screwdriver and turn counter clock-wise to remove the remaining parts.
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Rd Step: Remove The Bathtub Drain Flange
There are two main methods you could use to remove a bathtub drain or drain flange.
You can either remove the drain using a plug drain wrench or locking pliers.
Depending on the tools you have available you can choose the method that best fits you and youre most comfortable with.
Heres how to remove the drain with these two easy options.
Removing the Drain with Locking Pliers
Begin by inserting the needle-nose locking pliers into the drain opening and only stop inserting when the jaws cant move any deeper.
While inserting, ensure the jaws are on the opposite sides of the crossbars, above the center of the X cross sign.
Once you have the needle-nose locking pliers secured, you can use a second pair of standard pliers to turn the locking pliers and loosen the drain effortlessly.
Removing the Drain with a Plug Drain Wrench
A plug wrench is a sizeable pliers-like apparatus thats made of cast iron or steel. It is milled to gain access to the crossbars of more than two different sizes of drains.
It is an important tool for removing bathtub drains, and its important to buy one from the hardware store if youre going to be removing your bathtub’s drain from more often.
To remove the drain with this plug drain wrench, youll have to insert its end into the tines on the drain wrench fit on the crossbars of the drain.
Since plug wrenches come in various head sizes, you can pick the size that best fits into your drain wrench fit.
How To Remove A Tub Drain Stopper
If you’re trying to clean your bathtub drain of clogged hair and your drain is covered by a tub drain stopper, you’re probably getting frustrated. Tub drain stoppers are difficult pieces to remove and WD-40 won’t help ease open any screws. Plumbers have specialized tools to remove the drain stopper, but if you want to do it yourself, there’s a makeshift way . Read the steps listed below and learn about how you can remove a tub drain stopper yourself.
All you need are slipknot pliers and a sturdy screwdriver.
Here’s what to do:
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How Do You Remove Different Tub Drains
The process is always the same. Remove the stopper, then the hardware, and then the drain itself. But, since there are so many types of drains, there is a bit of variation in the specifics. Anytime you install a drain, especially one thats sort of complicated, its a good idea to keep the instructions for future reference.
St Step: Remove The Tub Drain Stopper Or The Screen
Removing the tub drain stopper or the screen allows you to access the tubs drain fitting.
If youre using a tub with a screen, removing it should be easy and fast. With the help of a flathead screwdriver, pry beneath the screen to pop it off.
You should see something like a bucket or plunger-like stopper that blocks the water inside the drain pipe.
The case is different for a tub using a drain stopper in place of a screen.
There are different types of drain stoppers and its only fair that we discussed how to remove the most common types of drain stoppers in the market today.
a) A Push-Pull Drain Stopper
Push-pull stoppers are easy to close or open. You simply turn the knob on the top of the stoppers to either open or close them.
However, to remove push-pull stoppers from the tub youll need to use both hands and be more careful.
Youll have to hold the stoppers body in an open position with one hand while at the same time turning the knob in a counterclockwise direction with the other hand.
With the knob out, you can proceed to unscrew the rest of the stopper and completely remove it from the drain.
b) A Toe-Touch Drain Stopper
For a toe-touch drain stopper, youll need to grasp the head with one hand in an open position and the shaft with the other hand or using a wrench.
Then rotate the head in a counterclockwise direction to fully detach it from the crossbar.
c) A Lift and Turn Drain Stopper
d) Other Types of Drain Stoppers
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How To Remove Drain Stoppers: Your Step
Solyman Najimi | 2021-07-08 01:58:45 -0400
A drain stopper operates normally until it doesn’t. That’s when you notice the water doesn’t drain as fast as before. While it could be a clog, it also could be your clogged sink stopper.
This article covers how to remove a drain stopper and clean and reinstall it. Learn how to skip the plumber and tackle this DIY project head-on.
How To Remove A Toe
A toe-touch drain stopper consists of a drain assembly that sits inside the drain and a toe-touch mechanism that is operated by simply pushing down on the drain stopper. One push will close the drain and a second push will open the drain. These drain stoppers usually have a circular shape and a flat lid that may be completely smooth or have the word ‘push’ engraved on the lid.
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Unscrew The Drain Stopper Knob
The knob on a push-and-pull drain stopper is usually attached to the stopper lid, but in some cases, the knob is a separate piece. If your drain stopper knob is a separate piece, then it should be removed from the stopper in order to access the fastening bolt.
Grip the drain stopper knob tightly and turn it to the left to unthread it from the stopper lid and reveal the fastening bolt.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
Adding Diy Clog Busters
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Turning The Drain Flange Counterclockwise
Turn the drain removal tool in a counterclockwise direction to unscrew the drain flange. This may be something challenging to do, especially due to hardened putty and calcium deposits that create resistance.
Lubricating the threads would be almost impossible. Thus, the best chance you have is applying more force.
In case itll be necessary, slip a steel pipe on the wrench or screw handle to extend its length. The pipe will assist in creating more leverage to unscrew the drain flange.
Useful Tip:
If youre unable to turn the flange, use a hairdryer to apply heat on the flange for some minutes. Doing so will soften the putty that may have hardened within the threads, thereby making it easier to turn the flange.
A Diy Guide On How To Remove The Bathtub Drain
Contents
There are several reasons that might make you consider removing the bathtub drain. For instance, the drain fitting may be having a strainer thats preventing you from accessing the drain with a plumbers snake to clear some stubborn clogs.
Or maybe youre planning to upgrade the drain stopper with a better one. Its also likely that the current design of your drain is made of chrome and an update requires a drain made of brass.
Whichever the case, replacing a tub drain demands the removal of the drain flange. The flange is the drains visible part.
Youll find most parts making up the bathtub drain assembly under the bathtub. Luckily, you wont come across many challenges when replacing a drain flange, according to our 24 hour plumber in Sydney.
In case youll have to replace the entire bathtub drain, then youll need to work under the tub area. In some tub designs, you can only access the drain by lifting the bathtub.
In most cases, removing a flange is relatively easy. Its something you can easily do from within the bathtub.
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How To Unscrew A Bathtub Drain
If your bath begins to drain slowly or stops draining completely, it has probably become blocked by a build-up of hair and grime. This means you will need to remove the drain and unblock it. You will also need to remove an old drain to replace it with a new one.
Of course, you can call in a professional plumber to do it for you. However, removing a drain is quite a simple task, and many people will be able to DIY it. If you are interested in trying it out for yourself, heres our guide for how to remove a bathtub drain.
We also had a look on YouTube, and there are a whole lot of video showing you how to do this job. There also seem to be about as many different techniques as there are videos, but this is a good one so check it out if you want to see how its done.
When To Remove A Bathtub Drain
Bathtub drains can be removed any time the homeowner needs to deep clean the drain, replace the entire drain or remove the bathtub. Drain baskets tend to corrode over time, which may prompt drain removal. Removing a drain may also be required to remove clogs like hairballs and other gunk often trapped in these tight plumbing stops. Visible leaks are also a sign that its time for the bathtub drain to be removed and replaced.
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Why You Might Need To Take Off Your Bathtub Drain
No one likes dealing with a smelly drain, especially when you step into the shower and detect a nasty smell wafting up from below. Unfortunately, because of the nature of bath and shower drains, its impossible for them not to fill with some amount of hair and soap scum over time. While you should use a stopper to prevent clogs, you may still occasionally have to take manual action to get that backed up hair out. If you have already tried plunging, using a drain snake, or dissolving the clog with baking soda and vinegar, there is one last thing you can do to solve this problem: take the drain out altogether. Read on to learn our process for removing a tub drain in seven steps, and make sure to call our expert plumbers for all your other drain cleaning and repair needs.
What You Need For The Project
Youll need just a few items to install a bathtub drain including the drain hardware, a few tools and putty tape.
- Bathtub drain assembly For a completely new installation, you may need the entire drain assembly including the stopper, drain flange, drain shoe, waste tee, overflow pipe, overflow cover, and any associated parts like gaskets and screws. If replacing an existing bathtub drain, youll likely use the existing drain shoe, waste tee, and pipes. You may need a new gasket, though.
- Tools Assuming this is a new installation, youll need just a wrench and flathead screwdriver as well as a drain specific smart dumbbell or drain key tool for removing and installing the bathtub drain. The type you need depends on the type of drain flanges you will be removing and installing.
- Supplies -Make sure to have some caulk or plumbers putty on hand to seal the lip of the drain flange. You may also want to use masking tape to cover and protect the exposed bathtub surface surrounding the drain flange.
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What Is The Best Tool To Unclog A Tub Drain
That depends on the size and stubbornness of the clog. For a small clog, baking soda and vinegar poured down the drain might be a solution. If the clog is tougher, a commercial product might be your best solution. Just remember that many of these products contain caustic chemicals and can be extremely dangerous if misused. If neither of those tricks is successful, you might need to use a plumbing snake to physically free the clog.
Remove Any Internal Hardware
On the simplest drains, you can skip this step, as not every drain has internal hardware. Some drains are more complicated than others. For example, if you have a trip-lever style drain, youll need to remove the overflow drains faceplate to access the internals.
But, the connecting hardware will likely come out as you remove the faceplate, as its usually all one piece. Other drains have a sleeve or cylinder that needs removal.
Youll see it when you look down the drain. Just unscrew it with your hand. If it doesnt move easily, there might be a small set-screw you need to remove first. If its stubborn, use a pair of pliers.
If youre struggling to get the internals out of the way, just take a break and look at things again. Youre probably missing a small screw that needs loosening before the stopper or hardware comes out.
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Lift And Turn Tub Stopper
If you have a lift and turn tub stopper, its attached with two screws. How do you remove this type of bathtub drain stopper?