How To Take Sink Drain Out

Loosening And Removing The Sink Strainer

Remove The Drain Stopper Knob

Rotating the knob on the top of the drain stopper to the left will typically open the drain. Continue to turn the knob in the same direction until it fully unthreads from the bolt in the center of the drain stopper.

Some knobs cannot be detached from the drain stopper lid, so the entire lid will need to turned in order to access the drain stopper bolt. Keep in mind that while most products have a threaded connection to the bolt, there are other drain stoppers that use simple twist locks to hold the drain stopper in place. If you encounter one of these products, just rotate the drain stopper lid until it is properly aligned, then pull the lid up to remove it.

The Spruce / Kevin Norris

Identifying The Cause Of The Clog

Bathroom sinks are prone to clogging for a number of reasons that include hard water, soap scum, hair, tiny toys, and debris:

• Hard water and soap: combine these two and you get soap scum which can build up in your sinks pipes and cause clogging. Learning how to remove hard water stains from your faucet and sink comes in handy if this is the case.
• Hair: a well-known clogging culprit, hair tangles and forms knots that can block up your bathroom sink
• Other objects: jewelry, small toys, and other items can make their way down the drain and cause an obstruction.

After identifying whats causing the clog, either move on to how to unclog bathroom sink steps or call a professional plumber to diagnose the obstruction and get rid of it.

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Save On Bathroom Sinks Online

Now that you’ve learned the basics, you should be ready to proceed with your project. If you ever need a new fixture, you know where to go. We have bathroom sinks here at PlumbersStock.com. We also have replacement pop-up drain parts. If you have trouble navigating the site, please don’t give up. Contact us, and we’ll help you find the right sink. For contractors or homeowners buying bulk, hit us up about special deals.

When To Use Silicone Instead Of Plumbers Putty

With some modern sinks, you must use silicone. If yours is that type, youll have seen silicone or a gasket sealing the joint. If youre not sure, check the manufacturers recommendations for your sink and drain.

You can skip the store and get the parts online, but you need to be careful. Order the items about a week before you want to start so that they arrive on time. Choose a drain and nut system that matches yours exactly. If you are not sure what sink parts you need, please go to the store for expert help.

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Removing A Lift And Turn Tub Stopper

A lift and turn sink stopper is very similar to the push pull type.

This type of stopper is opened and closed by lifting and turning the knob in opposite directions.

Put the stopper in the open position, then use one hand to hold the stoppers body.

Turn the knob counterclockwise and check for the set screw on the knob.

If your stopper doesnt have one, turn it counterclockwise to unscrew it from the strainer.

If you find the post thread has been stripped, it will become difficult to remove. Try pulling upwards while unscrewing.

If the stopper does have a set screw but doesnt unscrew, lift the stopper up and turn, checking for the screw.

Depending on the type, you can loosen the set screw using a flathead screwdriver or an Allen wrench.

PRO TIP: Be careful not to drop the screw down the drain.

If your stopper doesnt have a screw or a knob, it might have a channel and pin mechanism.

If this is the case, lift the stopper and slowly rotate it counter clockwise. Align the slot at the bottom of the channel with the pin in the strainer.

Pull the stopper upwards to release.

Baking Soda And Vinegar

This is an old method of unclogging drains that has proven to be very effective in bathroom sinks. Simply mix 1/3 cup of baking soda with 1/3 cup of vinegar in a measuring cup.

This mixture will start to fizz immediately and should be promptly poured down the drain. The fizzing action is what helps remove the hair and grime so effectively. Let it sit for about an hour, then flush it out with hot water.

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The Beginner Method: Reach Into The Drain Opening

In some cases, you can retrieve a fallen item through the drains opening, eliminating the need to take apart the plumbing below your sink. First, if the drain has a stopper, youll have to remove it so that it wont get in the way. Next, youll need to pick a tool with which to pluck or fish out the fallen object.

• Use a Magnet: If the object is metallic, you can try retrieving it with a magnet. The simplest tool to use is a telescoping magnet, which is essentially a wand you can extend with a magnet at one end. You can also tie a magnet to some string or a thin rod and fish inside the drain with that. Lower the magnet into the drain, and pull it back up slowly so that it has a better chance of attracting the object. Keep in mind: pure gold and silver are not magnetic, but if the jewelry is only plated in gold or silver, the magnet trick still might work on the metal underneath the plating.
• Use a Grabber Tool: To get better reach inside the drain than in the previous method, you may need to use a four-pronged pick-up tool. This tool is made of a flexible, wound-metal cable with a handle at one end and four retractable claws on the other. Because it’s bendable, you can work this tool farther down the drain than a telescoping magnet, and you can use the claws to grab onto your lost item. You can also use this device to clear clogs caused by hair.

Inspect Clean Or Replace

With the drain stopper out of the drain, you can inspect it for any signs of damage, like a torn plug, rusted threads, or a cracked lid. If there is any visible damage it’s advised to replace the drain stopper. However, if the drain stopper is in good working order, take this opportunity to clean the drain and the stopper with a bathroom cleaner and remove any hair, soap scum, or other debris before reinstalling the drain stopper.

The Spruce / Kevin Norris

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Shut Off Water Supply

Reach for the shut-off valves in the sink cabinet to turn off the hot and cold water supply to the kitchen sink faucet.

This step may not be necessary as the part of the sink you will be working on does not deal with the water supply tubes.

However, turning off the shut-off valves is something a novice in plumbing should get used to doing.

This precaution will ensure you do not make a mess of your work even when you turn on the water faucet unknowingly, especially if you have installed a touchless kitchen faucet.

How To Remove 6 Different Kinds Of Drain Stoppers

Clean or replace drain stoppers to clear clogs and update the bathroom.

Timothy Dale is a home repair expert and writer with over a decade of hands-on construction and home improvement experience. He is skilled in residential, commercial, industrial and institutional plumbing, electrical, carpentry, installation, renovations, and project management.

The Spruce / Kevin Norris

• Working Time: 10 mins – 2 hrs
• Total Time: 30 mins – 2 hrs, 30 mins

• Skill Level: Beginner
• Estimated Cost: $0 to $100

Bathtubs and sinks commonly use drain stoppers to effectively plug the drain and keep water, soap, and other common substances from flowing down the drain. These innovative devices take the place of traditional plugs that are prone to tearing, warping, and even getting lost if they aren’t kept securely fastened to the tub or sink. However, while drain stoppers may be an improvement, they still have some shortcomings that need to be monitored and addressed by users.

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Remove The Sink Parts Holding The Stopper In Place

Take a look under your sink at the pipes and configuration. Youll see a rod that extends from the sinks drain that is kept in place by a nut. This is the pivot rod, and it secures the sink stopper in place and keeps it from getting too high or too low.

Use pliers to gently remove the nut on the pivot rod, and then remove the pivot rod. Once the rod is removed, you should be able to pull the stopper up and out of the drain.

To replace the stopper and pivot rod, place the stopper back in the drain hole within the sink and turn it so that the hole in the bottom of the stopper faces the same direction of the pivot rod entry point. Put the stopper back into the sink and then replace the pivot rod.

Unfasten The Sink Drain Lock Nut

There is a locking nut, also known as basket nut, used to secure the kitchen sink strainer tightly under the sink.

When this nut is tight enough, and the sealing components like the plumbers putty and the rubber washers are in good shape, the sink drain is not supposed to leak.

So, if your sink drain is leaking, it could be a malfunction of any of the sealing components, or the lock nut not been tight enough.

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Removing A Toe Touch Drain Stopper

A toe touch drain stopper opens and closes with the touch of a toe. It is circular in shape and flat on top. There are no tabs or knobs to turn.

Put the drain stopper mechanism in the open position like your draining the tub.

Some stoppers have a top cap that will unscrew from the base cylinder that is threaded into the strainer below.

Hold the base cylinder while turning the cap counterclockwise.

If the entire unit starts to turn, let go of the base cylinder and unscrew the unit completely.

You may need to use a flathead screwdriver to unscrew the base cylinder from the strainer.

Using Vinegar And Baking Soda

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Tips For Preventing Future Clogs

• Dont use your drain as a trash can. Large bones, coffee grounds, and fibrous vegetables shouldnt go in your sink or your garbage disposal.
• Dont pour grease or oil down your drain. It can harden as it cools, causing clogs.
• When leaning over your bathroom sink, be careful not to let hair, Q-tips, dental floss, or other items fall into the sink.
• Dont dispose of paint in the sink.
• Invest in a sink strainer to catch wayward objects like hair, food, etc.
• Run hot water down the drain on a regular basis to flush out debris.
• Use the vinegar and baking soda method once a month as a preventative measure. It will remove debris before it becomes a large blockage.

Remove The Sink Drain

Once youve loosened the plate, nut or fixture, twist the basket strainer. If the fitting and strainer gate doesnt move, jiggle it a little. This action helps to dislodge sealant remnants. Try to chip away any stubborn little bits with a chisel or pliers.

If it still doesnt move, lightly hammer the bottom with a mallet. Take care not to damage the sink drain.

Once the sink drain loosens, continue to wiggle it around until you can push it out entirely. Using a plastic knife, scrape away any plumbers putty from around the opening where the sink drains.

Note: Use plastic to avoid scratching the stainless-steel surface. Scratches allow dirt and moisture to accumulate, speeding the deterioration of the metal.

Thats the end of part one of the sink drain kitchen removal.

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Expert Help With Your Drains

Weve shown you how to remove the drain plug from your sink and how to clean a P-trap out. If you followed all these steps and you still cant find your lost earringor if your p-trap doesnt have slip nutsgive us a call. Our experienced Dallas area plumbers have seen all types of pipes and drains. If they cant figure out how to get something out of your sink drain, no one can!

Hometodays 2021 A To Z Stain Removal Guide

You can also try a microbial cleaner, such as Bio-Clean Drain Septic Bacteria. Stay clear of any type of drain acid, James warned. As a rule of thumb, anything you wouldnt want to drink, you shouldnt put down your drain because eventually it ends up in the water supply.

William Harvey Sink Plunger, $11,

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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.

Removing And Cleaning The P

First, well loosen the nut at the back of the P-trap.

You should be able to do this by hand if not, use some channel locks. Water will start to seep out of the loosened connection.

Next, loosen the nut on the front side of the P-trap.

Let the water drain out.

Once the water stops, unscrew the nuts all the way, remove the P-trap, and dump the water out.

In my case, there is no clog in this part of the drain, but were going to clean up the P-trap anyway, seeing as were here. Obviously, if there were gunk, wed pull that out first.

To clean up the P-trap, Im going to roll up some paper towels and feed them through the pipe, twisting as I go. Once the paper towels poke through the other end, Ill pull them all the way through.

You can see how just one pass cleaned up the P-trap nicely.

Next, well clean off the end of the tailpiece with some paper towels.

If you see hair hanging out of the tailpiece, be sure to pull all that out. Its not uncommon for hair to get stuck in this area.

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How To Remove Drain Stoppers

There are several types of drain stoppers, and it’s important to know which type you have in your bathroom before you begin. Every type has different removal and cleaning instructions. If you arent sure which drain stopper type you have, this article can help. P.S.: If you don’t have a flat-head screwdriver, an electric drill will complete the task too.