Push And Pull Drain Stopper

Final Thought On How To Remove Six Different Types Of Bathtub Drain Stoppers

Bathroom drain stoppers are very important elements to have in your bathroom space because they can help prevent messy floors. Just ensure you choose a model that fits the diameter of your drain opening. Removing these stoppers can also be a daunting task, but having simple tools and basic skills is enough to remove bathtub drain stoppers.

Dino Paccino

Dino is a lifelong writer and home improvement specialist. He enjoys bringing cutting-edge information on home renovation and remodeling to Kitchen Infinity.

Trip Lever Drain Stopper

The Trip Level Stopper stands as one of the models that have levers on the overflow plate in front of the bathtub. Here, a strainer replaces a visible pop-up stopper in the drain opening.

Unlike the other type of bathtub drain stoppers on our list, it can be confusing when you want to take out the stopper for cleaning. This task involves taking it out of the overflow tube and plate.

If you dont like levers, you might check out the other variant that offers a twist cover on the overflow plate. To open or close the plunger of this model, you will have to rotate the twist cover in different directions.

Inspect Clean And Replace The Check Ring

Remove the check ring by finding a spot where you can pry underneath it with a screwdriver. Lift on this edge, then pull out any dirt or corrosion that may be inside it. Once clean, reinstall the ring into its original position. Inspect the O-ring for cracks or hardening, and replace it if necessary.

You May Like: Outdoor Shower Pan With Drain

Unscrew The Drain Stopper Bolt

To do this, you will need a flathead screwdriver and Allan wrench to unscrew the drain stopper bolt from the threaded hole. It may take a bit of force to get it off. Use the flathead screwdriver and Allen wrench to remove the screw from the center, and don’t remove the entire screw to remove the stopper. The stopper can fall down the drain if you use the entire screw.

How To Remove A Lift

A lift-and-turn drain stopper can usually be identified by a small, threaded knob on the top of the stopper. This style of drain stopper is similar to a push-and-pull stopper, except the knob on a push-and-pull stopper is fixed in place in order for the user to push the stopper down or pull the stopper up. The knob on a lift-and-turn drain stopper rotates to the left and right. Typically, turning the knob to the left will close the drain, and turning it to the right while lifting will open the drain, though differences can exist from product to product.

Recommended Reading: What To Do If Your Washer Is Not Draining

How To Remove A Flip

Flip-it drain stoppers are a style of stopper that uses a flip lever to expand or contract a gasket that sits inside the drain. When the flip lever is in the open position the gasket is contracted, allowing water to flow into the drain, but when the flip lever is in the closed position, the gasket is squeezed, expanding to fill the drain and create a seal in the tub or sink. These drain stoppers are only secured by an O-ring that sits inside the drain at the base of the device, so they are fairly simple to remove.

Remove The Drain Stopper Bolt

The second step is to remove the drain stopper bolt. To do this, you should place a standard flathead screwdriver on the lip of the washer and twist it off counter-clockwise with your hand. You can also use set pliers to unthread the bolt from the drain crossbar and lift the stopper out of the drain.

Recommended Reading: Secondary Condensate Drain Line Dripping

How To Remove A Push

As mentioned above, push-and-pull drain stoppers are very similar to lift-and-turn stoppers in both function and in appearance, though the knob on the top of a push-and-pull drain stopper is typically wider and smoother than the knob used on a lift-and-turn drain stopper. Push-and-pull drain stoppers are easy to identify because they have a very simple operating mechanism. Just push the plug down to close the drain and pull the knob up to open the drain.

Inspect Clean And Replace The Trip Lever

If you note a loose trip lever or corroded in place, replace or tighten it. Make sure that the rubber gasket is undamaged and in good condition before replacing it. A worn-out gasket will allow water to leak through the overflow faceplate. Wipe off any corrosion on the rods with a piece of steel wool, and spray the rods with rust preventative.

Don’t Miss: Freestanding Tub Flexible Drain Hose Installation

Easy Steps On How To Remove Flip

This form of stopper requires special handling because it is fixed to a linkage arm that must be extracted simultaneously from the opening.

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.

Drain stoppers are made to sit inside the drain, so most products actually reduce the flow of water through the drain as soon as they are installed, though this reduction in water flow is rarely noticed as long as the drain stopper does not become clogged with dirt, hair, and other debris. Unfortunately, the size, shape, and mechanism of drain stoppers often increase the likelihood that they will catch this loose debris, so it’s important to regularly remove the stopper for cleaning.

Read Also: Cost To Install Sump Pump And French Drain

What Our Customers Say

Chrome Plated Push-Pull Universal Tub Drain Stopper

We can ship anywhere the US Postal Service ships. For orders being shipped outside the US, please contact us at , noelsplumbingsupply@fuse.net, or via the text widget on this screen.

Chrome Plated Push-Pull Universal Tub Drain Stopper

• Die Cast with Brass Threaded Studs
• Fits Either 3/8 or 5/16 Tub Shoe Threads
• Can Turn Most Tub Shoes into Push-Pull Operated Drains

Inspect Clean And Replace The Drain Stopper

After successfully removing the drain stopper and slowly rotating it counterclockwise, it is time to inspect what might need replacing or cleaning. If there are any cracks, corrosion, scratches, or other damage on the metal pieces of your drain stopper, make sure to replace them with new metal parts.

You May Like: Sewer Smell In Shower Drain

Inspect Clean And Replace

Once you’ve removed all of the parts from under your sink, you should clean them with water and air pressure to ensure they’re ready for installation. Put them back in place to make sure everything fits correctly.

If not, take a file or a grinder and shave off very small amounts until the rod fits into its hole properly. Once the rod fits in, add some plumber’s grease to its end and slide it back into its proper position under the sink.

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

Also Check: Green Gobbler Fruit Fly Drain

Remove The Drain Fitting

• Most drain fittings feature a metal X that keeps objects from falling in. If your drain fitting has these crossbars, insert a drain wrench into the cross shape and turn counterclockwise to unscrew it.
• You can also try using a pair of needle-nose pliers to grip the X and unscrew the drain fitting. It should be loose enough after a few rotations to be unscrewed the rest of the way by hand. Then just pull it out.
• If your drain fitting doesnt have metal crossbars, youll need to remove it with a tub drain extractor thats designed to grip the inside walls of the drain fitting.

Function Of A Bathtub Drain Stopper

A bathtub drain stopper is a simple device that plugs the drain of your bathtub so that the bath can hold water and that it does not drain away. The simplest bathtub stopper is probably one that most of us grew up with, a simple, inexpensive rubber stopper. Today most modern bathtubs come with stoppers that either have trip levers or come without trip levers, and are quite like the traditional plain rubber plug.

You May Like: Shower Drain Smells Like Urine

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

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

Don’t Miss: 4 Inch Perforated Drain Pipe With Sock Menards

Unable To Remove Push

I need to remove our push pull style drain stopper in our bathtub so I can get the snake the drain. I’ve looked at several videos of all seemingly different style lift and turn stoppers, and none have helped.

Here are the best pictures I managed to get:

Some info about the stopper:

Any suggestions? Short of dissembling the pipes or ripping it out with a crowbar, I’m kind of out of ideas.

For what it’s worth, the stopper in this question is likely the same, but the accepted solution was to use a plastic drain stick, which I’ve already tried: How do I remove a push-pull tub drain stopper?. Also, it doesn’t actually answer the question: how do you remove this stopper?

Top of the stopper

Inside of the stopper

Lift And Turn Stopper

Also sometimes referred to as a twist-and-pull stopper, this one is tricky because you can remove it several different ways.

If the stopper has a removable knob: Unscrew the knob from the stopper base. Then, get a screwdriver and unscrew the screw inside the knob so the stopper is loose and you can pull it out.

If the stopper has a screw-in base: First, grab a flashlight. That will help you see the screw head that is underneath the stopper, which connects to a base. Then you can use the screwdriver to turn the screw counterclockwise until you can separate the stopper from the base.

If the stopper has a twist style base: Use a wrench to rotate the base counterclockwise until the stopper loosens from the drain strainer. Then, detach the stopper from the drain.

Read Also: How To Clean Bathroom Drain

Different Bathtub Drain Stopper Types

Everyone knows that bathtub drain plugs are used to keep water in a bathtub. However, they might be unaware that they have to consider some factors before choosing various types of bathtub drain stoppers.

For instance, drains come in various sizes, and its vital that you choose a plug that matches the bathtub drain perfectly. Its also important you find the right plug to place beneath the bathtub tray because some models can be hard to clean.

Fortunately, most retail stores stock bathtub drain plugs of various sizes so there is a high chance that you will find a plug that meets your needs. Here are the different styles of stoppers for bathroom drains.

Remove The Rod Assembly

Now, the last thing that you need to remove is the stopper rod. You can do this by removing the screws that are holding it into place underneath the sink lip. Use a wrench for this if possible, but be careful when removing them because they’ll come out with some force and could do damage if they hit your hand or face.

Don’t Miss: What Is Good For Draining Sinuses

Open The Drain Stopper

If the toe-touch drain stopper is not currently in the open position, then push it down to open it. Attempting to remove the drain stopper when it’s in the closed position doesn’t usually work, and there is a good chance that the drain lid could be scratched in the process.

The Spruce / Kevin Norris

How To Remove 6 Different Kinds Of Drain Stoppers

Jump to Section

The tub stopper is a small part of your bathroom, but it can cause a lot of stress when it’s not functioning correctly. The drain pipe can be blocked by a build-up of hair and grime, meaning that you have to remove and drain it. Removing a bathtub stopper is easy to do, but first, you need to find out what kind of stopper is installed in your tub.

This guide will show you exactly how to remove six different bathtub drains with step-by-step instructions and pictures for each type. You’ll also find out what tools you’ll need, how long it takes to complete this task.

Read Also: How To Clean Bathroom Sink Drain Smell

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.

How To Remove A Trip

Not all drain stoppers have an easy-to-remove assembly, like flip-it stoppers, and the trip-lever drain stopper is one such product. These drain stoppers have a lever that is located on the overflow faceplate. This lever is connected to a rod assembly that drops down vertically through the overflow drain and operates a plunger. By tripping the lever, or sometimes by rotating the lever, the plunger will move up or down.

When the plunger is up, water will flow into the drainage system, but when the plunger is down it forms a seal inside the drainpipe to stop the flow of water. Due to the complex assembly, these drain stoppers are prone to clogging and they can be troublesome to remove and replace.

Read Also: Basement Drain Backing Up In Winter

The Bathtub Drain Stopper Types: Your Move

Drain stoppers are perfect for bathing and washing the tub. The best choice is the one that you can easily maintain, clean, install, and use without stress. Regardless of the decision, clean the drain stopper once per month to stop clog buildup from forming, even if a plumbers help is necessary.

Are you looking to eliminate plumbing problems and clogged drains for good? Look no further than our complete ‘Shroom drain protection line! We have award-winning solutions for every drain in your home.

More Articles from the Shroom Company