How do you open a stuck bathtub drain?
Slide the screwdriver beneath the stopper to pry it from the drain body if necessary. Grab the stopper with your fingers and pull it from the drain body. Insert a drain body remover, also known as a drain key, into the drain body. Use an adjustable wrench to turn the key counterclockwise to remove the drain body.
Is it possible to fix a trip lever drain stopper?
Usually, the problem is easy to fix, though the procedures vary depending on what type of tub stopper you have. A trip-lever drain stopper is more tricky than most to fix, due to its somewhat complicated mechanism. First, it’s important to understand something about how this style of drain stopper works.
Why is the trip lever on my bathtub not working?
The plunger has become stuck in the overflow tube and will not move up and down freely. The rod linking the trip lever to the plunger isn’t adjusted properly, creating a situation in which the lift bucket plunger doesn’t drop down enough to completely seal the drain pipe opening.
What makes a lever bathtub drain stopper corrode?
For decades, the standard lever-style bathtub drain stopper was made of metal pieces and a metal spring. Over time, this setup would corrode, not seal correctly and leak. Even the chrome overflow face-plate was prone to peeling after awhile.
What to do if your bathtub drain lever is stuck?
Repairing the stuck bathtub drain lever requires removing the entire mechanism from the tub. Often a simple cleaning resolves the issue. If necessary, replacement levers are available at home improvement centers and hardware stores. Place a towel or rag over the bathtub drain to prevent dropping screws down the drain accidentally.
How does a trip lever bathtub drain stopper work?
First, it’s important to understand something about how this style of drain stopper works. 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.
When to replace a lift and turn drain stopper?
Buy a new lift-and-turn stopper to replace your old lever-style drain. When the stopper in your lever-style bathtub drain won’t pop up anymore because the linkage is damaged or clogged, replace it with a much simpler lift-and-turn style tub drain.
Why is the plunger on my bathtub not working?
I have an old bathtub drain assembly that is similar to this: As far as I can tell, the linkage broke off completely due to old age. If I unscrew the trip lever and cover, it’s not attached to anything and I can’t feel anything if I try to reach inside. I’m reasonably certain that the plunger is down since water doesn’t drain from the tub.
What to do if your bathtub drain stopper is not working?
Have a drop cloth in the tub to prevent scratching it or losing the screws down the drain. Pull out the stopper assembly. Check that the two eyes where the threaded rod articulates are properly aligned. If they aren’t, that alone might be the problem.
