4 Easy Ways And Items Needed To Fix Bathtub Drain Stopper That Is Stuck
If you are facing the bathtub drain stopper stuck issue and you want to fix it anyhow, then you need to collect all the required items and go through all the mentioned ways carefully and achieve the desired result of your task:
Things You Will Need
- Old Rag & Pliers
- Penetrating Lubricant
- Drain Body Remover
- Adjustable Wrench
- Small Flat-Head Screwdriver Or Hex Key Set
- Large Flat-Head Screwdriver
- Old Towel
Way 1: Toe-Touch
- First of all, you need to pull up on your toe-touch bathtub drain stopper and then place it in the open position. Now you need to use your old rag in order to help grip your stopper if you have any difficulty pulling up on your stuck stopper.
- Now you need to turn your stopper counterclockwise to unscrew the stopper from your drain body. If turning the stopper only removes your drain cap then you need to use pliers to turn the stem counterclockwise in order to remove it from your drain body.
- Next you need to apply 2-3 drops of a penetrating lubricant to your stopper threads if you have difficulty removing your cap or stem. Simply insert a drain body remover (which is also known as a drain key) into your drain body. Simply use your adjustable wrench to turn your key counterclockwise to remove your drain body.
Way 2: Push-Pull And Lift-Turn
- You need to wrap your old rag around the knob on top of your bathtub drain stopper. Then use pliers to turn your knob counterclockwise to remove it, exposing the brass shaft which is beneath it.
- If you see that your knob does not turn then you need to look for a small setscrew on the side of your knob & loosen it with the help of a small flathead screwdriver or hex key before turning your knob.
- If you have difficulty while turning your knob then you need to apply 2-3 drops of penetrating lubricant to the threads.
- Turn the brass shaft counterclockwise with a large flat-head screwdriver. Pull the stem from the stopper.
- 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 your drain body.
Way 3: Pop-Up
- You need to place the pop-up stopper in your open position. Depending on the style of the pop-up, this will require lifting the lever on your overflow plate or rotating your plate to the right or left. Some of the faceplates are also labeled to inform you which way to turn your plate to ensure you place the stopper in your correct position.
- Now you need to lay an old towel along the bottom of your bathtub. The towel will protect the bottom of your bathtub from damage & from the gunk that might be attached to the stopper when you pull it from your drain.
- Next you need to pull up on the stopper with your hand as you wiggle it from your drain body. If the stopper has a brass arm attached to the bottom preclude you from pulling it from the drain body, pull the stopper diagonally away from the drain body to release your stopper.
- Finally, you need to insert a drain body remover, also known as a drain key, into your drain body. You need to use an adjustable wrench to turn the key counterclockwise to remove your drain body.
Way 4: Plunger-Style
- You need to cover your strainer with a rag. This will prevent the dropped screws from falling through with the holes in your strainer.
- You now need to remove one screw from your overflow plate. Simply hold your overflow plate securely as you loosen the leftover screw just enough to swing the faceplate away from your overflow pipe. The next thing is to reinstall the first screw you removed into the screw hole in the wall of your bathtub. This ensures your overflow pipe does not drop back into your wall. Remove the loosened screw.
- You need to grab your overflow plate with your hand. Slowly pull your overflow plate away from your bathtub wall as you pull the plunger stopper from your drain.
- Now you need to pull the rag away from the strainer at the bottom of your tub. Remove the screw from the center of your strainer. Lift the strainer out of your drain body.
- Finally you need to insert a drain body remover, into your drain body by using an adjustable wrench to turn the key counterclockwise to remove your drain body.