Methods Of Replacing Different Types Of Bathtub Stoppers
Bathtub drains can easily and quickly become filled with the hair or even get rusty or with any material used in the tub. In order to clean or repair the tub’s drain, first thing is to remove the stopper. There are different types of the stoppers that are used and below the user can find out methods of replacing these different bathtub stoppers:
Method 1: Twisting A Lift-And-Turn Or Push-Pull Stopper
- In this type of stopper, the first step is to check the knob that is on the drain stopper. If in case it has a knob that is coming out of the top, it can be either a lift-and-turn or the push-pull stopper. Both of the types can be easily removed in the same way, using a twisting motion on either the knob or simply the whole stopper assembly. The main difference between both of them is that in the first one lift a push-pull stopper, whereas in the second one lift-and-turn stopper.
- Rotate the knob in the counter-clockwise direction to check if it lifts off. Under the knob, there can be a bolt that will help to hold the stopper in the right place in the drain. In order to get to the fastener, simply remove the knob using a few twists. It can be done with the help of the fingers, but if it is too tight, that time try using the pliers for rotating the knob.
- If there is a bolt below the knob then twist it with pliers. The bolt will stick up exactly at the spot where the knob was sitting. The whole of the plug will pop out in a single piece after loosening the fastener enough.
- Now if the knob will not come off then turn the base. Some of the stoppers have the knobs which are attached to the base, which in turn means that the whole of the stopper must be unscrewed all at one time. With the help of the pliers twist the stopper when it will slip in the groove of the drain. The stopper will now slip out in a single piece from the drain. The lift-and-turn stoppers are removed using this approach. Now replace it with a new one in the same way or clean it.
Method 2: Toe-Touch Tub Drain Stopper
- Check whether the stopper push or is rounded with the no knob. This type of stopper is called a toe-touch stopper since the user can easily press on it with the foot to open as well as to close it. The toe-touch stoppers are known as one of the simplest stoppers to use, but on the other hand, they can be very difficult to remove if not using the right approach.
- Hold the stopper in the open position. Pop up the stopper in a way so that the water can flow through it, and after that hold the cap firmly with the help of hands or with a pair of pliers. The user can also press down the metal ring so that the toe touch stopper is pressed in for the extra grip. It is advisable not to try to remove the toe-touch stopper once it is in the closed position. It will not come off and the metal can get scratch.
- Use the fingers or the pliers to twist up the stopper cap in the counter-clockwise direction. The metal cap will easily pop off only after a few numbers of twists if using enough force. If in case it rotates without any unscrewing, that time try pulling up vertically while twisting.
- Take a flathead screwdriver to loosen up the screw that is inside the stopper. Rotate the tip of the screwdriver in the counter-clockwise direction for unscrewing the screw and to release the stopper from the position in the drain. Do not remove the screw from the stopper, it just has to be loose to lift.
- Now pull up the plug assembly out from the drain. Lift out the stopper in a single piece, apart from the metal cap that is twisted off before. There is no need for disassembling the stopper and the user can simply replace it to screw it back in.
Method 3: O-Ring Stoppers
- Check for the flip lever or simply for a small hole that is in the stopper. It is known as Flip-It and Press-Flo stoppers that can be removed very quickly as well as easily. These types of the stoppers are usually fixed in place with the help of an o-ring that helps to prevents them from slipping in the drain, and can also be simply pulled out.
- Pull up the stopper using its flip lever, if there is. The lever will work as a perfect handle that is used for pulling out a plug. The stopper must lift out from the drain easily, but if in case it feels tight, the user can jiggle it with the help of the handle until it will become loose enough to lift.
- For Press-Flo stopper use a suction cup to pull it out. Any kind of the small suction cup will be easily able to latch on the stopper once it is pressed on the center. Simply pull up the suction cup then pry the plug out from the drain.