Many modern baths contain special drain tub stoppers which can be tricky to remove. Unscrew the mounting post from the drain using pliers or a screwdriver. Hold the body of the stopper in one hand and turn the knob in a counterclockwise direction with the other to remove it. There is also a possibility that the drain stopper is not properly installed. Now that you know how to remove bathtub drain stoppers of all kinds, it’s time to figure out why your drain is slow. Remove the clip that holds the overflow cover plate to the plunger rod. Loosen the setscrew on the top of the stopper with an Allen wrench or screwdriver. There is a chance that you may need a screwdriver to unscrew the cylinder from the crossbar first. The basket, also known as a flange, is sealed with plumber’s putty. How to Replace a Foot Stop Tub Drain. Try gently pulling upward while turning. Gently remove the stopper from the drain opening and use wiggling movements to remove the whole arm linkage from the same opening. To remove the outer cap on the stopper, first set the stopper in the open position, then turn the cap on the stopper counterclockwise to remove it. If your bathtub’s draining slowly, there may be a build-up of hair, soap and other gunk clogging the drain. Closing or opening the stopper just requires a light push down with your toe. How to Remove a Drain Tub Stopper. Wipe off any grime from the pop – up stopper and rocker arm. How to remove a push-pull/lift-turn drain stopper. If your stopper does not have a visible screw set on the knob, but does not seem to unscrew, lift the stopper up and turn, looking for a small screw. This situation can actually be dangerous because it creates a slipping hazard. To remove, unthread the rod nut, pull the ball rod out, and remove the stopper from the drain. This style opens and closes with the touch of your toe. If you don't like your present drain stopper, replacing your bathtub drain flange presents a golden opportunity to change it. Wiggle the stopper left and right and up and down to free it. Heat the drain basket with a hair dryer. A toe-tap bathtub stopper may need to be removed for a number of reasons. Some toe-touch stoppers have a top cap that unscrews from a base cylinder that is threaded into a crossbar in the strainer. There is a chance that you may need a screwdriver to unscrew the cylinder from the crossbar first. They include the toe-touch, flip-it, lift-and-turn and PresFlo stoppers. Removing this clip will allow you to detach the cover plate from the rod, giving you more room to maneuver the rod and pull up on the plunger. What to Do After You Remove the Bathtub Drain Stopper Our friendly professionals can tackle the problem for you, so that you can keep your hands clean and your drains clear. Call Mr. Rooter® Plumbing at (855) 591-0128. Or, better yet, avoid the stress—and the mess! Identifying which type you have will help you when it becomes necessary to fix or replace your drain stopper. Bring the drain stopper to its “open” position (the position that allows the tub to drain). Remove Soap Scum or Hair from Drain Use a small scrub brush to remove soap scum or hair inside the drain opening. Set the stopper to the “open” position (the position that allows the tub to drain). Hold the base of the stopper in place and turn the knob counterclockwise until it is off. It is usually screwed into a threaded section of the drain opening. When hair, soap scum and other types of debris clog your bathtub waste line, water drains slowly. How to remove and replace a bathtub drain stopper - YouTube Click here for our precautionary measures. Call Mr. Rooter Plumbing now. Loosen the screw with the screwdriver. For decades, the standard lever-style bathtub drain stopper was made of metal pieces and a metal spring. The most common types of bathtub drain stoppers are lift-and-turn, push-and-pull, pop-up, toe-touch, flip-it, and trip lever. Unscrew that post using a screwdriver and remove it from the strainer. If the entire unit moves as you turn, let go of the cylinder base and continue to unscrew until you can remove the unit completely. Do they feel draftier than they used to? If your bathtub’s draining slowly, there may be a build-up of hair, soap and other gunk clogging the drain. Wrap a washcloth or rag around the knob and use pliers if the knob is too tight to unscrew by hand. This is probably the easiest stopper to remove as all you'll need to do is pull it free from your drain! Try holding the base of the cylinder while turning the top cap counter-clockwise. Once you have identified the type of drain stopper, you can learn how to remove a bathtub drain by following the specific directions below for your type of drain: How to Remove a Toe-Touch Drain Stopper: Set the drain to its open position. This type is typically easy to remove. Step 2 Remove the screws that secure the cover plate assembly to the bathtub's wall, using the screwdriver. Place the stopper in the “open” position, as if you are draining the tub. Hold the base of the cylinder and turn the cap counterclockwise. In some cases, you may need to use a standard flathead screwdriver to unscrew the cylinder from the strainer crossbar. If the bathtub pop-up drain stopper is stuck and simply won't unscrew, use a pair of pliers around the round cap to wiggle it loose. Grasp the body of the stopper and use a gentle twisting motion (in either direction) or wiggle it back and forth while pulling upward at the same time until the stopper pops free. Besides these, there are two types of stoppers that work with a lever -- the pop-up and trip lever stoppers. While still in the up position, lift it up and turn it until you see a small ‘set’ screw. Here’s how to remove a push-pull tub stopper: Very similar in appearance to the push-pull style, this stopper is operated by lifting and turning the knob in opposite directions to open and close the drain. This type is typically easy to remove. Some of the most common types are listed below. A stopper that isn’t flush with the bottom of the tub when it’s engaged may not hold water very well, making bath time a hassle. Turn your hair dryer on “hot” or “warm” and let it blow on the drain basket (where the stopper was) for a few minutes. Make sure that the drain stopper is into the closed position on down so that it will not turn anywhere while you are doing your job. There are occasions when a bathtub drain cover needs to be removed such as when the drain needs to be snaked. We are available 24/7 and can have a certified plumber dispatched to your location within the hour. If it can be unscrewed this way, it will come undone within six to seven full circles. Remove Stopper With the stopper in the open position, simply grasp the plug by hand and pull upwards with a wiggling motion to remove it from the drain opening. Any bathtub drain stopper that doesn't do its job is an annoying inconvenience. Mr. Rooter is a registered trademark of Mr. Rooter LLC Copyright © 2021 Mr. Rooter, All rights reserved. Hold the base of the cylinder and turn the cap counterclockwise. Some push pull stoppers can be unscrewed from the drain. Here’s how to replace a toe-touch tub stopper: This type of stopper has a knob at the top. Grasp the body of the stopper and use a gentle twisting motion (in either direction) or wiggle it back and forth while pulling upward at the same time until the stopper pops free. Use one hand to hold the base of the stopper in place, and turn the knob counter-clockwise until it is all the way off. Some stoppers screw into a threaded opening in the middle of the flange crossbar, and some work without a crossbar. Gently grasp the outer chrome round body (not the toggle) and begin to rotate the stopper pulling upwards at the same time. The first step in your process is to figure out how to remove this stopper. Lift the stopper off its mounting post. Our colleagues at Mr. Handyman can help. Placing a soft, thin cloth between the pliers and the top of the stopper can help prevent damage. Know what type of bathtub drain stopper you have to safely remove, clean or adjust it. If the clog isn’t too far down—and if you are brave enough—you can pry the strainer off and try to remove it yourself. Looking for a plumber near me in Ohio Valley? This information is not intended as an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, a franchise. Pull up the stopper by the knob on top, and begin to unscrew it counter clockwise as one large piece. How to Remove an Old Lever Style Bath Tub Drain Stopper. For lime buildups … Here is a link to Quicksilvers 2-4-C on amazon!https://amzn.to/2Yq7E9uOrder CLR here!https://amzn.to/2LFuKHG To remove one, first, set it in the open position. Once you have removed the stopper, you can inspect the drain and remove scum, debris, and rust that might be causing the issue you are having. Sometimes wiggling back and forth while pulling up may work … The knob is pushed down to close the drain and pulled up to open it. Be very careful with this process; if the screw is removed entirely, it can fall down the drain. Turn or lift your Kohler bathtub trip lever to raise the stopper to the open position. Have you noticed that your bathtub is draining slowly? One may also ask, how do you remove a Kohler lift and turn drain stopper? In most cases, the stopper comes with its own flange. If you prefer to have a professional plumber take a look at the situation, then call Mr. Rooter Plumbing. With the stopper in the open position, use one hand to hold the body of the stopper in place. With water and mineral deposits the screw holding the cover onto the drain may have become rusted and stripped. Removing the drain stopper will help you get a closer look at whatever is causing the problem. Once you have removed the knob, you can easily unscrew the rest of the stopper and remove it from the drain. We offer 24-Hour emergency plumbing repair, drain cleaning, sewer line repair and all other general plumbing repairs in Ohio Valley, Weirton, Steubenville and all surrounding area. If there isn’t one, turn the stopper counter-clockwise to unthread from the strainer until it can be removed. It is usually circular and flat at the top, with no tabs or knobs. Set the stopper to the “open” position (the position that allows the tub to drain). If water is collecting at your feet when you shower, then you likely have a drain blockage. Your health and safety are our highest priority during this time. Look at the stopper in your tub drain. If no setscrew, then just twist the stopper itself. Once the knob is removed, look for a post that connects the stopper to the crossbar of the strainer. Chances are good that you can troubleshoot and replace your stopper. Clogged bathroom drains can be inconvenient, gross, and even harmful to your plumbing system. Step 2: Get the channel lock. Begin by removing the knob that is on top of the stopper. There are a few types of drain stoppers. The push-and-pull drain stopper is a very simple design and rarely requires maintenance or repair. Pull the stopper up and away from the drain hole. Use a rag to wipe down both the stopper toggle arm and cover plate lift rod. Though this stopper is relatively trouble-free, the spring mechanism may wear out over time. You shouldn’t have to remove the screw entirely to remove the stopper. Others are just one unit threaded into the crossbar. Lift the stopper part way up (all the way up and it spins around freely; part way up and it will not turn , providing the "resistance" for you to screw against) and then turn it counter-clockwise. It’s as simple as that. Unscrew Shaft Cylinder Portion Next, unscrew the shaft cylinder portion of the stopper—the section that fits in the drain opening. It often takes a snake to clear a clogged bathtub drain, but to get the snake into the drain, you first have to remove the drain stopper. Rotate the flat tip of the screwdriver counter-clockwise to unscrew the screw and release the stopper from its position in the drain. Use a standard flathead screwdriver or an Allen wrench (hex key) to loosen the set screw. The first step in figuring out how to remove a bathtub drain stopper is to determine which type of stopper you have. A lot of people as us, Mr. Rooter Plumbing, about how to remove their bathtub drain stopper. Pull up on the toe-touch bathtub drain stopper, placing it in the open position. Look for the point that connects the stopper and the crossbar of the strainer. This drain stopper is pushed down to close and pulled up to open. As part of the Neighbourly® family of home service providers, you can trust them to deliver outstanding results for all your handyman tasks, including window repairs. Moen bathtub drain stoppers can be removed and replaced fairly easily. Whatever the reason, a toe-tap bathtub stopper can be easily removed. In this article, we will go over how to troubleshoot and replace your drain stopper. All Mr. Rooter Plumbing Franchise Locations Are Independently Owned And Operated. Perhaps the drain is clogged and needs to be cleared, or perhaps the stopper itself needs to be cleaned. If you need to remove a push-and-pull drain stopper: This drain stopper type is similar to the push-and-pull style but requires an extra turn after lifting or pushing down the stopper to lock it into place. Continue to unscrew until you can remove the unit. Warming it up will make it easier to remove. Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Courtice-Bowmanville. Once the bathtub stopper has been removed, use a flashlight to peer into the drain. Now that you know how to remove bathtub drain stoppers of all kinds, it’s time to figure out why your drain is slow. Move the rotating dial to the open setting. If water is pooling at your feet every time you take a shower, you likely have a clogged drain. Depending … You don’t have to remove the screw from the stopper, it simply has to be loose enough to lift. You will need a channel lock and nose plier to remove this kind of bathtub drain stopper stuck in closed position. Try spraying some liquid wrench or WD-40 down the overflow drain pipe where to plunger sits. Sometimes the post threads may be stripped, making it difficult to unscrew the stopper. Are your windows looking rough? Unscrew the post using a standard flathead screwdriver and lift off from the strainer. Lifting the stopper, slowly rotate it counter-clockwise, aligning the slot at the bottom of the channel with the pin on the strainer. If there is no set screw on either the knob or the stopper, it likely uses a channel/pin mechanism. So, the first step is to figure out which type of drain stopper you have. To remove a roller-ball, foot-lock, or twist-and-turn stopper, you will need to turn the body of the stopper counterclockwise while in the up position. If it is a metal stopper, you can try two things to remove it. Sometimes, the spring mechanism in this part of the tub breaks, and the stopper must be replaced. You will not need to … Some drains have stoppers that are spring-loaded, operated by a push of the toe or by hand, while others use a trip-lever mounted on the bathtub's overflow plate. Actuate the pop-up drain's trip lever to lift the stopper out of the drain pipe. Here’s how to remove a lift and turn stopper: Instead of a knob on the top, this stopper has a flip tab or toggle that opens or closes the drain when it’s flipped back and forth. Unscrew the shaft cylinder, which is the part of the drain stopper that fits into the drain opening. If you don't count rubber stoppers and drain covers, there are six different types of bathtub drain stoppers. Step 1 O-rings keep this Flip-It ® tub drain stopper in place. Usually, the problem is easy to fix, though the procedures vary depending on what type of tub stopper you have. Remove the screws securing the trip lever cover plate to the side of the bathtub. Once the bathtub stopper has been removed, use a flashlight to peer into the drain. It does not matter in which direction you rotate the stopper. Continue to unscrew until you can remove the unit. How you achieve it will depend on what type of drain stopper you have in your tub. Slowing turn the knob counter-clockwise, looking for a screw set on the knob. Step 1: Cover your tub’s finish with an old rag or towel. To get a closer look at the situation, you will have to remove the bathtub’s drain stopper. If your stopper has a top cap, twist counter-clockwise to remove it before removing the cylinder base by turning counter-clockwise. Removing a stripped screw from the tub drain takes some diligence and the right tools. When you need to remove a lift-and-turn drain stopper: This drain stopper uses a spring-loaded design and is closely related to the lift-and-turn stopper. It is for information purposes only. To remove this stopper: Removing the drain stopper is fairly simple as you just read. Use an old rag to help grip the stopper if you have difficulty pulling up on the stuck stopper. Some services are subject to provincial and local licensing and may not be available at all locations. If the knob is too tight to unscrew by hand, wrap a washcloth or rag around the knob and use standard pliers to loosen. It’s also important to know how to remove a bathtub drain stopper if it isn’t properly placed. If you have any questions or would like to hire a certified plumber, then call Mr. Rooter Plumbing today. Foot- or toe-stop drains feature plug assemblies that are threaded inside drain openings.