Clogged drains are a common household problem that can quickly become a nuisance. While there are many commercial drain cleaners available, sometimes the clog may be caused by a stuck drain stopper that needs to be manually removed. Knowing how to remove the most common types of drain stoppers is an invaluable home maintenance skill. In this guide, we’ll walk through steps to remove 6 of the most common kinds of drain stoppers.
Pop-Up Drain Stopper
The pop-up or flip-up drain stopper is very common in bathroom sinks. When open, the stopper sits flush with the sink bottom, and when closed, it “pops up” to seal the drain. Here’s how to remove a pop-up drain stopper:
What You’ll Need
- Flathead screwdriver
- Basin wrench
Step-By-Step
- First try simply pulling up on the stopper. Sometimes they become dislodged over time and just need a firm upward tug to free them.
- If that doesn’t work, insert a flathead screwdriver into the drain and try gently prying up one side of the stopper. Alternate prying one side up, then the other until it comes loose.
- If the stopper still won’t budge, you’ll need to remove the drain apparatus beneath the sink. This requires a basin wrench, which is designed to reach the narrow space behind sinks and toilets.
- Use the basin wrench to loosen and remove the large nut that holds the rod and pivot rod ball in place below the sink. You may need to hold the ball stationary with another wrench while loosening the nut.
- Once detached, pull up on the ball and out will come the entire pop-up assembly. The stopper can then be removed by pulling it off the rod.
- Clean the assembly parts and inspect for damage. Replace any broken or corroded parts before re-installing.
Tips
- Try spraying lubricant down the drain first to help loosen a stubborn stopper.
- Boiling water can also help loosen mineral deposits that may be trapping the stopper in place.
- For tricky assemblies, take photos before disassembling as a reference when putting back together.
Following these steps and using the right tools, you should be able to successfully remove a pop-up drain stopper. Just be patient and gentle when prying it up to avoid breaking the assembly.
Lift-and-Turn Drain Stopper
Many bathroom sinks have lift-and-turn or rotary style drain stoppers. They seal the drain by lifting up and turning to engage stops on either side inside the drain. To remove this type of stopper:
What You’ll Need
- Basin wrench
- Flashlight
Step-By-Step
- Start by lifting the stopper up and turning it counterclockwise to raise it to its maximum height in the open position.
- Look down into the drain with a flashlight to locate the hinge where the stopper attaches to the drain apparatus below. Insert the basin wrench into the hinge and turn it counterclockwise to unscrew the stopper from the post.
- Pull up on the wrench and it will detach the stopper, allowing you to retrieve it through the drain opening.
- Some lift-and-turn stoppers have a set screw on the side instead of hinge. For these, insert a small flathead screwdriver into the set screw and turn counterclockwise to loosen it completely.
- Once loose, wiggle and pull up on the stopper to detach it from the post and remove it from the drain.
Tips
- Spray lubricant around hinge first if needed to loosen a stuck stopper.
- Place towel in sink to cushion if stopper falls when detaching.
- Clean and inspect stopper and hinge/post threads for damage before reinstalling.
Lift-and-turn stoppers are simple devices that only take a minute or two to remove once you know the technique. Just be gentle while unscrewing to avoid snapping the plastic gears inside.
Plunger-Style Drain Stopper
Many kitchen sinks have a plunger-style drain stopper. Unlike pop-up or rotary stoppers, these operate with simple up and down action by a rod attached to a rubber stopper. To remove:
What You’ll Need
- Adjustable pliers or small pipe wrench
Step-By-Step
- Start by pulling up on the rod to raise the stopper as high as it will go. This gives access to the rod beneath the sink.
- Look for a small nut connecting the rod to the plunger apparatus below. You may need an adjustable pliers or small pipe wrench to grip and turn the nut counterclockwise.
- Unscrew the nut completely to detach the rod. The rubber stopper can then be pulled up through the drain opening.
- Some plunger rods are threaded directly into the plunger apparatus without a nut. For these, insert pliers into the drain and grip the rod tightly, turning counterclockwise to unscrew the rod.
- Once unthreaded, pull rod up through drain opening to remove plunger.
Tips
- Try lubricating rod and nut/threads first if very stuck.
- Placing a rag beneath plunger can cushion if it drops while removing.
- Inspect plunger for cracks and damage before reinstalling.
Plunger stoppers involve simple mechanics, but pliers are often needed to provide enough grip and force to unthread the connecting rod from below the sink. Take care not to strip the threads while unscrewing.
Toe-Touch Drain Stopper
Toe-touch stoppers operate by a simple push-pull mechanism. You step on a button to depress the stopper and seal the drain. Step on it again to release and open the drain. To remove:
What You’ll Need
- Adjustable pliers
- Flashlight
Step-By-Step
- Start with the stopper in the open position. Look down the drain with a flashlight to locate the connecting rod.
- Insert pliers into the drain and grip the rod as close to the base as possible. Twist the rod counterclockwise to unscrew it from the toe-touch apparatus beneath.
- Once fully unthreaded, detach and pull the rod up through the drain to remove the entire assembly.
- Some toe-touch stoppers have a detachable grate covering the drain instead of a solid stopper. This grate pulls straight up to remove once the connecting rod is detached.
Tips
- Lubricating rod threads first makes unscrewing easier.
- Try vice grips if standard pliers cannot get enough grip.
- Clean stopper mechanism before reinstalling and check for cracks or damage.
Toe touch drains utilize simple mechanics similar to plungers. But the rod connects deeper below the sink, making pliers essential to reach and twist it for removal.
Overflow Drain Cover
Many bathtub drains have an overflow cover plate with a stopper on a hinge. This stopper seals the overflow drainage holes when closed. To remove:
What You’ll Need
- Flathead screwdriver
Step-By-Step
- Pry the cover plate off the overflow outlet. You can work the flathead behind the edge and twist to pop off the plate.
- With the cover removed, the overflow stopper will detach. Pull up on the hinged stopper to slide it off the overflow outlet tube.
- Some stoppers have a set screw on the side you’ll need to loosen with the screwdriver before prying off the plate and removing stopper.
Tips
- Protect tub finish by covering with towel before prying.
- Clean hair and gunk from overflow tubes.
- Make sure stopper is draining well before reinstalling.
Though simple in design, mineral deposits can make overflow stoppers stick stubbornly to the cover plate. Work carefully when prying and don’t force the stopper if very stuck.
Lift and Unscrew Drain Stopper
Some tubs have a lift and unscrew drain stopper which seals by lifting and turning to lock into drain flange threads. To remove:
What You’ll Need
- Set of pliers
Step-By-Step
- Start with stopper in closed position, lifted and turned to seal drain. Grip bottom of stopper firmly with pliers and turn it clockwise to disengage and unscrew from flange.
- Once unthreaded, pull straight up to remove stopper through the drain pipe. You may need to wiggle it loose if mineral deposits have it stuck in place.
- Some lift and unscrew stoppers have a screw on the side to lock it shut. For these, use pliers to loosen screw first before turning stopper to unscrew.
Tips
- Spraying stopper threads with lubricant can help loosen a stuck stopper.
- Place rag in tub drain to protect finish from scratches when lifting out stopper.
- Check stopper gasket for damage and debris before reinstalling.
Though simple in concept, lift and unscrew stoppers seal tightly into drain flange threads, requiring a good set of pliers to grip and turn for removal. Work slowly and carefully to avoid damaging threads.
Conclusion
Learning how to remove common sink and tub drain stoppers is an essential maintenance skill. With the right tools and techniques, removing stoppers is an easy DIY project. Just be sure to work gently and patiently when unscrewing or prying up stuck stoppers to avoid damaging parts. And inspect all pieces, cleaning and replacing any that are worn or damaged before reinstalling. With this knowledge, you can tackle clogged drains by removing the stoppers in minutes.