How to fix a sink pop-up stopper

We have these spring loaded push button sink plugs in our house, and from time to time they stick in the closed position so you can't drain the sink. This is usually due to a build up of soap scum, mould etc yum so this is how you get them to work again --with the added bonus of cleaning the crap off of them, so they are more hygenic.

Get the latest HomeServe news, tips, and promotional messages, including special offers. Pop-up sink stoppers are fairly simple devices. They use a system of levers and linkages that move a drain stopper up and down. When the lift rod is pulled or pushed, it moves a flat, U-shaped bar called clevis, which is in turn connected to a pivot rod that opens or closes the stopper. Sink stoppers can naturally trap a lot of debris and mildew, which causes slow drains and stopper malfunctions.

How to fix a sink pop-up stopper

Sink stoppers in bathroom sinks commonly become stuck in the up or down position, water in the basin leaks, or the lifter moves but doesn't do anything. Sink stopper fixes are simple, require few or no materials, and use basic tools. Learn how to fix a sink stopper when it won't go up or down, leaks, or when the lifter is detached. Clear items from under the sink. Drape a thick towel over the edge of the bathroom vanity cabinet for comfort when working under the sink. Turn off the hot and cold water supply lines in case they become dislodged during the repairs. If the sink stopper slowly leaks when it is shut, the stopper's rubber gasket may need to be cleaned. Turn the top of the pop-up stopper counter-clockwise to unscrew and remove it. Doing this gives you access to the stopper shaft, without having to detach the stopper from below. Note that not all pop-up stoppers unscrew from the top. You may need to go underneath the sink and release the nut on the pop-up's lever to remove the stopper from above. Some stoppers are single units that cannot be disassembled. If the stopper top does not turn off with gentle pressure, stop turning. Instead, remove the stopper from below. Clean the rubber gasket of the stopper top with warm, soapy water in a different sink.

James Schuelke, along with his twin brother David, is the co-owner of the Twin Home Experts, a licensed plumbing, leak detection, and mold inspection company based in Los Angeles, California.

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. This helps catch any debris that should not be washed down the drain, like hair or cotton balls. However, to keep the sink drain stopper working properly, it should be removed and cleaned on a semi-regular basis. With this helpful guide, you can also find out how to put in a sink stopper replacement if your pop-up stopper is damaged beyond repair. Before you learn how to fix a sink drain stopper, first familiarize yourself with the most important parts of a sink stopper assembly. This simple step can reduce the chance of losing these parts before the sink stopper is reassembled.

Last Updated: April 25, Fact Checked. James Schuelke, along with his twin brother David, is the co-owner of the Twin Home Experts, a licensed plumbing, leak detection, and mold inspection company based in Los Angeles, California. James has over 32 years of home service and business plumbing experience and has expanded the Twin Home Experts to Phoenix, Arizona and the Pacific Northwest. There are 14 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed , times. It's time to replace your sink stopper—but with all the parts and pieces around and below your sink drain, you aren't completely sure how to get started. As far as home repairs go, replacing a pop-up sink stopper is pretty low on the difficulty curve, and we're here to walk you through everything you need to know. Read on to learn exactly how to remove the old stopper, disconnect and install a new drain, and install your new stopper.

How to fix a sink pop-up stopper

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Just replace the spring clamp and the stopper should work just fine. Operate it a few times to make sure it functions While you're at the sink it is probably a good time to clean the U-Bend or P-Trap depending which you have. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. Before You Begin. After cleaning the existing parts or sourcing new parts, you can start to reassemble the bathroom sink stopper. Then, twist the drain stopper counterclockwise without twisting off the top cap to remove it from the drain. Stack any included gaskets on top of the locknut or bell housing. Loosen the nuts on the P-trap and disconnect it from the drain line to give yourself enough space to unthread and remove the stopper drain tail pipe from the underside of the sink. This is the hardest part of the process—getting the rod and bar to the right height where the stopper will open and close correctly. Kathy Roux Sep 18, Fill a bowl with white vinegar and let the drain stopper soak for 30 minutes.

Sink stoppers in bathroom sinks commonly become stuck in the up or down position, water in the basin leaks, or the lifter moves but doesn't do anything. Sink stopper fixes are simple, require few or no materials, and use basic tools.

Slide the lift rod down through the faucet and reattach it to the extension bar. Clean the drain stopper if you plan on reusing it. Trending Articles How to. Article Summary X To replace a sink stopper, first, follow the vertical bar of the stopper beneath your sink. To prevent leaks, smear pipe joint compound around the bottom several threads of the sink drain. Before You Begin. Home Blog Plumbing Please enter search keyword. Please log in with your username or email to continue. Clear items from under the sink. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read , times. Measure content performance. Press firmly enough that plumber's putty squeezes out around the top lip of the drain. Thanks for the big help, guys. Learn how to fix a sink stopper when it won't go up or down, leaks, or when the lifter is detached. Hand-tighten the connection between the drain pipe and the sink drain until they're snug.