Drain plugs are commonly used in bathtubs and sinks to effectively block drain lines and prevent water, soap, and other common substances from flowing down the drain. These innovative devices replace traditional plugs, which can easily tear, deform, or even get lost if not securely attached to the tub or sink. However, while drain plugs may be an improvement, they still have some drawbacks that need to be monitored and addressed by the user.
Drain plugs are made to sit inside the drain pipe, so most products will actually reduce the flow of water through the drain pipe after installation, although this reduction in water flow is rarely noticeable as long as the drain plug is not clogged with dirt. Hair and other debris. Unfortunately, the size, shape, and mechanism of drain plugs often increase the likelihood that they will trap this loose debris, so it’s important to remove drain plugs regularly for cleaning.
Another reason to remove a drain plug is to repair or replace it. If a part of the drain stopper mechanism is worn or damaged, you won’t be able to close and open the stopper properly. At this time, it is necessary to remove the drain plug and replace the damaged part or replace the entire plug. Before attempting any repair project, though, it’s important to understand exactly how the various types of drain plugs are installed and how to remove them.
1. What do you need
Equipment/Tools
- screwdriver
- Pliers (as needed)
- Replace drain plug
Material
- bathroom cleaner
There are several different types of drain plugs, including lift, push-pull, toe-touch, flip-up, stroke-lever, and pop-up. While many models have similar removal methods, it’s best to know the specific process for the type installed in your tub or sink to avoid damaging the drain plug and surrounding pipes.
2. How to remove the Flip-Top Drain
Flip-Top drain plugs are plugs that use a flip-top lever to expand or contract a gasket located inside the drain pipe. When the flip lever is in the open position, the gasket contracts, allowing water to flow into the drain, but when the flip lever is in the closed position, the gasket is squeezed, expanding to fill the drain and create a seal, or sink, in the tub. These drain plugs are only held in place by an O-ring located inside the drain tube at the base of the unit, so removal is fairly simple.
1) Open and remove the drain plug
This simple drain plug requires no tools. Simply flip the lever to open the drain, then firmly hold the flip-up drain plug lever. Twist the entire assembly firmly and pull it out of the drain.
2) Check, clean or replace
Remove any hair, soap scum, toothpaste, dirt, and any other material that may have accumulated on the drain or drain plug, then take some time to inspect the plug for signs of excessive wear or damage. Check gaskets and O-rings for wear, deformation, or cracks. Also, check the drain plug for cracks, chips, or rust. If necessary, replace the Flip-Top drain plug, or if you find the plug is in good condition, clean the drain and plug with bathroom cleaning fluid and then reinstall.
3. How to remove the lifting and turning drain plug
Lift drain plugs can usually be identified by the small threaded knob on the top of the plug. This type of drain stopper is similar to a push-pull stopper, except that the knob on a push-pull stopper is held in place to allow the user to push the stopper down or pull the stopper up. The knob on the lift drain plug can be rotated left and right. Typically, turning the knob to the left (clockwise) will close the drain, and turning the knob to the right (counterclockwise) while lifting will open the drain, but this may vary from product to product.
1) Remove the drain plug knob
Turning the knob on top of the drain plug to the left (counterclockwise) will usually open the drain. Continue turning the knob in the same direction until it is completely unscrewed from the bolt in the center of the drain plug.
Some knobs cannot be removed from the drain plug cover, so the entire cover will need to be turned to access the drain plug bolts. Keep in mind that while most products have a threaded connection to the bolt, there are other drain plugs that use a simple twist lock to hold the drain plug in place. If you encounter one of these products, simply rotate the drain stopper cover until it aligns correctly, then pull the cover up to remove it.
2) Unscrew the drain plug bolt
Use a screwdriver or pliers to unscrew the drain plug bolt from the threaded hole in the center of the drain rail and the entire drain plug will lift out of the drain pipe.
3) Check, clean or replace
After you remove the drain plug from the drain pipe, you can inspect it for any signs of damage, such as a torn plug, rusted threads, or a cracked cap. If there is any obvious damage, it is recommended to replace the drain plug. However, if the drain plug is in good working order, take this opportunity to clean the drain pipe and plug with bathroom cleaner and remove hair, soap scum, or other debris before reinstalling the drain plug.
4. How to remove the push-pull drain plug
As mentioned above, push-pull drain plugs are very similar to lift-type drain plugs in both function and appearance, although the knob on top of push-pull drain plugs is generally wider and smoother than lift-type drain plugs. Knob for lifting drain plug. Push-pull drain plugs are easy to identify because their operating mechanism is very simple. Simply push the plug down to close the drain and pull the knob up to open the drain.
1) Unscrew the drain plug knob
The knob on a push-pull drain plug is usually attached to the plug cover, but in some cases the knob is a separate piece. If your drain plug knob is a separate piece, it should be removed from the plug to gain access to the fastening bolts.
Hold the drain plug knob firmly and turn it to the left (clockwise) to unscrew it from the plug cover, exposing the retaining bolt.
2) Remove the drain plug
If the push-pull drain plug has a separate plug knob and cap, the bolts should now be exposed. Use a screwdriver or pliers to unscrew the bolts from the drain rail and lift the plug out of the drain pipe.
However, most push-pull drain plugs have a solid body rather than a separate cap and knob. The entire main body is fixed on the threaded hole in the center of the drainage crossbar through fastening bolts. This makes installation and removal incredibly easy. Simply turn the entire drain plug to the right (counterclockwise) to unscrew the bolt from the crossbar and lift out the drain plug.
3) Check, clean or replace
Remove all loose hair and debris so the drain plug can be properly inspected for any damage. Look for obvious signs of tearing, rust, or severe wear and replace the drain plug if necessary.
For drain plugs that are in good condition, use a bathroom cleaner to quickly wipe away any soap scum or dirt that has accumulated on the drain or plug, then reinstall the plug.
5. How to Remove a Toe Contact Drain Plug
Toe-touch drain plugs consist of a drain assembly that sits inside the drain pipe and a toe-touch mechanism that operates by simply pushing down on the drain plug. Press once to close the drain and press again to open the drain. These drain plugs usually have a round shape and a flat lid, which may be completely smooth or have the word “Push” engraved on the lid.
1) Open the drain plug
If the toe-touch drain plug is not currently in the open position, push it down to open it. Trying to remove the drain plug when it is in the closed position usually won’t work, and the drain cover is likely to get scratched in the process.
2) Twist the drain plug cover
While the drain cover is in the open position, grasp it firmly, turn it to the right (counterclockwise), and then apply a small amount of vertical force to unscrew the drain cover to access the fastening screws.
3) Unscrew the fastening screws
Use a screwdriver or pliers to unscrew the fastening screws on the drain rail and lift the drain plug out of the drain pipe.
4) Check, clean or replace
The drain plug can now be inspected for any damage, such as a twisted plug, rusted fastening screws, or a cracked cap. Replace the drain plug if there is any obvious damage, but if the plug is in good condition, use a bathroom cleaning solution to remove dirt, hair, grime, and other debris from the drain pipe and drain plug. Reinstall the drain plug when the drain pipe and plug are clear of hair, soap scum, and other clog-causing materials.
6. How to remove the trip lever drain plug
Not all drain plugs have easily removable components such as flip-up plugs, and the stroke lever drain plug is one such product. These drain plugs have a lever located on the overflow panel. The lever is connected to a rod assembly that descends vertically through the overflow drain pipe and operates the plunger. By triggering the lever, or sometimes by rotating the lever, the plunger will move up or down.
When the plunger is up, water will flow into the drain system, but when the plunger is down, it creates a seal within the drain pipe to stop the flow of water. Due to their complicated assembly, these drain plugs can easily become clogged and are cumbersome to remove and replace.
1) Open the drain pipe
If the lever is not already in the open position, flip or rotate the lever to fully open the drain. Trying to remove the stroke lever drain plug while it is in the closed position may cause the plug to become stuck.
2) Remove the overflow grille
Use a screwdriver to loosen the screws on the overflow grate and remove the grate from the tub or sink to gain access to the tertiary drain plug assembly. If you decide to reinstall the screws, make sure you keep them in a safe place.
3) Pull out the trip lever drain plug assembly
Carefully lift the trip lever drain plug assembly out of the overflow drain pipe. The entire assembly (including the stroke lever, rod, and plunger) needs to be pulled out without damaging any parts, so you may need to spray lubricant on the assembly to free the stuck plunger.
4) Check, clean, or replace
After removing the entire assembly from the overflow pipe, you can inspect each component for signs of excessive wear or damage, such as rust, cracks, or irregularities. Replace any parts that show signs of damage to avoid future problems, such as having to remove the entire overflow drain pipe to access a damaged plunger.
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