Written by BATHROOM, How To

How to Remove Bathroom Sink Stopper?

how to remove bathroom sink stopper

Clogged sinks are a common enough occurrence that most individuals have personal experience with. The water draining time gradually increases at first, but eventually, it takes so long that it becomes impossible to flush. The stopper may need to be removed to unclog the drain if this occurs to you and don’t be worried about how to remove bathroom sink stopper. Fortunately, removing a sink stopper is a chore that almost anybody can do with just a few everyday household items.

Materials Required

1. Flashlight

If you need to see what you’re doing under the sink, a typical hand-held flashlight might come in handy.

2. Tweezers or a Wrench

Depending on how securely it is secured, you could require a wrench or pliers to release the nut.

3. Laundry Detergent

Using standard bathroom cleaning detergent will be okay if you want to clean the stopper.

Brush A sink stopper removal tool is not required but might be helpful if you need to clear the drain.

4. Bucket

This is just your standard bucket. If water comes out of the sink when you remove the nut, this will come in handy.

5. Vinegar

Cleaning the stopper with vinegar is a good idea, but it’s optional if you don’t have some on hand.

6. A Bottle of Drain Cleaner

Again, this isn’t required to get the stopper out, but after it is and all the muck has been flushed down the drain, it’s an excellent time to clean the interior of the drainpipe.

7. An Instrument for Unclogging Hair Follicles

Once the plug has been removed, you may use a hair-removing tool to remove any remaining hair or debris from the drain. One may get these cheap instruments in the shape of a long plastic bar with hooks for retrieving coats from drains.

How to Remove Bathroom Sink Stopper?

Once you’ve gathered the necessary equipment, here’s how to remove bathroom sink stopper with easy steps.

1. See if You Can Take the Plug Out by Hand

Some plugs can be pried off with nary a tool or particular skill. Try twisting the stopper by hand and take out sink stopper. This is all that’s needed to get it out.

2. Clean Out the Space Under the Sink

If you’re having trouble removing the stopper from the drain, going beneath the sink to free it may be your only option. In this case, you’ll need to clear up the area under the sink before proceeding.

Quick Tip

Before doing any work like hot water not coming out of faucet, clear the space under the sink. This may seem like a waste of time, but you’ll be much more comfortable and productive with enough space to move about.

3. Identify the Rod that Plunges Horizontally

Do a head check beneath the sink with the help of a flashlight. Then, to fix the problem, locate the diagonal rod that runs from the plug to the belt. You may recognize it as the rod that runs through the perforations in the metal strap, running vertically.

4. Find the Strap Clip that Connects to the Rod

Find the metal strap the rod is attached to, and you’ll see a little metal clip holding the two parts together. You should unclip the rod and the strap and then put the clip someplace secure, so you don’t lose it.

Quick Tip

When removing the clip, remember which strap hole the rod is attached to. In this manner, you will know the necessary to reassemble it. Take a picture using your phone if you may forget. You can do the same thing when there is no water in bathroom but everywhere else.

5. Take the Pivot Nut Off

Once you’ve removed the rod from the strap, you’ll want to unscrew the end connected to the pivot nut. Put a pail beneath the sink now in case water spills out when you remove this nut and turn the sink on.

Now that the bucket is in position use your hands to see if you can loosen the nut holding it on. Again, you’ll need the pliers or the wrench if it doesn’t come free.

Quick Tip

If the water comes out when you unscrew the nut, your drainpipe is clogged. Don’t let it near your face since it’s rather grimy there.

6. The Plug Must Be Taken Out

You should be able to remove the plug from the drain by hand now.

Quick Tip

The stopper is undoubtedly nasty and encrusted with muck if your sink becomes clogged. Once it’s removed, you may thoroughly clean it. Grab as much of the grime as you can with your own hands and continue cleaning using a little brush.

If you wish to give it a more thorough cleaning while it’s out, you may do so by soaking it in a solution of soap and vinegar in warm water.

7. Use a Hair Remover to Get Rid of Unwanted Hair

You should remove debris and hair from the opening before putting the stopper back in place. To do this task, use the hair removal instrument; with its help, you should be able to effortlessly extract the vast majority of the entangled locks and other debris from the drain.

8. Use a Product That Unclogs Drains 

If the drain was extremely clogged previously, this is an excellent time to clear it out before re-installing the plug.

Just use the product as directed to clean a drain, pour it down the drain, and walk away. Then, after a suitable amount of time has passed, often at least 10 minutes, flush it down with hot water. If the water drains away without resistance, you have effectively cleared a blockage in the drain.

9. Align Everything Where it Belongs

Once you have finished cleaning up and unclogging the drain, you may put everything back in its original place by reversing the procedures you used to clean it.

Replace the drain stopper in its original position. Next, tighten the nut by hand beneath the sink using the wrench or pliers.

As soon as the nut is snug, reconnect the rods to the straps with the help of the clip you previously removed. You may then emerge from beneath the sink and check the stopper.

Your reassembly is complete if the level can be pushed up and down with no resistance when tested. Then, replace the items beneath the sink and clean them with a damp towel to complete the task.

Bathtub Drain Stopper Types – Ultimate Guide

Tips from the Pros

For further assistance in accomplishing your goal, please consider the following suggestions.

Tips for bathroom sink stopper
Photo Credit: Canva

1. Get a Tray Ready to Use as a Workstation for the Parts

It’s easy to lose track of little components while working on a project like this. A basin or tray handy to put the components is a good idea to keep them from the drain. If you want to replace specific components, look for identical ones.

If you need to replace a specific component of the mechanism rather than the entire thing, you’ll need to be careful to track down an exact fit. Taking the old components to the hardware shop might help you discover an identical replacement.

2. Better to Act Quickly than Regret it Later

It’s human nature to wait and see whether the problem with a sink draining slowly disappears. But, unfortunately, this isn’t the norm, and a slow-draining sink will only improve once you take action.

3. Utilize Latex Gloves

Hair and other debris that may accumulate and clog sinks, unclog them can be unpleasant. Use rubber gloves if you need to handle this without protecting your hands.

FAQs on How to Remove Bathroom Sink Stopper

How do you Remove a Pop Up Stopper?

Get a firm hold on the drain plug by squeezing both ends. Then, to remove the stopper from the drain, pull it upwards. If it still doesn’t come out when you stretch, try jiggling it back and forth.

How do you Remove a Sink Stopper Assembly?

Stopper removal requires accessing the underside of the sink and releasing a pivot rod arm attached to the drain pipe. To remove the component, you may need pliers or a wrench. Next, disconnect the arm by removing the spherical connector at its end. The next step is returning to the basin and removing the plug.

What is the Bathroom Sink Stopper Called?

To turn off the water supply, look for a shut-off valve next to the sink. These devices often have an oval handle coupled to a braided metal line. A single shut-off valve allows you to regulate water flow to a single fixture, such as a sink, without disrupting service to the rest of the home.

Are all Bathroom Sink Stoppers the Same Size?

Bathroom sink drain stopper diameters range from 1.25 inches to 1.5 inches to 1 5/8 inches (1.625″). The drain you choose must be the same size as, or smaller than, the opening in your sink.

How do you Remove a Stopper from a Bathroom Sink without a Pivot Rod?

Turn the cap counterclockwise to remove it. The next step is removing the bottom with the use of a screwdriver. Finally, the stopper may be removed by lifting the whole apparatus upward.

How do you Remove a Push Button Sink Stopper?

If lifting the stopper doesn’t work, you may try twisting it 90 degrees and then lifting it. Turning the stopper 90 degrees frees the tabs on its body from the drain body’s openings.

What are the Different Types of Sink Stoppers?

Drain stoppers can be lifted and turned, pushed and pulled, flipped and flipped, tripped and flipped, or popped up.

How do you Remove a Bathroom Sink Stopper from American Standard?

Go beneath the sink and loosen the pivot lever arm from the drain pipe to release the stopper. To remove the arm, you may require pliers or a wrench. Take the spherical plug from the end of the arm and pull the arm out. Finally, go back to the basin and remove the plug.

How to Remove Bathroom Sink Stopper: Conclusion

If you are wondering how to remove bathroom sink stopper, Removing a bathroom stopper may seem daunting initially, but it’s easier with the right tools and approach. 

Whether you come across a standard stopper like a lift-and-turn style or an uncommon type like a pop-up, following the correct steps can help you avoid any potential frustrations. In addition, clearing clogs and debris is much less intimidating once you know how to remove sink stopper.

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