3. How do you remove a tub drain … Tip: If the flange is stuck, use a hair dryer to heat it up and loosen the putty, then try again. Remove the clip that holds the overflow cover plate to the plunger rod. This photo about: Bathtub Drain Stopper Tips Replacing, entitled as Plumbing Remove Old Toe Touch Bathtub Drain Stopper With No Inside Bathtub Drain Stopper Bathtub Drain Stopper Tips Replacing - also describes and labeled as: Bathtub Drain Stopper Leaks,Bathtub Drain Stopper Repair,Bathtub Drain Stopper Replacement,Bathtub Drain Stopper Stuck,Bathtub Drain Stopper Types, with … Take Out the Tub. Once the drain has been disassembled, use a mild cleanser or a mixture of one part vinegar and one part baking soda to wash it off. Clean the drain opening with a sponge and either a bathroom cleaner or a 50/50 blend of vinegar and baking soda. Yet, as with all things DIY, a few simple instructions will help the task go more smoothly. My bathtub won't drain due to a stuck lever type drain stopper. Grasp the lever with your hand and slowly but firmly begin to pull the drain linkage up and away. Do this carefully, so as not to squeeze the gasket underneath the tub out of place. One side is bigger than the other so it fits several sizes. Keep your pipes clean, and your floors dry by sticking to these five simple steps. This proactive strategy will prevent soap scum and hair from accumulating. Copyright © 2021 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. Bathtub drain assemblies are mysterious things. It’s paid for so why move. Insert a screwdriver through the holes in the sides of the key and use it as a lever to turn the flange counterclockwise. With this type of tub drain, the stopper is actually inside the pipe, not at the drain opening. 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. Insert a drain key into the bathtub drain basket. Without doing this, you won’t be able to pull the old tub out or install the new tub. We have been in the same old house for 45 years. Once the drain basket is fully exposed, use a mild cleanser or a mixture of one part vinegar and one part baking soda to wash it off. While bathtub drains vary by type, they can be sorted into two broad categories: simple drains (including foot lock, roller ball, and lift-and-turn types) and drains with a trip lever (such as pop-up and plunger drains). MATERIALS AND TOOLS Available on Amazon – Rubber gloves – Screwdriver – Wrench – Vinegar – Baking soda – Mild cleanser (optional) – Blow dryer (optional) – Drain key or smart dumbbell (if you’re moving the entire drain, including the flange). Note: if you struggle and the drain won't turn move up to a wrench of pair of channel locks like I did. Remove … Even the chrome overflow face-plate was prone to peeling after awhile. How to Know if Your Tub Drain Is Threaded or a Drop-in? The day may come when your drain ceases to function. Dry the bathtub before you begin. But for larger tubs or hot tubs, you may need to crawl inside of the tub to effectively remove the plate. Insert the plunger and screw in the drain basket for a trip lever drain. You may have to grab the top of the stopper to pull it completely clear of the overflow pipe. You must be skilled enough to remove the overflow plate, and it has been a bit more difficult for me than with the shower drain’s grate. Have taken off overflow to try to remove the mechanism. Step 6 If needed, the stopper can be adjusted by either tightening or loosening the adjustable linkage that connects the trip lever to the stopper. He has been published in "Woman's Day," "New Home Journal" and on many do-it-yourself websites. Just find your drain style, and follow the step-by-step to remove it yourself. Now, fill the tub with an inch or so of water and watch it drain. If the water still drains too slowly, move on to a stronger drain cleaner (one that specifies that it’s suitable for tubs) or turn to a tried-and-true DIY drain cleaner that uses materials you already have on hand. Once the flange is carefully threaded into the first few threads of the drain elbow, use the Smart Dumbell to hand-tighten the flange into the drain elbow until tight. It goes from a tub drain at 90 degrees angle, thus, if you snake through the tub drain you can easily damage the pipe. The old tub drain stopper body can also be cut out with a reciprocating saw and metal blade, but be very careful because it’s easy to cut into and damage the bathtub. DIY tool for removing and/or installing bathtub drain using needlenose pliers and adjustable pliers. One of the biggest challenges to installing your own tub is maneuvering your old tub out and your new tub in. Install the new drain. The caulk around a bathtub looks pretty nasty when it begins to peel away. 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