Fix a sink stopper that’s not working properly in six simple steps.
Your sink stopper is one of the most neglected parts of your bathroom and kitchen. We all know to fix a leaky faucet or a clogged sink, but what about a sink stopper that won’t stay down or needs some wiggling to get pulled up? Luckily, sink stoppers are easy to fix on your own without spending any big bucks. Follow this step-by-step guide to fix or replace your sink stopper in less than an hour.
Do some background research on the type and components that go into your sink stopper before the job. Knowing the anatomy will make the process go much faster. Common types of sink stoppers include lift-and-turn, push-and-pull, toe-touch, flip-it, trip-lever, pop-up. Most household nowadays uses pop-up sink stoppers.
In general, sink stoppers are composed of the following parts:
Pivot rod: The rod that opens and closes the plug by moving up and down in response to the lift rod motion.
Lift rod: Usually located on top of the sink. Pushing or lifting the lift rod moves the pivot rod and thus opens or closes the sink stopper.
Extension bar or clevis strap: Links the pivot rod and lift rod.
Spring clip: Connects the pivot rod and extension bar.
Pivot nut: Secures the pivot rod to the drainpipe.
Gasket: A circular rubber seal between the stopper and the sink.
Stopper drain: If your sink stopper comes with a built-in pivot rod, it usually also has a stopper drain.
Knowing what each part is called and looks like can make it much easier to fix the sink stopper.
Start with identifying what type of sink stopper you have. Look under the sink. If you see a lift rod, you have a full-assemble sink stopper. Meanwhile, a universal sink stopper does not have that assembly.
Since you will be working with multiple small pieces, it’s wise to have a tray or a bucket to keep all the pieces you remove together. To disassemble a universal sink stopper, simply open it up and pull the whole piece out of the sink drain. You can usually pull it out with bare hands, or you can use channel lock pliers to remove the stopper.
For a full assembly sink stopper, start by squeezing on the spring clip to disconnect it from the pivot rod. Next, unscrew the pivot nut and remove the plug from the sink. Next, disconnect the extension bar and lift rod. Remove the lift rod from the faucet. Make sure to mark where the extension bar connects to the pivot rod.
Soak all disassembled parts in a cleaning solution or a vinegar-water solution. Let them sit for a few minutes, then use a brush to clean each part thoroughly. Only use a soft-bristle brush to avoid damaging the parts. Wipe parts dry with a soft rag and lay them on a clean surface for inspection.
Now that everything has been cleaned, you can easily inspect what caused your sink stopper to malfunction. First, inspect the rubber seal (gasket) to see if there is any damage. If the gasket looks cracked, brittle, or broken, you will need to purchase a new stopper.
Next, closely inspect the remaining parts. Look for dents, bents, chips, or stubborn rusts that you couldn’t remove. Any part that shows deformation, severe corrosion, or obvious damage should be replaced. Sometimes, it’s a better deal to purchase a whole new stopper kit or use this as the perfect opportunity to upgrade to a universal sink stopper.
Once everything has been cleaned and replaced, you are ready to reassemble the sink stopper. You will need some pipe joint compound and plumber’s putty for this step.
Simply insert the stopper into the drain to replace a universal sink stopper. Apply a thin layer of joint compound on the rubber seal to ensure a stronger seal.
To replace a full assembly sink stopper, you would also begin by inserting the sink stopper. Next, push the tailpiece up from underneath the sink as high as possible. Hold it in place, fit the drain ring from above the sink, and tighten the mounting nut underneath. Then, assemble the extension bar and pivot rod.
Test by pulling the stopper rod. If everything was assembled correctly, the extension bar and pivot rod should move as you lift or push on the stopper rod.
Close the stopper and fill your sink with water so the bottom of the sink is submerged. Wait for a while. If the water didn’t leak away, you now have a sink stopper that’s fully functioning. Otherwise, continue to tighten the clevis and pivot nut. Then, run the water with your stopper open. If water drains fast and smoothly, your drain is in a good place. Otherwise, you might need to adjust the pivot rod to open the stopper further so water can drain.
Fixing a sink stopper is an easy job to do on your own, especially if you have a universal sink stopper. However, if you’d rather have a professional takeover, that’s still an affordable option. To repair a sink stopper, look for faucet repair contractors near you. Plumbers cost $45 to $200 an hour, and a faucet repair, including repairing the sink stopper, typically costs $100 and $350.
Try to tighten the clevis crew and adjust the lift rod if your sink stopper won’t stay up. Sometimes your screws became too loose over time, and as a result, there wasn’t enough resistance to keep the sink stopper up. If a damaged lift rod is the cause of the problem, you will need to replace it with a new rod.
Yes. You can replace just the stopper portion with a universal sink stopper. All you need to do is open up the existing stopper and pull it up from the drain. You should be able to remove and replace the stopper with bare hands. If the existing stopper seems to be stuck, use a pair of pliers to remove it.
Remove the plug bit either with your fingers or a pair of pliers. For extra grip, try to wear rubber gloves during the removal. Remove the stem with pliers if it doesn’t come out with the plug. Clean as thoroughly as you can, then reassemble everything. If this doesn’t work, follow the above steps and replace the plug.
Today’s standard sink stopper size is 1.5 inches. However, you can still find different sizes if your house uses an older sink stopper. Other sizes you can find in most hardware stores include one inch, 1-1/4 inch, 1-3/8 inch, 1-5/8 inch, 1-7/8 inch, 2 inch, 2-1/4 inch, 2-3/8 inch, and 2.5 inch.
