Fixing a Bathtub Drain

RE: Fixing a Bathtub Drain Post By Richard (Guest Post) (07/12/2008) We bought a house where the builder apparently tried to cut costs by not properly installing mounting studs in the wall to firmly secure the main tub valve assembly to. When the fiberglass tub/shower assembly was installed there was no support for the valve cover plates and the shower wall distorted, leaving a crack between the shower wall and the cover plates. When we took a shower water splashed on the wall and leaked behind this crack. After replacing the downstairs ceiling a couple of times I finally figured this out and solved it simply by running a bead of silicone caulk around the face plates and the tub fill spout and overflow cap. It is a lot cheaper than tearing out the tub/shower and installing it again the way it should have been done in the first place. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Fixing a Bathtub Drain Post By Syl Quinn (Guest Post) (07/04/2008) Rather then using a wire coat hanger to fish out plunger, which is attached to threaded bolt(it's this threaded bolt that the water release lever is attached to, which invariably works itself free over years of use)use a long needle nose pliers, giggle it around a bit and it comes right up along with the plunger(which actually stops the water in the tub) then you can reattach the face plate unit that screws onto the threaded part that goes down into the inside wall of the drain. While you have the plunger out you might want to check it and see if it needs to be changed. These things seem to last forever for they are designed only for one thing and it's to let water stay in the tub or let it out. Happy plumbing! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Fixing a Bathtub Drain Post By Sue (Guest Post) (06/30/2008) I have the same problem as many others from what I have been reading, but have not seen a good answer: I have moved into a house with a fiberglass jucuzzi bathtub/shower. It wasn't draining properly so I tried to remove the overflow plate and the plunger. Problem is, when I get the plunger assembly part way out it gets stuck. Now the drain plug lever is stuck in the middle and won't move up or down. There is only an access hole between the vanity wall and the tub to the soil pipe. I have even tried some vegetable oil--didn't work. Needless to say I have not used the whirlpool since I moved in. How does one get the plunger assembly to come out? Report Spam or Abuse RE: Fixing a Bathtub Drain Post By chyrllv (Guest Post) (05/19/2008) our upstairs bathtub leaks below through the ceiling onto our kitchen floor when we shower or take a bath. We have replaced the shower pipe, faucets, hardware, tiles, caulked plus replaced the kitchen ceiling a couple of times. Nothing we have done has solved this problem. We are now back to square one with a hole in the kitchen ceiling and using our daughter's bathtub. Please Someone Help! Report Spam or Abuse Leaking Bathtub Drain Post by MichaelGM (1) | (01/02/2008) Contact My roller ball type bathtub drain leaks. After removing the chrome drain it looks to be too short to thread into the PVC drain pipe. There is an awful lot of putty so it looks like the builder packed it to hold out a few years. Does anybody sell longer drains? My tub is a soaker that looks pretty thick. I can't get under it without ripping up the bathroom. Pardon my poor graphic but this is roughly what is going on Report Spam or Abuse RE: Fixing a Bathtub Drain Post By Greg Cook (Guest Post) (01/01/2008) I have a bathtub drain that appears to not be fully opening causing a slow drainage problem. How can I adjust the lever where it will drain faster? Greg Cook Report Spam or Abuse a cap inside bathtub drain HELP!! Post By Zoila (Guest Post) (10/29/2007) CAN I DO SOMETHING MYSELF TO RECOVER A SMALL BODY LOTION CAP? MY GRANDSON THREW IT INSIDE THE BATHTUB DRAIN AND NOW THE WATER NEVER GOES DOWN. WHAT CAN I DO, PLEASE HELP ME GIVE ME SOME ADVICE. THANKS Editor's Note: It is probably caught in the trap, the U pipe underneath the tub. It may take a plumber to get it out for you because it will never decompose. You could try putting a coat hanger (unbend it first) with a little hook on the end down there and see if you can bring it up. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Fixing a Bathtub Drain Post By Anna (Guest Post) (09/21/2007) We have a whirlpool tub and when installed, the plumber scratched the face plate on the overflow and also the drain surround...I went to Lowe's got both parts, replaced the face plate with no problem but in trying to get the new drain/flange to screw into the existing threaded drain pipe, the flange is too big...going back to Lowe's they're all this size. Does anyone have any suggestions where to find a smaller than standard flange? Thanks, Anna Report Spam or Abuse RE: Fixing a Bathtub Drain Post by Nony (1) | (07/12/2007) Profile | Contact I was taking a shower when the bar soap careened out of its builtin holder, hit the faucet and finally landed on the drain causing water to not drain. I picked up the soap but the water still woud not drain. Worse yet.., now the toilet overflows when flushing. There seems to be a piece of metal totally covering the drain below the coss-hairs(?). Any ideas anyone? Report Spam or Abuse RE: Fixing a Bathtub Drain Post By Mary Ellen (Guest Post) (07/08/2007) Thanks Plumber! I removed the plate, the pin, pulled the spring open wider and replaced everything. Since the plate had been there awhile, I also put some plumbers putty on the face plate and trimmed away the excess so there would not be any leaking water through there in the future into the crawl space below. Worked like a charm. Now I can use the washcloth for what it's supposed to be used for... washing! Thank you for the helpful advise! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Fixing a Bathtub Drain Post By PJ (Guest Post) (07/04/2007) my bath tub drain leaks when I use the bath tub. It does not leak when I fill in less water for my son. it does not leak when I use the shower. my kitchen is below the bath. do you think I should take out the drain assembly from the top or do I need to go from under by drilling a hole in the kitchen ceiling. thanks for your advice. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Fixing a Bathtub Drain Post By Cheryl Hollington (Guest Post) (06/26/2007) I need to know how to get the tub stopper mechanism out of the drain. It is not connected to the plate and the stopper in the drain was broken off and I can't see anything in either hole with a flashlight. What do I do as it takes forever for the water to drain now. Report Spam or Abuse Fixing a Bathtub Drain Post By don (Guest Post) (04/10/2007) I have a tub aprx. 12 years old that is leaking from the drain. How do I replace it? Report Spam or Abuse RE: Fixing a Bathtub Drain Post By Paul (Guest Post) (02/25/2007) I was able to correct the problem. Afer removing the plate, check to see if the u-shaped metal spring is not twisted and is still putting pressure (resistance) on the lever. It should look like the attached picture. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Fixing a Bathtub Drain Post By Frank (Guest Post) (02/05/2007) My house is 20 years old. As I removed my old bath tub drain, all the pipe assembly have disappeared below the bath tub. I cannot reach them and I think they may be broken so I presume I would have to replace all the pipes. Now the sides of the bath tub are wall to wall and I have no clue how to get to it. without removing whole bath tub!!!! It is upstairs and there is a closet on other side of the wall where the pipes are and there is another bathroom under. I would guess there must be some way to access it just in emergency without ripping whole tub out. Any idea ? Editor's Note: Is it a fiberglass or enamel tub? If it is fiberglass, it is actually behind the sheetrock and it's a big job to take one out. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Fixing a Bathtub Drain Post By Jeremiah Badell (Guest Post) (02/01/2007) I just bought a new drain for my tub. I removed the old drain, but when I tried to screw in the new one, it will not screw down all the way. I looked down inside where it screws into and removed a rubber ring from below the tub. Should I have done that? What should I do to complete the job? Editor's Note: First I'd check to see if the new drain is the same length as the old one. If the new one is longer, that could be the problem. The rubber ring below the tub keeps it from leaking so it is very important. I'd say you should put in a new one with the new drain. You don't want the tub dripping either to the floor below or into the basement or crawl space. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Fixing a Bathtub Drain Post By Gail (Guest Post) (01/14/2007) Check with your local hardware store. Sometimes they rent these tools. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Fixing a Bathtub Drain Post By Ren (Guest Post) (01/11/2007) Wish I'd found this website before making 2 trips to HOME DEPOT.....HOPEFULLY my third trip will be the last now that i know about the "tub drain remover". Pliers are a joke! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Fixing a Bathtub Drain Post By Kay (Guest Post) (12/14/2006) I have a plunger type drain and I can't push the lever on the wall down to empty the water in the tub? I"m not sure what to do. Any ideas? Editor's Note: Here's a good link showing how to fix the mechanism. http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/remodeling ... cle/0,1797,HGTV_3659_1924110,00.html Report Spam or Abuse RE: Fixing a Bathtub Drain Post By RUTH (Guest Post) (09/18/2006) HELP, WHEN MY TUB IS PLUGGED THE WATER STILL DRAINS OUT. HOW DO I FIX THIS ISSUE? Report Spam or Abuse RE: Fixing a Bathtub Drain Post By (Guest Post) (07/05/2006) In my tub we have lots of things stuck in it so we need to take off the metal stopper in the tub then grab whaterever is in there! how do we take off the stopper Report Spam or Abuse RE: Fixing a Bathtub Drain Post By Wendy (Guest Post) (05/15/2006) have the same problem. I hang a wet washcloth on mine to hold the lever down so the tub can drain. The weight of the washcloth is enough to hold it down. I am a single mother and I have noooo idea how to fix this. I am afraid if I take off the cover I will break it. Will I? Report Spam or Abuse RE: Fixing a Bathtub Drain Post By lex (Guest Post) (11/24/2005) if you break off your cross hairs, a normal tub drain remover for $10 will not work. You need to buy something called a "Drain Key" This item costs anywhere between 27 to 32 dollars depending on where you get it. (Order it online from azpartsmaster, it's cheaper than from www.plumbingworld.com). Anyway, it expands and grips the inside of the drain. http://www.azpartsmaster.com/shopazp/Drain+Keys+(PAS4500).html If your drain is the "Plunger" type and it won't stay down, all you have to do is replace the lever (it's not staying in place because it's OLD!) Dear Marianne: If your tub still won't drain after you remove linkage assembly and stopper, you probably have a clog. You can snake the tub drain if you remove the drain. However, you can also snake through where the linkage came out. Snaking is always a little risky because it could break plumbing if it's old, rusty and brittle. Try bleach if you believe the clog is from hair and soap scum, etc. However, if you use drano or these other types of products over time, the metal will eat away and your stopper may not work so well and you can develop slow leaks from your plunger drain when taking a bath over time. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Fixing a Bathtub Drain Post By Marianne (Guest Post) (08/26/2005) I have removed the plate and the linkage which includes a stopper at the bottom and my tub still won't drain. What's the problem?? Report Spam or Abuse RE: Fixing a Bathtub Drain Post By Rob (Guest Post) (08/12/2005) How do you remove a drain after the cross (inside) breaks off, and the drain is smooth. I read about something called the Golden Extractor, but I have not been able to find a tool... Editor's Note: We added this as a new request: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf136204.tip.html Report Spam or Abuse RE: Fixing a Bathtub Drain Post By Denny (Guest Post) (08/02/2005) Check out the URL below for common drain types and how to check them: http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?acti ... ml&rn=RightNavFiles/rightNavHowTo#a1 As for removing a tub drain with pliers...forget it. Get a tub drain remover (about $10). Check out one ad online: http://plumbing.hardwarestore.com/5 ... repair/tub-drain-remover-603482.aspx Report Spam or Abuse RE: Fixing a Bathtub Drain Post by zarath (1) | (07/26/2005) Contact I have just recently changed the drain in my bathtub. It does not drain. It is not connected to the overflow or any other plumbing, just the drain pipe. It is t-ed into the bathroom sink and it drains fine, with no problem. Any ideas? Report Spam or Abuse RE: Fixing a Bathtub Drain Post By Ron (Guest Post) (07/09/2005) I have a Lift and Turn tub drain. I have tried to remove it using pliers and a pipe wrench, where as I broke the cross members. Any ideas how to remove it now. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Fixing a Bathtub Drain Post by Plumber (7) | (07/05/2005) Contact remove the two screws holding the plate on. pull the linkage out with the cover. remove the cotter pin on the back side of the lever. this should release the spring. using two pair of pliers streach the spring out a little. re assemble ands reinstall. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Fixing a Bathtub Drain Post By steve (Guest Post) (12/04/2004) Don't waste your time at Home Depot, they don't carry replacement parts for this type of drain. They only sell the entire drain. A local hardware store is your best bet. You should be able to replace either the entire mechanism or just the lever/cover combo. As a previous post stated once you get the part it is a 5 min fix. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Fixing a Bathtub Drain Post By steve (Guest Post) (12/04/2004) Don't waste your time at Home Depot, they don't carry replacement parts for this type of drain. They only sell the entire drain. A local hardware store is your best bet. You should be able to replace either the entire mechanism or just the lever/cover combo. As a previous post stated once you get the part it is a 5 min fix. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Fixing a Bathtub Drain Post By Laurie (guest) (Guest Post) (10/25/2004) I have the same problem but now my neighbor downstairs (I live in a condo), says that everytime I drain the tub, I am dripping water on her ceiling. I cannot find any water leaking via the access panel. She has had the ceiling removed and they tell her I need to replace a "gasket" in my overflow.?? Any ideas? Report Spam or Abuse RE: Fixing a Bathtub Drain Post By Juli (Guest Post) (10/12/2004) I would go to my local hardware like Lowes or Home Depot and see if there is replacement parts to the tub for the drain and then ask a lot of questions of any employee you can find. ( Questions are free! ) Then attempt a DIY repair. If it does not work, get a rubber stopper. Mine does the opposite, it will not allow me to fill tub, so I too have a rubber stopper. My .89 cent cure. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Fixing a Bathtub Drain Post By Dustin (Guest Post) (10/11/2004) The problem is the spring behind the cover plate that mounts to the bathtub wall is probably broken. All you need to do is pull out the plunger (wall plate and all) and take the part to a hardware store and match up the spring size and reinstall. Takes about 3 minutes minus the trip to the store. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Fixing a Bathtub Drain Post By saejjm (Guest Post) (10/08/2004) What I suggest is that you need to take the screws out of the drain lever cover, remove the shaft, after doing so, adjust the thing that hangs at the end of it. I'm not that mechanical so I don't know the correct phrasing for the parts but I can almost promise you that it will work. Contact me @ saejjm@ixpres.com if you have any questions. Good luck! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Fixing a Bathtub Drain Post by Catsoup (2) | (09/23/2004) Contact I have the same problem. I hang a wet washcloth on mine to hold the lever down so the tub can drain. The weight of the washcloth is enough to hold it down. My husband does not know how to fix it. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Fixing a Bathtub Drain Post By Ann (Guest Post) (09/23/2004) We have the same problem with our drain! We're going to get a flat rubber plug that you can lay over the top of the drain. Cheap solution, but would love to hear others! 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