To wash or soak goods like ketchup-stained shirts, a drain plug or sink stopper retains water in the sink, allowing the sink to fill up. The stopper allows water to flow down the drain freely by sitting slightly above the sink drain when it’s not in use.
If the sink stopper isn’t cleaned regularly, hair, toothpaste, and other debris can adhere to its edges and eventually cause a clog. To clean the sink or unclog it, you must remove the stopper. Learn how to take off a bathroom sink stopper by using this instruction.
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Prior to Starting
Maintain a supply of clothes, towels, or rags on hand to mop up any spilled water when working on plumbing systems throughout the house. Additionally, when removing portions or parts of the plumbing system, a little bucket comes in handy for collecting any water that may seep out of the pipe.
Before beginning this job, make sure the area around the pipes under the bathroom sink is clear. Place a towel down and clear the area of any obstructions. While working, place a small bucket on top of the towel so that it may collect any dripping water.
How to Remove a Bathroom Sink Stopper
Inspect and Remove the Stopper
Bathroom sink stoppers are available in two varieties. The first type of sink stopper is a twist-and-pull type made for simple manual removal. This kind of stopper can be removed by gently raising it and twisting it while holding onto the top with your palm.
This approach will not remove the stopper easily, indicating that it is not a twist-and-pull stopper. Rather, the plunger rod and clip assembly connect the sink stopper to the drain. It is much more involved than just lifting and twisting to remove these parts before you can remove the sink stopper.
Locate the Plunger Rod and Clip the Assembly
Prepare the space beneath the sink with a bucket and a cloth or towel if the sink stopper is not the twist-and-pull variety. Find the plunger rod and clip assembly by using a flashlight. The plunger rod is a horizontal metal piece that connects to a vertical metal strap by way of the pivot nut on the drain.
A metal clip fastens the plunger rod to the vertical metal strap. To ensure you know which strap hole the rod goes through when reassembling, snap a photo of the assembly. To detach the plunger rod from the metal strap, remove the clip.
Remove the Pivot Nut
The component of the sink stopper assembly that is fastened directly to the drain line is called the pivot nut. After placing the bucket below the pivot nut, remove it with a wrench or a pair of pliers. Using the metal clip, set the pivot nut away in a secure place. When reinstalling the sink stopper, issues or confusion are avoided by designating a specific space for these components.
Remove and wipe the sink stopper
After removing the pivot nut and horizontal rod, you ought to be able to manually remove the sink stopper.
After cleaning the stopper as thoroughly as possible by hand, run warm water over it in the bathtub or at a nearby sink. Once the majority of the muck has been rinsed off the stopper, scrape any leftover dirt away with soap. Repeatedly rinse the stopper.
Examine the drain after setting the bathroom sink stopper aside with the other components of the sink stopper assembly. This is an excellent time to clear the drain if there are obstructions or slow-draining issues.
Empty the Drain
Numerous issues might arise from a clogged drain. A partial clog slows down the water’s ability to drain and can eventually fill up with more debris over time. Even water cannot flow through a completely clogged drain, thus using the sink is not possible until the issue is fixed.
Even if the drain isn’t clogged, give it a thorough cleaning after removing the sink stopper. This lessens the possibility of a blockage forming and helps keep debris from accumulating inside the drain.
If there is a clog, use a manual drain snake to break it up and remove it. Otherwise, you can use a brush to clean the inside of the drain. If you can’t get the clog to come out of the drain, breaking it up is the next best thing to using the drain snake.
Any remaining debris inside the drain line can be removed with a professional drain cleaner or a DIY mix of vinegar and baking soda. When using a commercial drain cleaner, make sure you read and abide by the manufacturer’s instructions.
If you choose to use the vinegar and baking soda approach, pour the vinegar in after adding the baking soda to the drain. Make sure the bucket is positioned underneath the pivot nut to capture any water or cleaning solution since the foaming solution will clean the inside of the drain but may also flow out of the hole left by the nut. Turn on the water to rinse away any leftover cleaning solution to complete the task.
Reinstall the Sink Stopper
Reinstalling the bathroom sink stopper assembly is necessary once the drain is clear and the stopper is clean. Reattach the pivot nut by first going back under the sink and sliding the sink stopper back into place.
Slide the other end of the plunger rod into the opening on the vertical strap after tightening it at the pivot nut. To get it working normally again, put it back in the same hole from which it was taken out. Use the metal clip to tighten the connection. To ensure everything is in working order and there are no leaks, turn on the faucet and flow some water.
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