How can I fix my tub drain?
March 5, 2022 5:20 AM Subscribe
My bathtub drain plug lever was stuck. I pulled it apart and found part of a rocker-arm style plug system. Can I replace it with a plunger-style drain plug?
In my continuing quest to fix my tub (I'm planning on reglazing...thanks for the advice!) I figured I should get the bathtub drain stopper operational. I have part of a rocker-arm style drain plug (just the top linkage) and am wondering if I can replace it with a lever-operated plunger plug. In this image, I currently have part of the left style plug and what I want is the right side plunger-type stopper.
My question: Can I just swap in a plunger or is there some pipework that needs to be done in order for a plunger stopper to work?
More details:
The lever on the overflow plate was stuck and wouldn't turn and one of the screws was rusted in place. I managed to remove the overflow plate and remove the drain plug assembly (pictures of my plug linkage and drain at bottom of tub; excuse the grit and grime that dropped when removing the overflow plate). I was surprised to find a coil on the end rather than a plug, which looks like this rocker-arm drain at the top of this link. However, the drain at the bottom of my tub is empty, and I can't feel anything in the pipe leading from the drain hole, which leads me to believe the rocker thing was removed at some point before we owned the house.
That link above about replacing an old drain assembly with a lift-and-turn style plug seems like one way to go but I don't really like those lift-and-turn style plugs. However that's what I'll do it if that's the best option that doesn't involve replacing pipes.
In my continuing quest to fix my tub (I'm planning on reglazing...thanks for the advice!) I figured I should get the bathtub drain stopper operational. I have part of a rocker-arm style drain plug (just the top linkage) and am wondering if I can replace it with a lever-operated plunger plug. In this image, I currently have part of the left style plug and what I want is the right side plunger-type stopper.
My question: Can I just swap in a plunger or is there some pipework that needs to be done in order for a plunger stopper to work?
More details:
The lever on the overflow plate was stuck and wouldn't turn and one of the screws was rusted in place. I managed to remove the overflow plate and remove the drain plug assembly (pictures of my plug linkage and drain at bottom of tub; excuse the grit and grime that dropped when removing the overflow plate). I was surprised to find a coil on the end rather than a plug, which looks like this rocker-arm drain at the top of this link. However, the drain at the bottom of my tub is empty, and I can't feel anything in the pipe leading from the drain hole, which leads me to believe the rocker thing was removed at some point before we owned the house.
That link above about replacing an old drain assembly with a lift-and-turn style plug seems like one way to go but I don't really like those lift-and-turn style plugs. However that's what I'll do it if that's the best option that doesn't involve replacing pipes.
How do you feel about a cover for the overflow and a rubber stopper?
posted by kate4914 at 9:59 AM on March 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by kate4914 at 9:59 AM on March 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: I do have access to the pipes through an access panel in the next room.
I currently use a rubber stopper, but I want something nicer than that.
posted by msbrauer at 12:06 PM on March 5, 2022
I currently use a rubber stopper, but I want something nicer than that.
posted by msbrauer at 12:06 PM on March 5, 2022
Your last link says you can remove the lever arm through the drain, so I would think that means you could install a new one that same way in reverse?
posted by flimflam at 3:22 PM on March 5, 2022
posted by flimflam at 3:22 PM on March 5, 2022
Which, I realize, is not the plunger you speak of, but might be preferable to the lift-and-turn.
posted by flimflam at 3:27 PM on March 5, 2022
posted by flimflam at 3:27 PM on March 5, 2022
Response by poster: An update: I tried a plunger in the existing pipe and it didn't work. I did get a rocker-arm linkage and was able to insert it through the drain and use the plunger style lift to manipulate it up and down. It held water.
However!: the old drain flange was so old and dinged up that we decided we wanted to replace that too. After some serious elbow grease and cutting, it came out, and we decided to replace everything with a pop-up style drain plug which seems to have some hair clog prevention mechanism built in (unlike the rocker-arm...probably the reason the rocker-arm was missing in the first place!). Now we've got everything removed waiting for the reglazing to happen.
posted by msbrauer at 6:47 AM on March 16, 2022
However!: the old drain flange was so old and dinged up that we decided we wanted to replace that too. After some serious elbow grease and cutting, it came out, and we decided to replace everything with a pop-up style drain plug which seems to have some hair clog prevention mechanism built in (unlike the rocker-arm...probably the reason the rocker-arm was missing in the first place!). Now we've got everything removed waiting for the reglazing to happen.
posted by msbrauer at 6:47 AM on March 16, 2022
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posted by Thorzdad at 6:54 AM on March 5, 2022