How To Fix a Malfunctioning Bathroom Sink Stopper
How To Fix A Pop-Up Drain Stopper
When a pop-up drain stopper in a sink or bathtub stops working, how do you fix it? This expert guide shows how drain stoppers work and how to repair them.
Sink and Bathtub Pop-Up Drain Stoppers Diagram ©HomeTips
Pop-ups are simple mechanical devices that use a system of links and levers to move a drain stoppers up and down to seal a sink bowl or bathtub.
How a Sink Pop-Up Works
Bathroom sink pop-ups are raised and lowered with a lift knob or lever, usually located on or near the faucet body. The knob or lever is connected to a lift rod that is fastened to a flat, slotted bar called a “clevis.”
The clevis is connected by a small spring clip to a pivot rod–and–ball assembly—a rod that runs through a rubber pivot ball and slopes slightly upward to the tailpiece of the stopper. This pushes the stopper up or lets it drop down into the drain body.
Pushing the knob and the lift rod down causes the pivot rod to push the stopper up; pulling the knob causes the pivot rod to pull the stopper down. If you want to remove the assembly, you may be able to pull it right out. On a bathroom sink, it’s often necessary to remove the retaining nut and extract the pivot rod first. You may have to twist the stopper to unhook it from the pivot rod.