How to Convert Bathtub Drain Lever to a Elevator-and-Plow Drain

Learn how to replace a bathtub drain and install a new stopper.

Fourth dimension

An hour or less

Complexity

Beginner

Cost

Less than $20

Introduction

We'll show you lot how to supercede your erstwhile-style bathtub drain with a low maintenance lift-and-turn drain. Once you remove the onetime stopper, installing the new one is a breeze. So finish dealing with the lever-mode drain that catches all of the hair in the tub and supplant information technology with a new one that doesn't accept the complicated linkage.

Tools Required

Materials Required

  • Lift-and-turn stopper
  • Plumber'south putty

Project stride-by-step (iv)

Pace one

Lift-and-plough drains

Detail of a elevator-and-turn stopper

Purchase a new lift-and-turn stopper to replace your old lever-style drain. When the stopper in your lever-style bathtub drain won't pop up anymore considering the linkage is damaged or clogged, supervene upon information technology with a much simpler elevator-and-turn style tub drain.

The linkage in a lever-manner drain attracts dirt and hair like a magnet, and must be cleaned regularly in order to keep the drain working properly. The elevator-and-plough drain has no complicated linkage to dig out and clean—almost everything catches in the drain grate. Purchase the tub stopper replacement kit at hardware stores and home centers to begin this how to replace a bathtub drain projection.

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Footstep two

How to replace the old bathtub drain: Remove the old drain parts

This photo shows how to remove the overflow plate, the stopper body and linkage. The linkage may stick and be stubborn to remove. Grab concord of it and tug hard until it pops out. Screw on the new overflow plate once the linkage has been removed. Unscrew the overflow plate and pull the upper linkage out of the overflow pipe. Pop out the drain stopper and remove the lower linkage as well. Tug firmly when extracting both parts of the linkage because they may bind inside the overflow piping.

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Step 3

Remove the stopper body

The toughest role of this how to remove a bathtub drain job is removing the old tub drain stopper body, but information technology'south all downhill subsequently that. Remove the erstwhile stopper trunk equally shown here. If you lot're having trouble unscrewing it, try heating it with a hair dryer set on "high." The heat may aid loosen the old plumber's putty. The old tub drain stopper body can as well be cut out with a reciprocating saw and metal blade, but exist very careful because it's easy to cutting into and damage the bathtub. Cutting a notch one/4 in. wide and deep in the old stopper body with a mini hacksaw. Check progress frequently to ensure you lot don't cut into the tub. Wedge a 3/iv-in. cold chisel into the cutout slot and pound counterclockwise with a hammer to free the stopper body (utilise caution when hammering so you don't scratch the enameled tub). Completely unscrew and remove the stopper body.

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Step 4

Bathtub drain installation: Install the new stopper body

Slide in a new gasket. Then curlicue a pencil-sized bead of plumber's putty and press information technology effectually the underside of the new stopper trunk rim. Stick the jaws of 8-in. pliers into the stopper body grate and thread information technology into the drainpipe.

All that's left in this how to remove a bathtub drain stopper job is to install the new bathtub drain stopper body and stopper. Slide the new safe gasket on pinnacle of the drainpipe under the tub and insert the new drain flange with plumber's putty on it as shown here.

Use the supplied bushing if the new threads are dissimilar from the former. Spiral the stopper into the stopper body and congratulate yourself on a job well done. If y'all've got other bathtub issues, learn how to fix a leaking bathtub faucet.

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Originally Published: December thirteen, 2022