Is Your Bathroom Drain Stopper Stuck? Here’s How to Fix It
Most people have a problem with their sink stoppers getting stuck. While it may be frustrating initially, know there is an easy fix, and you can do it yourself. This process may involve jiggling components, using suction, or performing some simple steps from below the sink. Keep reading to learn which options are available and how to do each to unstick your stopper from the closed position in your sink.
Fixes for a Bathroom Drain Stopper Stuck in a Sink
So, the bathroom drain stopper is stuck in the sink? Don’t panic; you can usually fix this common problem yourself with simple techniques that require few tools. Keep in mind that if you can’t fix this problem yourself, you may need the assistance of a handyperson or plumber. Be confident and try to troubleshoot initially, though, because you might save yourself some time and money.
How Can I Fix a Stuck Stopper By Prying It Up or Giggling?
The first fix to this problem is the easiest. Just wiggle the lift rod that operates the stopper located on top of the faucet. Also, try pulling the lift rod up and down quickly. Sometimes this action can disengage the stopper easily.
In some instances, you can use your hands or something metal to pry the stopper up. If you have a porous material sink, be careful not to damage it by trying to get the stopper to pop up. Should this technique work, try operating the stopper again and see if it sticks once more. If it continues to stick, you’ll want to take other measures actually to fix the problem for longer.
How Can I Fix My Stopper by Using a Suction Cup?
There’s also another way to provide a simple fix if you can wiggle the stem or pry the stopper up with delicate sinks. This process involves using a suction cup. You have many choices when it comes to using a suction cup. There are some in the bath and shower department of your local retail store, or you may have one lying around in your bathroom somewhere.
They are common on shower caddies and other bathroom organizers. You might have some ornaments that have a suction cup you can use. Be sure you choose a suction cup with a clean fit that allows you to pull up firmly on the stopper, or it will fail to work. Some ornamental suction cups might need to be bigger for them to grasp and stay connected when you exert some force.
How Do I Lift a Stuck Sink Stopper Using a Magnet?
Some people might have or know someone nearby who has a neodymium magnet. They are usually powerful enough to attract the metal portion of the stopper so you can lift it from its sealed position. Note that this technique only works if you have a metal stopper.
What Do I Do If None of These Techniques Work?
If you simply can’t unstick the stopper from its placement in the sink, or you unstuck the plug, but it was sticking again once you tried to use it, you’ll need to go under the sink to quickly repair this issue so you can use your sink stopper without problems.
Before you begin the repairs, be sure you move all items out of the way and check the water lines to ensure they aren’t tangled or impeding your movement or that of the stopper in any way. Sometimes, when they are tangled or caught in the mechanism, they cause an issue or prevent you from clearly seeing the culprit in this situation.
It may be difficult to light your workspace under the sink adequately, and the angle of the lines and the sink may require you to work by feeling around to see where the parts are laid out.
If you need to locate parts by feel, identify the water lines and see if the sink rod is touching or pinching the lines in any way. The lines should hang freely and not touch the sink rod or lay on it in any way. If they are touching, attempt to free the lines and return them to their original position and then try the sink stopper to see if it moves freely.
If the stopper is still stuck, then grab the sink rod and pull it down. The stopper should then release, and you’ll hear the water flowing out of the sink and down the drain. This is just a simple fix, and this issue may require more attention to prevent you from going under the sink to pull the rod each time you use the stopper.
Replace the Rod
The next logical step is to check the rod to see if there is a bend. If the rod is bent, you can try to bend it back into shape to see if it fixes the problem. If the stopper still sticks, you might need to replace the sink rod. They are sold at most hardware and big box retail stores across the country for a few dollars.
Once the rod is in place, you’ll want to attach it to a part called a lift rod strap. The rod is inserted into one of the holes in the lift rod strap. If you need help deciding which hole to use, carefully look at the mechanism above, and it should make the correct hole clear to you.
There’s also a clip that needs to be attached during this fix. While you are attaching the horizontal rod strap, you need to have a clip that’s situated across the lift rod strap and not angled to one side or another. Herein may lie another potential fix. The lift rod and lift rod strap may become detached, and simply reattaching them and using the clip may fix the problem. Be sure you use tools to tighten the bolt to keep it secure if this is the issue.
What Do I Do If This Series of Steps Doesn’t Work?
Before you decide to give up on this fix-it project, you might want to ask someone else to give it a shot. It helps if you know someone who’s handy or who has done these repairs in the past. It could save you some money and a service call.
If you can’t get someone else to try to fix it, or you’re sure it’s not the sink rod or strap, then it may be time to call a professional. This is especially true if the water lines are damaged, and you notice leaks or something out of the ordinary while attempting repairs. This problem rarely needs a professional service call, but there may also be some other underlying or complex issues from impacts or damage to resolve before you can get your stopper out of the sink drain.
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