How to Replace Your Bathtub Drain

Eventually the drain in your bathtub is going to get old and worn and won't work as it should any longer. This is especially true of drains with built-in stoppers. As time passes you'll start noticing that it's getting harder to operate the stopper, water seems to seep from the tub when the stopper is closed, and it's hard to get the dirty water to drain from the tub when the stopper is open. At this point in time you'll need to buy replacement parts for your drain and then either hire someone to install it or do the job yourself. It really isn't as difficult a job as it may sound. All you'll need are channel locks, a Philips screwdriver, plumbers' putty, and some clean rags.

How to Replace Your Bathtub Drain

How to Replace Your Bathtub Drain

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How to Replace Your Bathtub Drain

How to Replace Your Bathtub Drain

Begin the project by taking out the old drain plug mechanism. There is a cover plate on your tub which is attached with two screws. Take out the screws and remove the cover to reveal the inner workings of your drain. Reach in and pull this mechanism out through the hole in the tub.

If you're unable to remove all of the mechanism because pieces have broken off, you should check to see if you can access the space behind the tub from a wall panel on the other side of the wall. If you find one, you can remove it and easily take out the broken pieces. However, if you don't have one available, you will need to bend a wire hanger or similar piece of wire into a hook shape so that you'll be able to fish them out through the small hole.

Now that you have the original pieces of the drain, you'll be able to replace any damaged ones with your replacement parts and reassemble the drain. You may find that you don't even need replacement parts. Sometimes all the mechanism needs is to be cleaned and to have the pieces put back together correctly again.

Examine the parts to find the ones that are damaged. Then check to see if the replacement parts you purchased are identical to the ones you're removing. If they don't happen to be the same, it's not a good idea to go ahead and use them. Using the wrong parts in your plumbing could cause leaks that will flood your house.

Once you've reassembled the drain mechanism, check all the parts to be sure they're working properly. Next test the stopper to see that it fits the drain pipe and plugs it the way it should. If all these tests work out, you'll be ready to reinstall the pieces of your drain. Don't attempt to install the stopper until everything is working correctly.

You can use plumbers' putty to seal the joints where the pipes and flanges attach to one another. The mechanism that you use to raise and lower the stopper must also be attached to the overflow plate. Don't seal the overflow plate down, though, without checking to make sure that the stopper is working correctly. Once you know that the tub will hold and drain water when you want it to, go ahead and seal down the plate.

Make sure you have plenty of putty on the overflow plate when you screw it down. Wipe off any excess that might squeeze out, and check to see that you haven't got anything obstructing the overflow vent. Once you've completed these steps, your drain should be as good as new and ready to work for you again.

How to Replace Your Bathtub Drain