How to Remove Bathtub Drain without a Professional Help

If you are here today to learn how to remove the bathtub drain, then you definitely have come to the right place! In this article, I will provide you with the essential guidelines for successfully removing the bathtub drain even if you don’t have the experience to do it. Also, it should give you the confidence you need to do it on your own the next time around.

In addition, I will try and explore the idea of how to remove the bathtub drain without a tool and if it’s remotely possible after all. So without any further delays, let’s get right into it…

• Preparation Before Removing

• Ways to Remove Different Tub Drain Stoppers

• Steps to Remove Tub Drain Flang

Preparation Before Removing

Before you can start the process of removing the bathtub drain, you have to identify first the bathtub drain removal tool and other materials essential to the matter—

Tools and Materials

The tools and materials you will need to remove the bathtub drain are as follows. You have to make sure that you have gathered all of them before starting the task—

• Plug or Allen Wrench
• Adjustable wrench
• Standard and looking-nose pliers
• Flat-head or standard Philips screwdriver
• Rags or cloths to wash off the gunk and other debris
• Small garbage bag

A word of warning, though, is never to use a broken tub drain removal tool because instead of repairing the drain, the broken parts of the tool and equipment may fall off the drain causing additional problems.

Ways to Remove Different Tub Drain Stoppers

The process of removing a bathtub drain is relatively simple, but you also have to take into account the different types of tub drain stoppers. Not all of them are the same, and the procedure varies depending on the type you are working with.

Let’s go about them and learn the answer to the question, can you replace the drain in a bathtub—

Push-and-Pull Drain Stopper

A push-and-pull is a type of drain stopper that you have to press down or pull up to open and close to empty or fill the bathtub. It’s typically rounded in shape with one flat faceplate in the middle. As you can see below, removing them is pretty straightforward—

• Firstly, you have to remove the drain stopper knob from its place. And you can do so by tightly gripping the stopper and rotating it clockwise to free up the knob
• And once you have freed it up, the bolts will now be exposed, and you can unscrew them and pull them apart. But you have to organize the parts so you won’t have a hard time putting them back together
• Inspect the knob for damages, and then you have to clean them afterward. Also, you have to evaluate whether the fixture needs replacements as well

Lift-and-Turn Drain Stopper

A lift-and-turn drain stopper has a similar mechanism to a push-and-pull. The only exception is that it’s characterized by the knob at the middle of the faceplate where you can lift them or press using your fingers. And to remove them, you need to follow the steps indicated—

• You have to rotate the knob counterclockwise, and it will typically open and free the fixture from its place. Afterward, it’ll also show another cap that’s in the center of the knob
• You have to rotate the cap counterclockwise to expose the bolts. Unscrew them using a Philips or flat-head screwdriver, and the entire drain stopper will lift up automatically
• Clean the surroundings of the know and remove all debris and hair build-up
• Replace the damaged part as you see fit

Pop-Up Drain Stopper

The pop-up drain stopper has a more sophisticated mechanism. The faceplate in the middle of the faceplate automatically closes and opens when you make a downward motion instead of manually pulling and lifting them. Also, what this means is that this type of fixture is a little more complicated to work with, as shown below—

• Flip the lever of the drain so that you will have easy access to the mechanism of the drain stopper
• Use a set of pliers to tightly grip the sides of the fixture. And then carefully pull them up. Never pull it hard to prevent damage
• Once you have done so, you will see the bolts in the faceplate. Remove it so that you’ll gain access to the rod and lever assembly
• And then, remove the rod assembly. Be careful that you have to properly remove them, and you don’t want to break the spring, rods, lever, and other mechanisms
• Clean the accumulated debris and hairs stuck inside the drain stopper
• And then, you have to replace the item whenever necessary

Trip-Lever Drain Stopper

The trip-lever has the same complex clockwork as a pop-up drain stopper. The drainage is still located at the bottom of your feet, but it has a separate lever on the side of the tub where you can open and close the drains without having to engage the drainage.

• Flip the lever and rotate it to open the drain
• Afterward, you have to remove the overflow grate. Unscrew the bolts and be sure to place them in a container
• And then, you can pull out the assembly entirely and check for any damages.
• Clean the fixture before putting them back on if that’s what you intend it to be

Flip-It Drain Stopper

A flip-it drain stopper is similar to a trip-lever. The only difference is that the lever is located on top of the drainage, which is a little uncomfortable when you’re feet are running across them. The mechanism of the fixture uses a flip cover to expand and expose the bolts, as the name suggests. The following is the detailed procedure for removing the drain stopper—

• Can you replace the drain in a bathtub without a tool? Well, this is exactly the case with a flip-it drain stopper. All you have to do is to twist and turn, and you can now free the knob from its place
• Clean the drainage and the knob for any debris and hairs. And then, check for any replacements or repairs needed

Steps to Remove Tub Drain Flange

Another concern many have in regards to how to remove the bathtub drain is the drain flange of the fixture. Below is the procedure for uninstalling the tub drain flange—

• The first step is to take out the drain stopper
• Use a drain key to unscrew the bolts
• Clean the drainage from the debris and accumulation of hair
• Inspect the rubber gasket to see if it’s still reliable
• Apply a plumber’s putty around the drainage
• Reinstall the tub drain flange
• Screw back the bolts tightly
• Use a cloth or rag to remove the excess putty surrounding the drainage
• Place back the bathtub drain stopper

Takeaway

Removing a bathtub drain could be difficult to delve initially. Well, the answer to this topic would depend on the drain stopper you are working with. As you have seen in today’s article, some knobs are easy to uninstall, while others are as easy by just rotating them and lifting them off.

That’s just about it! I hope today’s article provided you with the answer you need to the question of how to remove the bathtub drain.

Frequently Asked Questions about How to Remove Bathtub Drain

The sets of questions below are some of the common concerns about how to remove bathtub drain—