How to Convert Bathtub Drain Lever to a Lift-and-Turn Drain

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

Time

An hr or less

Complexity

Beginner

Toll

Less than $20

Introduction

We'll testify you how to replace your old-mode bathtub drain with a low maintenance lift-and-plough drain. One time you remove the old stopper, installing the new one is a breeze. So stop dealing with the lever-manner bleed that catches all of the hair in the tub and replace it with a new one that doesn't have the complicated linkage.

Tools Required

Materials Required

  • Lift-and-plough stopper
  • Plumber's putty

Project step-by-footstep (iv)

Step 1

Lift-and-turn drains

Detail of a elevator-and-turn stopper

Buy a new lift-and-plow stopper to supervene upon your old lever-style bleed. When the stopper in your lever-style bathtub drain won't pop upwardly anymore because the linkage is damaged or clogged, replace it with a much simpler lift-and-turn mode tub bleed.

The linkage in a lever-style drain attracts clay and hair like a magnet, and must be cleaned regularly in order to keep the drain working properly. The lift-and-turn drain has no complicated linkage to dig out and clean—almost everything catches in the drain grate. Buy the tub stopper replacement kit at hardware stores and home centers to begin this how to supplant a bathtub drain project.

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Stride 2

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 concur of it and tug difficult until it pops out. Screw on the new overflow plate in one case 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 also. Tug firmly when extracting both parts of the linkage because they may bind inside the overflow pipe.

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Step iii

Remove the stopper body

The toughest part of this how to remove a bathtub drain job is removing the old tub drain stopper trunk, but it's all downhill after that. Remove the one-time stopper body as shown hither. If y'all're having trouble unscrewing it, endeavour heating it with a hair dryer set on "loftier." The estrus may help loosen the former plumber's putty. The old tub drain stopper body can also be cutting out with a reciprocating saw and metal blade, just be very careful because it's easy to cutting into and damage the bathtub. Cutting a notch 1/four in. broad and deep in the erstwhile stopper body with a mini hacksaw. Bank check progress frequently to ensure you don't cut into the tub. Wedge a 3/4-in. cold chisel into the cutout slot and pound counterclockwise with a hammer to free the stopper body (use caution when hammering so you don't scratch the enameled tub). Completely unscrew and remove the stopper trunk.

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Footstep 4

Bathtub drain installation: Install the new stopper body

Slide in a new gasket. And so coil a pencil-sized bead of plumber's putty and press it around the underside of the new stopper body rim. Stick the jaws of 8-in. pliers into the stopper body grate and thread it into the drainpipe.

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

Use the supplied bushing if the new threads are unlike from the old. Spiral the stopper into the stopper body and congratulate yourself on a chore well done. If you've got other bathtub issues, learn how to prepare a leaking bathtub faucet.

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Originally Published: December 13, 2022