Once you break the flange out, clean up any old putty before installing a new drain. Step 2 Remove the knob on the top of the stopper. When that happens and you need to remove the old bathtub drain, plan on using a little manual labor and a specialized tool to get the job done. Inside most drain fittings are two metal crossbars that form an "X" to prevent large items from falling into the drain. Scour the Stopper. Pull Out Hair or Debris. Remove the Drain With Locking Pliers. It drains so sloooooow now that I know how to do it it’ll be draining like crazy. Remove the strainer. Putty Removal and Reinstallation: Once you have removed the entire drain assembly set it aside on a section of towell you have laid across the tub base. In most cases, you’ll only need a screwdriver and a stiff wire or a bent coat hanger. Kapaski 3 Pack Drain Clog Remover Cleaning Tool, Tube Drain Cleaning Removal Opener for Sink and Bathtub, Toilet and Auger Plumbing (19.9 inch) 3.8 out of 5 stars 1,050 $4.99 $ 4 . Unthread the drain all the way by hand once it is loose enough. Hair and soap often accumulate underneath the strainer, which is located in or over the drain. It has a conical shape and helical knurls that grip the metal wall on the inside of the drain fitting. You usually don’t need a tool to do this. Remove the drain stopper or screen to gain access to the tub's drain fitting. Next, take the drain key and insert it into the tub drain … Remove the drain stopper or screen to gain access to the tub's drain fitting. The drain fitting is a metal basket-like piece that has a lip or flange at the top and a body with threads on the outside. Stoppers that you operate with a lever on the overflow drain plate may have a metal rocker arm that extends through the horizontal portion of the tub drain pipe. Most plug wrenches have more than one size of head; use the head that makes the snuggest fit. How to Replace a Bathtub Waste-and-Overflow Tube, How to Install a Stopper Drain Fitting in a Bathtub, How to Use a Plunger to Unclog a Sink Drain, How to Fix a Sticky Trip-Lever Bathtub Drain Stopper, How to Remove and Clean 5 Types of Bathtub Drain Stoppers, How to Troubleshoot and Fix Ceiling Leaks, Removing a Damaged Screw With a Screw Extractor. Though many strainers can be removed manually, some have screws that will need to be removed, too. 99 If you do not know which type of screwdriver to use, match the screwdriver to the screw head. Clean it of all hair and soap. If you can’t pull the stopper out, you will need to go underneath … If the tub has a screen, simply pry underneath the screen with a small flat-head screwdriver to pop it off. Tubs with screens usually have a bucket, or plunger, type stopper assembly that stops the water inside the drain pipe. There will likely still be plumber’s putty on the drain and on the edges of the drain hole at the base of the tub. You use a socket wrench to turn the tool and as it turns the teeth expand outward and apply pressure to the drain. Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 12 years. Grip the locking pliers with a set of standard pliers, grabbing as low as possible on the locking pliers so that they do not interfere with the locking action. You turn the extractor with an adjustable wrench, as with a plug wrench. Thank you very much for the video. The stringer is the crosspiece that supports the edge of the tub. If there’s a pop-up drain on the tub, raise the lever to the open position, then grab the stopper and pull it from the drain hole. For a super easy and budget-friendly way to protect your drains, turn to the DANCO Tub Drain Protector Hair Catcher.This plastic drain stopper has a lip and basket system that allows the stopper to catch all kinds of hair and debris. [1] X Research source The size and sha… Tub drains are stubborn, often due to corrosion, gunk, or hardened plumber's putty. Clamp the locking pliers they grip the crossbars tightly. You can learn about the bathtub drain removal tool here… Turn the plug wrench counterclockwise with a large adjustable wrench or tongue-and-groove pliers to loosen the drain. 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Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home. https://www.homedepot.ca/product/hdx-tub-drain-remover/1000828569 Clean the Drain Opening. Once you have your tools ready, you can now go on how to remove bathtub drain, which is the focus of this guide. 1 Insert a drain key into the bathtub drain basket. Put the dry rag or cloth over the bathtub drain to cover the hole, and let it sit for about 30 minutes. Turn the pliers counterclockwise. Try not to let the putty fall into the drain because it never breaks down and could start a clog. Check the drain's instructions … Step 1 The stopper can be in the "open" or "closed" position. The tub drain threads into the drain shoe body of the waste and overflow and snugs up both to the bath tub. Insert a screwdriver through the holes in the sides of the key and use it as a lever to turn the flange counterclockwise. Richard Epstein is a licensed master plumber with over 40 years experience in residential and commercial plumbing. Remove the Tub Stopper or Screen. Insert the Drain Key into the drain. The screen is the grille that is designed to prevent larger objects from falling … It’s paid for so why move. Take the pot of boiling water from the stove top, handling it carefully with an oven mitt. An old-fashioned cup-style, or sink, plunger is another great tool for unclogging a bathtub or shower drain without chemicals. Tools needed: Flathead screwdriver, clean rag, pliers. The good news is that a clogged or slow drain can often be cleared without the cost of calling in a plumber. Hold the wrench attached to the hex nut firmly and continue turning the drive screw until the tub strainer breaks free and begins to turn itself out. Instructions. There are other ways to remove the flange, but those methods are likely to damage your tub (or your tools!) The Drain Key and Smart Dumbell are both designed specifically for this job, and will help to prevent any potential damage to the tub… The second and much more difficult step is to unscrew the tub drain from the shoe. Insert the end of the plug wrench into the drain opening so the tines on the wrench fit onto the crossbars of the drain. Step 2: Locking the tool for removing the drain. How to remove a bathtub drain the brcraft drain removal wrench in the removing a bathtub drain that has drain without damaging the tub 6 Easy S To Remove A Bathtub DrainHow To Remove A Bathtub Drain StopperHow To Remove A Bathtub Drain StopperA Diy On How To Remove The Bathtub DrainHow To Remove A… Read More » Wear a mouth mask if you have one, or place a towel over your mouth. We have been in the same old house for 45 years. If the tub has no screen, it likely will have a stopper set into the drain opening. Plumbing Snake Auger, Flexible Steel Drain Cleaning Cable | Hair and Other Drain Clogs Removal Tool for Kitchen & Bathroom Sinks, Bathtub & Shower Drains 4.1 out of 5 stars 1,005 $16.99 $ 16 . Rotate the key counter clockwise with a screw driver through the body of the key. Remove the drain flange with a dedicated drain flange removal tool, or stick a pair of needle nose … Note: if you struggle and the drain won't turn move up to a wrench of pair of channel locks like I did. Flip-It® Tub Stopper. The method to remove it depends on the stopper type. ​. Hold the body of the stopper in place with one hand and with the other hand unscrew the knob by turning it counter-clockwise. Stoppers that you open and close by moving the stopper itself usually unscrew from the drain or are secured with a setscrew. Use a hairdryer to dry it out which will help make the putty break apart easier. The good news is that it has always worked for us. First, unscrew the screen from the tub drain and use a bent wire to fish out any hair and soap scum. Insert the plunger and screw in the drain basket for a trip lever drain. Heat helps to loosen old plumber's putty. After a few rotations, the tub drain should be loose enough so that you can set aside the second set of pliers and turn the locking pliers by hand. Use a flat-head screwdriver or a putty knife and a rag to remove the old ring of plumber's putty from around the drain opening. Once the drain basket is fully exposed, use a mild cleanser or a mixture of one part vinegar and one part baking soda to wash it off. One person should lift the front edge of the tub, while another slides a couple of 1 x 4 boards underneath to get it off the floor. Remove any stringer supports left on the wall. Instead of a knob on the top, this stopper has a flip tab or toggle that opens or … Once clean, you’ll be able to see the bathtub drain opening and flange clearly. 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