How to Replace a Lever-Operated Bathtub Stopper

A functioning stopper blocks water from unintentionally draining.

Lifting your bathtub's stopper lever allows water to flow from the tub into a hidden waste pipe. The lever controls a lift assembly that raises or lowers the stopper. The procedure for replacing the lever operated stopper depends on its design. Attached directly to the lift assembly, the internal, or plunger-type, stopper requires removal through the overflow plate. The surface, or pop-up, stopper allows you to replace it without accessing the lift assembly.

Things You'll Need

• Phillips or flat-head screwdriver
• Towel
• Needle-nose pliers
• Heatproof grease

Instructions

Plunger-type Stopper

1. Move the stopper lever to the raised position. Place a towel over the bathtub drain to catch any fallen screws.

2. Remove the screws from the cover plate surrounding the stopper lever. Depending on the screwheads, you'll need either a Phillips or flat-head screwdriver for the job.

3. Pull the cover plate gently away from the side of the tub. Continue to pull until the lift rod and stopper also appear.

4. Remove the clip that connects the lift assembly to the back of the cover plate, using needle-nose pliers.

5. Attach the new lift assembly to the back of the cover plate. Reinstall the clip to secure the lift assembly to the cover plate.

6. Bend the ends of the clip down with the needle-nose pliers.

7. Rub heatproof grease over the lift assembly linkage. The linkage joins the upper and lower halves of the assembly.

8. Insert the assembly and cover plate through the overflow pipe hole.

9. Thread the included screws into the cover plate. Tighten the screws using the appropriate screwdriver.

Pop-up Stopper

1. Move the stopper lever to the raised position.

2. Hold the sides of the stopper and turn it side to side to work it free of the drain. Continue to pull on the stopper until the the metal rocker arm also emerges.

3. Fit the rocker arm portion of the new stopper into the drain hole. Push the stopper down to force the rocker arm toward the back of the drain.

Tips & Warnings

• If the replacement plunger for either design fails to hold water, remove the cover plate and assembly. Use a pair of pliers to loosen the lock-nut on the lift rod. Screw the lift rod up toward the cover plate. Tighten the lock-nut and reinstall the assembly.

References

• The Complete Guide to Home Plumbing; Andrew Karre
• New Fix-It Yourself Manual; Reader's Digest

Resources

• The Home Depot: Cleaning a Plunger Tub Drain