How to Fix a Sink Stopper

There are two main components that operate a sink stopper: the pop-up rod and the pop-up ball rod. Sink stoppers are commonly made of plastic and are inserted into the sink drain. Located at the bottom of the sink stopper is a slot or hole that allows the pop-up ball rod to be inserted inside the drain pipe. The other end of the pop-up ball rod protrudes out of the drain pipe and connects to the pop-up rod, which runs up to the faucet and allows you to operate the sink stopper in an up or down motion. If a sink stopper breaks, you can replace it yourself instead of hiring a handyman.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pipe wrench
• Replacement sink stopper

1. 
    
   Pop-up ball rod and nut

   Loosen and remove the pop-up ball rod nut. The rod and its attached nut, which protrudes from the sink drain pipe, is located below the sink to the rear of the sink drain pipe.

2. Pull out the pop-up ball rod from the rear of the drain pipe. This pop-up rod is what raises and lowers the sink stopper that is located inside of the drain pipe.

3. 
    
   Sink stopper

   Remove the sink stopper from the top of the drain. This is done easily by hand.

4. Place the new sink stopper into the drain so that the loop at the bottom of the stopper aligns with the pop-up ball rod.

5. Insert the pop-up ball rod back into the hole located at the back of the sink drain. Make sure that the rod end slides through the end hole of the sink stopper.

6. Tighten the pop-up ball rod nut back into place over the pop-up ball rod. Apply plumbers tape on the thread of the drain pipe to prevent water leakage.

References

• Home Depot Sink Stoppers
• Lowe's Sink Stoppers