How to Install a Pop-Up Umbrella Lavatory Sink Drain
Although the purpose of a sink drain is to carry water from the sink to your home's sewer system, there are times when you don't want it to do this. Doing laundry by hand or anything else that requires a soaking are times when you want the water in your sink to stay where it is. That's when a pop-up umbrella drain comes in handy. These devices are raised and lowered by a handle on your sink's faucet, allowing you to trap water in the sink and release it at your will. Installing a pop-up umbrella sink drain in a location such as your lavatory isn't difficult, and it's a good project for the first time DIYer looking to get their hands wet. The most challenging part of the operation involves removing the tail piece located just beneath the drain so you can replace it with one that has an opening for a pop-up lever. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Adjustable wrench
- Bucket
- Plumber's tape
- Tail piece with drain opening
- Pop up drain
- Lift lever
- Drain lever
- Metal spring clip for pop up drain
Instructions
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Installing the New Tail Piece
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1
Turn off the water for the sink drain at the shut off valve. This is usually located beneath the sink. Turn the valve clockwise to shut off the water. This will prevent you getting a face full of water if someone turns it on while you're working.
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2
Place the bucket underneath the P-trap. Use the wrench to unscrew the couplings at either end of the P-trap. Remove this from the plumbing and turn it over the bucket. Use caution, as the water inside will be dirty and smelly.
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3
Use the wrench to loosen the jamb nut located just beneath the sink. Remove the nut and slip it off the end of the tail piece. Also remove the rubber washer.
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4
Remove the tail piece by twisting it in a counterclockwise direction.
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5
Install the new tail piece with the hole for the sink drain lever. Make sure that the hole in the back of the tail piece for the sink lever is facing towards the back of the sink.
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6
Slip on the rubber washer and jamb nut on the tail piece. Slide this up the tail piece until they are flush with the bottom of the drain. Tighten with the adjustable wrench.
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7
Wrap the threads on the end of the tail piece and the sewer inlet pipe with plumber's tape. Insert the P-trap back into place (you may need to loosen the jamb nut a little to give the tail piece more play). Tighten the couplings.
Installing the Pop-Up Umbrella Sink Drain
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8
Loosen the coupling at the back of the tail piece. Insert the end of the pop-up lever.
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9
Insert the pop-up drain in the sink. Now comes the tricky part - there is a small catch at the end of the pop-up drain that catches on the pop-up lever from Step 1. This prevents the pop-up drain from popping completely out of the sink. With one hand, you need to maneuver the pop-up drain until you feel the catch go through the hole at the bottom. With the other hand, you need to prod the end of the drain lever until you feel it go through the catch. It sounds difficult, but it's really not.
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10
Screw the coupling holding the sink lever in place on the tail piece once you have the end inserted into the pop-up umbrella.
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11
Drop the lift lever in through the hole at the top of the faucet.
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12
Position yourself underneath the sink. Secure the drain puller to the pop-up lever with the metal spring clip.
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13
Test the drain for proper operation by pulling up and down on the pop-up lever attached to the faucet. You should see the pop-up umbrella going up and down in the drain.
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1
Tips & Warnings
An alternative to plumber's tape is pipe thread compound.
The above steps are just a guideline. Always follow the instructions from your manufacturer.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit drain black and white image by askthegeek from Fotolia.com
