How to Get the Stopper Out of a Sink

You must take apart part of the stopper's mechanism under the sink before you can remove it.

Removing the pop-up stopper from your sink can seem like a straightforward task, but most stoppers will not simply come out of the drain when you tug on them. The bottom of most stoppers has a large hole, which a pivot rod extends into. Before you can remove most sink stoppers, you must take apart part of the stopper's mechanism, which is located under the sink. Removing the stopper, including disconnecting the parts under the sink, will take you less than 15 minutes to do.

Things You'll Need

• Rag

Instructions

1. Push down on the stopper's lift rod, raising the stopper to the greatest height in the drain. Grasp the sides of the top of the stopper and pull it out of the drain. Try twisting the stopper counterclockwise to unthread it from the drain. Some stoppers will come free, while others will not budge.

2. Unscrew the plastic retaining nut that is threaded onto the opening in the side of the sink's drainpipe if the stopper did not lift out of the drain. Pull the end of the pivot rod out of the opening in the side of the drainpipe, leaving it still connected to the clevis strap.

3. Grab the edge of the stopper's top and pull it out of the drain opening without damaging the rubber seal. Clean the bottom of the stopper, using a rag, making sure to remove all of the buildup that has accumulated on the stopper.

References

• This Old House; How to Fix a Bath Sink Stopper; Richard Trethewey
• Don Vandervort's Home Tips.com: How to Fix a Sink Pop-up Stopper