Replace the stopper — Clean Drain and Prepare New Stopper

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How to Remove and Replace a Bathroom Sink Pop-Up Stopper · Step 4 of 7

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Remove the old pop up stopper from the drain. Insert the new pop-up stopper into the drain, ensuring the plastic piece is oriented correctly to allow the ball rod to catch it. The plastic piece of the stopper should point vertically downward.

Goal: Replace pop-up drain stopper

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FAQs

How difficult is it to replace a bathroom sink pop-up stopper for a beginner, and how long should it take?

This project is rated as 'beginner' difficulty. For most DIYers, it should take about 30 minutes to an hour, assuming no major complications like rusted or seized parts. Taking your time to understand the linkage and ensuring a good seal will prevent future issues.

What are the most common problems I might encounter when replacing the stopper, and how can I avoid them?

The most common issues are leaks after reassembly and difficulty with the pivot rod. To avoid leaks, ensure all connections, especially the nut holding the pivot rod, are tightened properly but not overtightened. If the old pivot rod is stuck, apply penetrating oil and let it sit before trying to remove it gently with your Husky 10 in. Quick Adjusting Groove Joint Pliers.

Do I need all the specific tools listed, like the Husky groove joint pliers or the Flateye flashlight?

While specific brands aren't mandatory, having a good pair of adjustable pliers (like groove joint or channel locks) is crucial for loosening nuts under the sink. A bright, hands-free flashlight, such as the Panther Vision FLATEYE, is also highly recommended as lighting under a sink cabinet is usually poor. These tools will make the job significantly easier and safer.

How can I prevent water leaks after installing the new pop-up stopper?

The key to preventing leaks is ensuring the new stopper assembly, especially the part that goes through the drain opening, is properly sealed. Most new stoppers come with gaskets, but applying a small bead of plumber's putty around the underside of the drain flange before inserting it can provide an extra layer of protection. Always test by filling the sink and letting it drain slowly, checking for drips immediately after installation using WYPALL L40 Towels.

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with actual pop-up stopper now i don't have the old pop-up stopper but this is a newer one probably and this is the one i'll replace it with but probably the most common issue i've seen is this stopper is actually busted right here so when the ball rod goes up and down it doesn't catch on the stopper and lift lift the stopper up and down like i said that's probably the most common one i've seen easy fix um you can go to your local hardware store buy a new stopper but pretty easy to fix now to fix this what we're going to do is we're going to leave our ball rod out like this so make sure you remove that now what we're going to do is we're going to take our new stopper and we're just going to put it down the drain here now when you put it down the drain we want our plastic piece like looking like this so that when it goes down the actual ball rod will catch in one of these we don't want it like this we want it like that so then we just put it down there like that

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