How to Clean Your Drains Depending on Drain Type

It’s important to keep your bathroom tub and sink drains clear and clog-free if you want to keep your bathroom clean. Clogged drains allow dirt to gather at the sides of your sink or tub, and make it a hassle to use these fixtures. Fortunately, cleaning your tub and sink drains is a relatively simple home maintenance task. Your cleaning method will depend on the drain type. Handyman Connection® of Boise explains more:

• Push/Lock Drain Stopper – This stopper locks and seals when you push it down, and it releases when you press it a second time. To remove it, you need to hold its stem while unscrewing the cap. After you remove the cap, you can then fish out the hair from the crossbars. If this doesn’t work, then you need to remove the entire shaft by unscrewing it. You can then use a plunger, straightened coat hanger, or hand auger to remove the clog.

• Drop Stopper – This is the most common type of stopper. It has a setscrew located under the cap, so you need to lift the stopper, loosen the screw on the shaft slightly, and slide the stopper off the shaft. You can then hook the clogged hair with a bent wire to pull it out and clear the drain. You can also flush the drain with lots of hot water to release any loosened debris.

• Levered Stopper – This stopper can be found in older bath tubs. The first thing you need to do is to unscrew the screen, and clean the crossbars. You’ll then need to unscrew the overflow plate and pull out the linkage. Clean the stopper and linkage, and then rinse the drainpipes and readjust the linkage if needed. Reinstall the assembly after you’re through.

Make sure to clean your tub and sink drains on a regular basis to prevent any clogs in the future. This is a an easy home maintenance task, but there are other tasks where you might need professional help. That’s where we come in. Handyman Connection of Boise has many years of experience in carpentry, painting, remodeling, flooring, and other home improvement and maintenance projects. Contact us to learn more about our services and products. You can also request an estimate.