How to Fix a Sink Stopper: 3 Methods

How to Fix a Sink Stopper That Leaks When Shut

If the sink stopper slowly leaks when it is shut, the stopper's rubber gasket may need to be cleaned.

1. Unscrew the Pop-Up Stopper

   Turn the top of the pop-up stopper counter-clockwise to unscrew and remove it. Doing this gives you access to the stopper shaft, without having to detach the stopper from below.

   Note that not all pop-up stoppers unscrew from the top. You may need to go underneath the sink and release the nut on the pop-up's lever to remove the stopper from above.

   Tip

   Some stoppers are single units that cannot be disassembled. If the stopper top does not turn off with gentle pressure, stop turning. Instead, remove the stopper from below.

2. Clean the Stopper and Drain

   Clean the rubber gasket of the stopper top with warm, soapy water in a different sink. Pick out hair and debris in the drain hole with a bent paperclip or needle-nose pliers. The shaft is still attached, so do not try to remove it.

3. Move the Water Supply Lines

   Below the sink, move the water supply lines out of the way of the sink stopper assembly. Sometimes, the supply lines tangle with the assembly, hindering its movement.

4. Take the Sink Stopper Assembly Apart

   Remove the sink stopper assembly by untightening the thumb screw that holds the lifting rod to the perforated flat metal clevis strap. Unclip the spring clip. Slide the clevis strap off the horizontal pivot rod. With pliers, unscrew the retaining nut from the pivot rod. Pull the pivot rod straight out.
   

5. Remove the Sink Stopper

   Remove the sink stopper from above the sink by pulling it straight up. Clean it in warm, soapy water in a different sink. Remove all hair and debris from the drain, too.

6. Reassemble the Sink Stopper

   Reassemble the sink stopper assembly by reversing the previous steps. When inserting the stopper from above, make sure that the hole on the bottom of the stopper is correctly oriented to receive the pivot rod from below.

How to Fix a Sink Stopper Lifting Rod

If the sink stopper lifting rod moves freely and does not open or close the stopper, its thumb screw may need to be tightened or the rod may need to be reattached.

1. Tighten the Thumb Screw

   Below the sink, hand-tighten the thumb screw that holds the vertical clevis strap (the metal strap with holes in it) to the lifter rod.

2. Reattach the Clevis Strap to the Pivot Rod

   The clevis strap and the horizontal pivot rod leading to the bottom of the sink may have become detached. Bend the flexible clevis strap back. Fit the pivot rod through the clevis strap.

3. Attach the Spring Clip

   Attach the pivot rod to the clevis strip with the U-shaped spring clip. If you're missing the clip, search the floor of the cabinet. Replacement clips can be found online or at plumbing supply stores.

How to Fix a Sink Stopper That Will Not Open or Shut

If the sink stopper is stuck up or down, the lifting assembly below the sink might be entangled with the water supply lines. Most likely, the thumb screw is loose, the clevis strap has detached from the pivot rod, or the pivot rod's ball joint might be stuck.

1. Clear the Water Supply Lines

   Pull entangled water supply lines apart from the sink stopper lifting assembly below the sink. If the lines are tangled around the sink drainpipe, too, you may need to detach the water supply lines.

2. Adjust the Lifting Rod

   Adjust the vertical lifting rod where it attaches to the clevis strap, the strap with holes in it. Tighten the thumb screw that holds the strap to the lifter rod.

3. Straighten a Bent Pivot Rod

   Remove the pivot rod from the clevis strap. Pivot rods sometimes become bent and need to be straightened out. Detach the pivot rod from the bottom of the sink stopper by unscrewing the retaining bolt, then pulling the pivot rod straight out. Bend the pivot rod straight by hand.

   Tips

   Pivot rods missing spring U-clips will continue to work, but not very well. If the sink stopper is balky when lifting or closing, the pivot rod may be sliding around too much on the clevis strap. Fix this by adding a spring U-clip.

4. Examine the Pivot Rod's Ball Joint

   With the pivot rod removed, examine the plastic ball joint that helps the pivot rod move the sink stopper up and down. The ball joint should be solid, clean, and have no cracks. Clean the ball joint if it is dirty or corroded. Replace the entire pivot rod if the ball joint is damaged.

5. Move the Pivot Rod to a Different Position

   Insert the free end of the pivot rod in a different hole in the clevis strap, if the sink stopper needs to be raised or lowered. Do this after you have inserted the pivot rod back into the bottom of the stopper and screwed the pivot rod's retaining nut in place.

When to Call a Professional

Sink stopper repairs can be done by most homeowners. Because access is physically difficult, you may want to find a plumber to fix the sink stopper if you have neck, back, or arm issues.