pop-up diagram

Common Repairs

If you've cleaned out the strainer and stopper, and the problem persists, check the stopper seal. If it's damaged, replace any rubber parts, or replace the stopper itself. Look for signs of wear on the flange the stopper seats into.

On a bathroom sink, examine the pivot rod. When the stopper is closed, it should slant slightly up from the pivot to the clevis. If it doesn't, loosen the setscrew, raise or lower the clevis on the lift rod, and retighten the screw.

If the stopper doesn't operate as easily now as you would like, squeeze the spring clip, pull the pivot rod out of the clevis, and reinsert it into the next higher or lower hole. If water drips from the pivot, try tightening its cap. If the pivot still drips, you may need to replace the seal inside.

To adjust a tub pop-up, unscrew the overflow plate, withdraw the entire assembly, and loosen the adjusting nuts. If the stopper doesn't seat tightly, move the middle link higher on the striker rod. If the tub is slow to drain, lower the link.

trip-lever

A trip lever lifts and lowers a seal plug at the base of the overflow tube. When the seal plug drops into its seat, water from the tub drain can't get past. But because the plug is hollow, water can still flow through the overflow tube through the overflow passage in the seal plug. Dismantle and adjust a trip lever as you would a tub pop-up unit. Also, check the seal on the bottom of the plug, and replace it if it appears to be worn.