How to Remove a Shower Drain Stopper

When you're taking a shower, sometimes, the water doesn't drain at all or, it might drain out slowly. What should you do when you come across such a situation? It can be a severe issue if not examined at an early stage. The best possible way to find out the solution to this problem is to remove a shower drain completely. There again, you are stuck as you find it difficult to remove the shower drain stopper. Well, don't worry as we will discuss how to remove a shower drain here.

Removing different types of stoppers

There are different types of stoppers, and each has their way of working. You should first know the different types and the technicalities of each one of them rather than trying multiple ways to remove it only to end up destroying the stopper. Some of the most common types are pop-up, toe-touch, push-and-pull, and lift-and-turn. We will look at how each works and also how to remove them.

Types of shower drain stoppers

• Pop-up
  It is mostly of the type push-and-pull but is different as you have to use just a single button to open as well as close. It would help if you pushed to open and push to close as well.
• Toe-touch
  As you can see in the name itself, toe-touch means you have to touch the stopper with your toe to open it. It is often used in the bathtub. It is similar to push-and-pull. It is one of the simplest and easiest to clean.
• Push-and-pull
  It works in the same way as a pop-up, but you should push it down to close and pull it up to open. Holding the stopper, to remove it, twist in an anti-clockwise direction.
• Lift-and-turn
  Here, you have to lift and turn it in an anti-clockwise direction to open and, the same principle applies to close as well. The knob has to be twisted to open or close the stopper.

Tools required to remove a shower drain

You need essential handyman tools to perform the tasks. A few important ones are mentioned here, and we're sure you would have them at your house.

• Pliers
• Screwdrivers
• Cleaners
• Baking soda/Vinegar
• Cloth/Towel
• Lubricants

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Steps to Remove a Shower Drain

Shower drains usually get clogged, which causes water to stop draining out of the hole. The shower stoppers are slightly different than the tub stoppers, but it is easier to remove shower drain covers than the tub drain covers. Let’s take a look at how it can be removed.

1. Step 1:
   If the water does not drain very fast, that means there is a clog in the drain. To loosen it up, you can pour baking soda and vinegar with hot water and dry it completely. You should check if there are any screws in the cover. There are ones that do not have screws as well.
2. Step 2:
   You should check if there are any screws in the cover. There are ones that do not have screws as well.
3. Step 3:
   Once it is dried, if it has a screw, use a screwdriver to unscrew it. As it comes off, lift the cover using two pliers.
4. Step 4:
   If it does not have a screw, it might be fixed firmly, so to loosen it up, add a lubricant. Once it starts to move, take the pliers and remove the shower drain cover.
5. Step 5:
   Now you can check what is happening beneath or change the stopper if it has become old.

Remove the Tub Drain Cover

As tubs retain water, there may be times when the water doesn’t drain after a bath. During such situations, you should remove the tub drain cover and check if there is something stuck like hair or other things and remove it.

To remove the tub drain cover, you should follow the steps below.

1. Step 1:
   Remove the tub drain using pliers.
2. Step 2:
   Usually, in tubs, there is a stopper, so it has to be removed, and then the screen has to be lifted to remove the drain.
3. Step 3:
   Using the pliers remove the drain and place the new one or to unclog, you can also use a wire and insert it inside to remove the hair that had been clogging up the tub.

It is easy to remove a shower drain, and it is important to know the small details and how it works as it will be helpful in case of sudden blockages or clogging. Basic tools are required to repair any of these, and removal of a shower drain stopper is no big task.