Broken sink push-plug.

keletkezes

Hi all,

Our push-in sink plug has been a bit sticky for a while now: this morning it decided it wasn't going to come back up again.

It's the type where you push the actual plug into the hole and then push again to get it up again. Today, it didn't come back up that tiny bit when it sits in place 'closed', it stayed all the way down. It's metal and, judging by the rest of the bathroom, was fitted by a three-year-old with a hammer and no other tools. I hate the damn things and all my other water holders and actual purchases (we've not been in the house long enough to replace the previous owners' installations) are proper chain-plug things. The whole sink is due to come out anyway: we're replacing the stupid vanity unit with a decent pedestal basin so we can have some room in the bathroom (I suppose this follows on from my shower-bath thread some months back). The mixer tap is already loose in the hole! So, I just want a temporary solution I suppose.

Now, I've had a look on the web and I think I can just leave it stuck down and unscrew it, and it'll come up and out: am I right? It's got some movement when I tried to pop it back up (after the other half had been unsuccessful: he's a bit DIY-shy so I thought I'd check) but I didn't try the unscrewing bit.

What do you recommend in the entirely expected scenario where I can't get grip on the damn thing (it was under water, but by the time I get home it should have drained out: like I said, poorly fitted/maintained)?

I intend on 'replacing' it with a Universal plug I've got hanging around: it'll do for now! I don't suppose I can get a proper waste slotty thing (basket?) to fit in, can I: there's already a well-tamped in metal surround down there, and I'm not sure I can get it out without taking the whole stupid thing apart. Being in a vanity unit, albeit an open bit, means restricted access and, while I'm quite small, I'm not that small!

Tips, ideas, am I going to do entirely the wrong thing?

keystone

Look undernreath it. The push rod in the tap which lifts the plug is connected to another rod which lifts the plug. There will be a small screw fitting that connects the two rods. The screws do work loose. Its just a case of lining up the rods to the correct alignment and then doing the screw up. Problem solved.

The tap is fixed in place with a threaded nut on a stub screwed into the bottom of the tap. If these are not done up with the proper tool in the first place (box spanner) they also work loose and all it needs is tightening up again.

Should take you less than 10 minutes to sort the whole thing out.

Cheers

DirectDebacle

It's the type where you push the actual plug into the hole and then push
again to get it up again.

Commonly khown as a 'click-clack' waste. The plug should just unscrew though easier to do when it is in the up position. If you can get it out your 'Universal' plug may fit till you change the basin.

mart.vader

^ ^ I think it's the other type, KS, Not the push-rod type

The push down - pop-up ones can be unscrewed, remove any gunk, check it functions and screw it back in.

keystone

Ooops - my bad. Thanks for correcting me - must pay more attention - must pay more attention - must pay more attention. I stand by the suggested repair timescale though.

Cheers

SailorSam

When that happend to me i took the trap off and was able to push the plug up and take the push/pull thing off to show the plumbers shop what i needed. As a temp measure i just left a face cloth in the basin blocking the hole.
It wasn't a big job to replace it.

nickcc

Have you tried taking the trap off and trying to push the spring loaded plunger back up, someone pushing down on the plug at the same time may help it to release itself. Mine started to stick a few months ago, when I unscrewed the plug it was almost blocked with black sticky gunge, a wash under the tap and a bottle brush down the hole soon shifted it and stopped the plug from sticking.

keletkezes

Thanks guys And for the 'free' tip about the taps!

I did the Mr Muscle Drain Cleaner dual-action stuff Sunday as I usually do when the water starts flowing slowly: can't say if it worked or not because the next time the sink was filled this happened :P

Tried unscrewing it last night: no joy, can't get any grip. The plug is recessed by about 1mm where it didn't pop back up again and, interestingly, this also means it has a better seal so the water was still there! We've got rid of that now.

Looks like I might have to have a go at taking the trap off then! Didn't really want to do that as I'm no plumber and I'm pretty cack-handed with practical things (theory's easy, practice is hard!), but if I can at least get the outflow working then we can use if for toothbrushing and handwashing, if not as a fillable basin!

Thanks again, and I'll report back when things go wrong ;P

mart.vader

Ah, I see, so it's recessed, not the type where the plug is "mushroom" shaped and sits on top of the outlet.

You might have to dismantle the whole thing, including the trap.

nickcc

Make sure you don't mt the trap into the sink after you've removed it especially if someone's under the sink at the time

keletkezes

@ nickcc: I'm not sure I should be 'thanking' that comment ;P