How To Fix Your Trip Lever Tub Drain in 5 Minutes

Do you have a tub that is slow to drain, doesn't hold water, or won't stay closed? 

How long has your tub been giving you problems? Well if you are anything like me it's been giving you trouble for a while. The kids tub has been slow to drain; and it actually drains the water slowly even when we stop up the drain. I was thinking it would need to be replaced, and that is just not in our budget right now, so it is just something I put on the back burner, or my stuff to do later list.
I decided on a cold rainy day I was going to see what I could do about it. And GUESS WHAT? It is a super easy fix; you may not even need to buy anything. All you might need to do is adjust the float. Or if the adjustments don't solve the draining issue, buy a new tub drain (under $30 at home depot).

Supplies Needed:

• Phillips Head Screw Driver
• Flat Head Screw Driver
• Needle Nose Pliers 
• *New tub drain*

*only needed if you can't correct the draining problem by raising and lowering the float.

These are the Directions for a trip lever bath tub stopper:

See the new pin? It is gold.

1. Use your screw driver to remove the original trip lever ( use whichever screwdriver that you need. Mine called for a flat head) Once remover you can check out the piece to see if you can see what the issue is. Most likely the problem is due to corrosion and the lever will need to be replaced. if it isn't corroded you may just need to adjust the float. Raise the float by twisting to help with slow draining problems. Lower the float if the tub won't stay filled while the tub is stopped up.
2. If it does need to be replaced head over to your local home improvement store(home depot) and buy a new trip lever. I ended up buying the whole kit, so that I could also replace the drain so that the two would match. The kit came with extra piping but all I used was the trip drain, its parts, and the drain cover with the screw that goes with it.
3. Separate the old float from the old trip by pulling out the pin holding the two pieces together. I set the old trip aside, and replaced with the new trip drain. Attached the two with the pin and then bent back one of the two prongs on the pin with my needle nose pliers so that the two pieces will not come apart.
4. Now is the time to make any adjustments to the float. You can raise or lower it however you like until it gives you the results you want.
5. Put the float back in the trip drain hole with the thicker edge of the new face plate/drain trip pointed up, and the tub overflow is the skinnier edge and it will be on the bottom. Screw the face plate in and tighten snug. You want to make a tight seal.
6. Lastly if you are replacing your drain cover, just unscrew the old drain cover and install the new one. 
7. Test the tub out, and make sure you have the seal how you like. if you need to make any adjustments just remove the trip drain and raise and lower the float to your satisfaction.

Once you remove the trip drain
this is what you are left with

Nasty old trip drain 

Old drain cover sitting
next to the newly
installed cover

That is it. It will most likely take you more time to read this post than it will for you to adjust/replace your drain. This is a quick fix that you can complete on your own or put on your "honey do" list. Message me if you have any questions, and enjoy having a tub that doesn't drive crazy.

 -Stephanie