Blog>Questions>What to do when your bathroom sink plug is stuck
Last updated: 20 October 2023
What to do when your bathroom sink plug is stuck
How to fix a bathroom sink plug stuck Before you begin, try to empty your sink of water to avoid excessive mess. Use a cup, mug or jug to scoop out the water and throw it in your bath. Then try these steps; 1. Check for a lever A leaver on the tap might let you operate pop-up or push-down sink
How to fix a bathroom sink plug stuck
Before you begin, try to empty your sink of water to avoid excessive mess. Use a cup, mug or jug to scoop out the water and throw it in your bath. Then try these steps;
1. Check for a lever
A leaver on the tap might let you operate pop-up or push-down sink plugs. Move it up and down to see if the plug moves.
2. Use a suction cup
Sink stoppers are usually about 1 ¼ inches in diameter, so a suction cup smaller than that might be able to pull out the stopper.
You might have a small suction hook in your home in the form of a shower wall hook, window glass hook or even children's toys.
3. Make use of a magnet
You need a strong earth magnet called neodymium. Check your kitchen for strong magnets on refrigerators or spice jars/kitchen utensil holders.
4. Twist and pull
Don a rubber glove and push down on the plug, twisting it firmly anti-clockwise.
No luck? Try spraying WD-40 onto the plug and letting it sit for a minute, then twisting and pulling again.
Unsticking sink stoppers from below
You can also try releasing your stuck bathroom sink plug by reaching below the sink. Before you do, clean out any items below your sink and move any water supply lines made of braided metal so they don't get tangled with the stopper mechanism.
You can remove the U bend underneath for standard sink plugs to push from below. Or, look for or feel around to lift the horizontal rod. It's easiest to look for a horizontal rod when the pop-stopper is in the closed position.
When doing this, locate the sink drainpipe section below the sink basin. With your fingers, grasp the horizontal rod and pull it down firmly. The stopper should be released so the water can drain out.
How to stop your sink plug from getting stuck
You'll need to replace your pop-up waste or standard waste plug and drain to stop this from happening again. Because it will.
Often, these parts are specific to the manufacturer and model, so it's always worth contacting a plumber who can get the right part for you and install it properly. It might seem like a small job you can do yourself, but it will be a right mess (literally) if you get it wrong.
Just tell them your bathroom sink plug is stuck, and any qualified plumber should be able to help.
At Checkatrade, we have many trusted plumbers in our directory who can give you a quote today. Check out our plumber cost guide or help find a plumber near you.
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