The drain from your bathtub may have one of a variety of configurations. When problems occur – clogged lines, leaks, etc. – the repair method may depend on the way the drain line is designed. Nearly all tubs will have a waste and overflow drain assembly, comprised of three primary components: the overflow pipe from the upper tub wall, the waste pipe from the main drain opening, and the trip-waste mechanism that opens and shuts the drain opening.

There are two types of trip-waste designs. The plunger-type has a strainer that sits in the drain opening, while the pop-up model has a plug that is moved  up and down by a trip lever on the tub wall. To adjust a plunger-type drain, you’ll need to unscrew the cover plate for the trip lever and pull the cover plate, lift linkage, and plunger out of the overflow drain opening. Clean the linkage and plunger. To adjust the drain flow, use needle-nose pliers to unscrew the locknut on the threaded lift rod; screw the rod down about 1/8” and tighten the locknut again. Then, reassemble the entire mechanism. The plunger cylinder should slide into place and close the drain opening when the trip lever is in the down position. (Read the rest)