Hidden Plumbing Problems: What to Look for

This Is Why The Bathroom Sink Drain Stopper Isn't Closing Completely

25 July 2019

Herbert Chambers

The stopper in your bathroom sink needs to close completely, sealing off the drain opening, if you want to fill the sink with water. Any opening left when the stopper is down will let water drain out, albeit slowly. It is very common for stoppers to start to misbehave a bit as they get older, but the reasons are usually repairable.

The Assembly Is Misaligned or Broken

The stopper moves up and down when you pull up or push on the rod at the back of the faucet. The rod and stopper are connected by an assembly of parts that can break or get knocked out of alignment. In most of these assemblies, the stopper is actually hooked onto the adjacent part, but you may come across the rare older sink where the stopper just rests on the next part, rising up and down as that part moves. At any point along the chain of parts, there can be alignment issues that make it harder for the stopper to settle fully into the drain opening.

There's Too Much Gunk in the Drain

Another possibility is that there's too much gunk in the drain to let the stopper lower down completely. Soap scum, hair, and dirt can get stuck to the sides of the drainpipe, forming an obstruction even if it hasn't fully clogged the drain. You'd need to clean out the drain to fix this; while you could try baking soda, vinegar, and other home remedies, it's usually better to contact a plumber to repair the stopper, especially if you're not exactly sure why the stopper isn't closing fully.

The Stopper Itself Is Dirty

Just as gunk can become trapped along the sides of the drainpipe, so too can it gather on the stopper, especially under the cap of the stopper (the top part that you see when the stopper is completely settled in the drain). The drain can be clean and all the parts can be in great shape, but if you've got this mess on the underside of the cap, you're not going to be able to lower the stopper all the way. You could try cleaning the underside with a cotton swab, but it may be easier to ask a plumber to check the stopper as part of general service on the drain and faucet.

All of these potential problems are fixable. However, if you don't really know your way around a sink drain stopper assembly, or if you can't seem to clear out all the gunk you can see in the drain or under the stopper's cap, it's best to call a plumber to make the repairs. Contact companies like Elite Plumbing Solutions today to get more information.

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