All About Tub Stoppers

It doesn't stop at shower heads

You thought the 3,000 dollar set of tub fixtures came with everything you needed.  There is the detachable-handheld-rain-simulating shower head, the stylish neo-Victorian handles with matching deck, and the spout - oh, the spout - all in a stunning brushed nickel finish that makes both your grandma and best friend envy your style and fiscal frivolities.  But something doesn't sit quite right.

Even the nicest shower sets should be scrutinized for the efficacy of their stopper mechanism.  A little fiddling with the knob will reveal the inevitably loose construction of this indispensable amenity.  And who likes to deal with a gradually decreasing water level while enjoying a perfectly drawn bath?  Certainly not anyone who just moved their child to public schools to finance some bathroom fixtures, that's for sure.  Perhaps the child doesn't mind, but if he's going to public schools he's at least going to have a daily bath and that's final.

Replacing the bath tub stopper

The most difficult part of this ordeal is going to be jimmying that faulty stopper out of the drain.  Ideally, you should be able to accomplish this by pushing the lever down and grabbing the stopper firmly.  Twist counter-clockwise a quarter turn and give it a good yank.  If that doesn't do it, your next best bet is any variety of wiggles and turns.   Persistence and patience will also help. 

There are a couple of brands out there that offer designer tub stopper mechanisms for around 80 dollars, but good luck getting their brushed nickel to match yours.  Go simple and get the functional toe-operated tub stopper.  It costs about 8 bucks and fits standard drain openings.  Best of all, installation is as easy as popping it in the drain.  In the event of a clog, they can be removed effortlessly as well.  Should it become caked in calcium and shower goo, a quick soak in vinegar will clean that tub stopper in no time.  Some old-fashioned common sense will go nicely with your Victorian fixtures.

More information on tub stoppers