HELP! Bathroom sink stopper removed to clean out hair but the nut came out of the pipe – can’t get it back in?
My bathroom sink wasn’t draining because of hair clogs so I followed instructions on several Internet websites and was able to loosen the nut that holds the horizontal bar that goes into the bottom of the stopper. Unfortunately, the nut came all the way out instead of just loosening. I cleaned out all the hair clumps. BUT – HELP! When I went to put the horizontal bar and nut back into the pipe — the nut won’t go back in — I put a mirror behind it to view it since it faces the back wall of the vanity. No matter how I turn it and even when it looks to be perfectly lined up it doesn’t screw back in. HELP! I can’t use the sink anymore without the nut back in because the water will come pouring out into the vanity. Could it have just been glued in? PLEASE HELP!
Thanks so far — I think I need to explain a little better — if you could go to the following link it shows a picture of what it looks like similar to under my sink. It’s what they call the "Retaining Nut" in the picture — that’s what came out of the pipe. I can’t get the "Retaining Nut" to go back into the pipe. Please!!! Any suggestions for that? The picture is at: http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=howTo&p=Improve/PopUpStop&print=true
I just took a light and placed it in the back of the vanity and with a mirror found something I think might be part of the problem.
What I think is called the tail pipe – the large straight up and down pipe – appears to just have a smooth oval shaped cut hole in it. The retaining nut is firmly either glued or soldered onto a piece of metal which fits smoothly like a jigsaw piece into the oval shaped hole on the tail pipe. There is no way to screw this smooth piece back onto the tail pipe.
When I turned the retaining nut in order to loosen/release the stopper, the retaining nut did not unscrew, instead the smooth oval shaped piece popped out of its secure place in the pipe.
I didn’t read anything like this anywhere on the web. What do you think? How was it kept secure to the pipe and how do I get it back in place? Thank you again for any help!!!
You need to replace the pop up assembly. The part you are describing, is soldered in at the factory, and unless you know how to solder, it is cheaper and faster to just replace it. Good luck!
poppyman54
18 Aug 11 at 9:14 pm
Hi. When putting the rod into the housing it must fit into a hole on the stopper otherwise the rod will hold out the retaining nut and it will not engage the threads. If it is a long reach and you may have to have someone hold the stopper hole in just the right spot to slide in the bar and engage the nut. If you cannot get it just leave the stopper out and put the rod and retaining nut on and go ahead and use it this way until a friend comes over. Hope this helps plumbing can be frustrating at times.
Ron G
18 Aug 11 at 9:14 pm
could be that the little plastic ball on the rod is not seating make sure that its in correctly also did you actually remove the rod if so make sure its in the right way have seen very short rods and if you put it in the wrong way again the ball might not seat also these are fine threads on the cap you might just not have it lined up right take time be patient never saw one glued on before but its possible with a real el cheapie also could be the threads are stripped in that case go to hd with pipe and match up
Bruce F
18 Aug 11 at 9:14 pm
Just go and get an old type rubber stopper.Otherwise you are going to have to pull the drain pipe out to fix it.If you mean that part of the popup that pushes up the stoper then remember you are looking from the front so tightening is reversed.The reason it doesn’t go in is it is probably hitting the bottom of the stopper part(turn and push down that part(the stopper) till the rod goes in)
paulofhouston
18 Aug 11 at 9:14 pm
Make sure you are trying to turn the nut the correct way.
I know this sounds arrogant, but it’s not meant to be. You are trying to put on a nut that is on the back side of the pipe — and it could be you are turning it the wrong way.
The other thing to check is to make sure the ball-stopper that the nut holds in is seated in the pipe – if it isn’t, you may not be able to get the first couple of threads started.
Above all else, don’t panic. This isn’t a big deal. Take your time. Be thorough and you’ll get it fixed.
Good Luck!
EDIT: Given the added information – the piece is broken and the entire tail piece will need to be replaced. Normally, the nut should come off of the threads — in your case, the nut held and the pipe failed. You will need to replace the entire tail piece. Remove the old tail piece & take it with you to the store (Lowes, Home Depot) and get the same length replacement.
You will also need to use silicon to seal replacement.
Glad you provided additional informaiton.
David M
18 Aug 11 at 9:14 pm
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