Last-Minute Home Improvements before the Holidays

Time goes by so quickly, and before we know it, the holidays will be upon us, and you may wish you hadn’t put off those home improvements when company comes by. It might be hard to carve time out of a busy day for some extra deep cleaning or home improvement projects, but there are a few things that you can do quickly and easily to prepare for last-minute guests. 

Getting ready for holiday guests can be a bit stressful as you want to make a good appearance from the minute they pull up in front of your house. Starting with the outside, make sure you have some nice curb appeal with a clean yard and raked leaves. 

On the inside, you’ll want to touch on the main rooms that guests will see and address any glaring issues. One thing that really spruces up a house is to clean all carpets with a steam cleaner. This gives the whole house a fresh, clean smell and is very welcoming to guests. 

Additionally, just about everyone that visits your home will ask to use the restroom. It is very important to make sure that your bathroom is clean, and you should replace broken tub stoppers or fixtures. 

Replacing Bathtub Fixtures and Stoppers

Whether your guests use your bathtub or not, chances are they will see it, and you can avoid embarrassment by making sure your tub looks good. It is quite easy to upgrade your tub by replacing your tub stopper and the overflow plate. Dingy, dirty, or corroded bathtub fixtures are impossible to clean and can put a damper on the whole room. 

Watco’s SimpliQuick® Tub Fix is the easiest tub stopper replacement that you can do yourself without calling a plumber and without removing your tub drain. Match it with a new tub overflow plate in the same finish, and your tub will sparkle to impress your guests the minute they walk into the bathroom. 

FixMyDrain.com is your one-stop for new bathtub fixtures that sparkle like a new tub stopper and overflow plate. Watco is known for providing high-quality tub repair parts that last and are easy to install.  It is easier than you think to upgrade your tub today with quality tub repair parts by Watco.

Quick and Affordable Upgrade to Any Bathtub

Everyone loves a good home improvement that adds value to your home, a quick and affordable improvement is even better. Upgrading the bathtub is a good place to start a bathroom remodel project as you use the tub every single day, and replacing your tub stopper and tub fixtures can instantly brighten the whole room. Modern bathtub repair and replacement products offer quick and easy installation, and Watco offers some of the highest quality tub repair parts available.

Replace Your Tub Stopper

Most bathtub drain stoppers are easy to remove once you identify the type of tub stopper you have. Removing a tub stopper typically requires nothing more than a screwdriver, here’s a video on how to remove your bathtub stopper, which is a lot easier than you think. Some bathtub stoppers, like a lift and turn drain stopper, could have a set screw underneath that needs to be loosened. Other stoppers, like a foot-actuated stopper or a roller ball plug, can be removed just by turning counterclockwise until you can separate it from the drain.

Installing Your New Bathtub Stopper

Once you have your stopper removed, you are ready to install your new bathtub stopper. Clean your drain with mild soap and water once you have the drain exposed and rinse with hot water. The SimpliQuick® Tub Fix by Watco is one of the quickest and easiest, and most affordable bathtub stopper replacements on the market. It is so easy because you can install it quickly, right over your existing bathtub drain, without removing the current drain body.

This quick and affordable tub fix is available in two different installation methods for a truly universal fit over just about any bathtub drain, including drains with broken crossbars. It comes with a reversible 3/8-in or 5/16-in composite pin or silicone adhesive to install over drains with missing crossbars.

It’s never been easier to upgrade the look of your bathtub, and the SimpliQuick® Tub Fix is a win-win with a quick and affordable bathtub upgrade. Install Watco’s Innovator®
Snap-on Overflow Plate at the same time to complete the look of your tub with shiny new fixtures in a matching, beautiful finish.

Get Watco’s SimpliQuick® Tub Fix at FixMyDrain.com, your one-stop for bathtub drain stopper and overflow plate solutions. All of Watco’s tub stoppers in tub repair parts are backed by the Watco name and a five-year limited warranty. Contact us with any questions and check out the SimpliQuick® Tub Fix for a quick and affordable upgrade to any bathtub.

Three Simple Steps to a New Bathtub Drain Stopper

If you have been thinking about replacing your bathtub stopper but just keep putting it off, thinking it will be a hassle, you need to know about the revolutionary new tub stopper replacement you can install in three easy steps. The SimpliQuick® Tub Fix by Watco is an innovative tub stopper replacement that you can install yourself without calling a plumber and in a matter of just minutes. With Watco’s SimpliQuick Tub Fix, there is a simple way to replace your drain stopper and quickly upgrade your bathtub. 

Here is the simplest, quickest way to replace your tub stopper:

1. Remove the current tub stopper – This is easier than you may think, and FixMyDrain.com offers videos to show you how to quickly remove your current bathtub stopper.  Watch this video on how to replace the most common types of stoppers, such as:

• Pop-up

• Push-pull

• Toe-touch

• Flip-it

• Plunger style

• Lift and turn

In most cases, you can remove your existing bathtub stopper with nothing more than a screwdriver. 

2. Determine the SimpliQuick® installation method – It only takes seconds to determine if you need to use the reversible pin to install your stopper or if you should use the silicone adhesive method.  Most tub drains include a crossbar, which the tub stopper screws into.  If those crossbars are missing or corroded, homeowners typically had to remove and replace the entire drain just to install a stopper. Now, with the revolutionary SimpliQuick® Tub Fix, you can install this shiny new push-pull stopper directly on top of your current drain with the silicone adhesive method, even if the crossbars are missing.

3. Install your new tub stopper with the installation method of your choice – Simply install Watco’s bathtub stopper replacement either with the reversible pin or the silicone adhesive method. 

Watco is known for high-quality products that are easy to install and backs all their products with a five-year limited warranty for added peace of mind. You can learn more at FixMyDrain.com, your one stop for bathtub drain solutions.

FixMyDrain.com offers Watco’s SimpliQuick® Tub Fix in various beautiful finish options and a matching Innovator® Snap-On Overflow Plate that is just as easy to install. Upgrade the look of your whole tub with this beautiful tub stopper and matching overflow plate. Contact us with any questions, and stop putting off your tub repair with the simplest tub stopper replacement available.

How To Replace A Bathtub Overflow Gasket

The bathtub overflow drain is often overlooked as a source of a water leak coming from your tub. Many times, homeowners will begin to tighten threaded connections, replace faucet valves, or use silicone tape to seal connections. It may not make much sense that a faulty gasket in your overflow plate is the culprit for water leaking through a ceiling and running down the wall from an upstairs bathroom. 

One indicator that you should check the gasket in the overflow tube is if you do not notice the leak when someone is taking a shower or a bath without filling it up very full. When bathing children without filling the tub up to the overflow tube or when showering, you may not notice the leak if the water does not reach the overflow tube.

Replacing the Tub Overflow Gasket

Replacing a bathtub overflow gasket is actually very simple and inexpensive and is something you can do on your own. You can easily save a couple hundred dollars by doing this yourself instead of calling a plumber. The first thing to do is to remove the screws on the overflow cover plate. This is usually with a Phillips head screwdriver and may be one screw in the center or two screws on the sides. 

If you have a trip lever tub stopper or your bathtub stopper is controlled with a lever protruding out of the overflow plate, simply remove the screws and pull the cover out with the stopper assembly attached. Take a look at the rubber gasket that sits right behind the flange to hold the overflow plate, and if you notice the gasket is cracked or deteriorating, this is most likely the cause of your leaks.

You will need to simply remove the old gasket and work the new one snugly into place. A replacement overflow gasket is typically beveled, and in most cases, the thicker part should be towards the bottom. This is also a good time to replace your bathtub overflow plate altogether, and one of the easiest to install is the Watco Innovator® Snap-On bathtub overflow plate. 

Pair it with a matching push-pull bathtub stopper like the SimpliQuick® Tub Fix, also by Watco, for a matching, complete look to upgrade your tub.

You can find the SimpliQuick® Tub Fix and Watco’s Innovator® Snap-On Bathtub Overflow Plate at FixMyDrain.com, the premier online retailer for Watco quality tub plumbing products.  Watco is recognized as a leading, innovative supplier of quality bathtub plumbing products that provide long-lasting functionality and easy installation. Contact us to learn more about replacing your bathtub overflow gasket and upgrading your tub with a new tub stopper and overflow plate.

How To Fix A Bathtub Drain Stopper Stuck In Closed Position

If your bathtub stopper is stuck in a closed position, you may notice water pooling at your feet every time you take a shower. It might appear that there is a clog from accumulated soap scum or hair, but if your drain is still not draining water after cleaning it, you may find that your bathtub drain stopper is stuck in the closed position. This is a pretty easy remedy; the first thing you need to do is to remove your bathtub stopper, and if cleaning it and reassembling does not do the trick, it is very simple to replace it.

Identify Your Tub Stopper Type to Remove It

There are different types of tub stoppers, such as a push-pull where you simply push it down or pull it up, the toe touch stopper which does the same thing with the tap of your foot, the lift and turn stopper and trip lever systems that go through the overflow drain. This video shows you how to remove the most common types of bathtub stoppers.

For some stoppers that have the knob on top that is stuck, try to put a rag around it and use a pair of pliers to loosen the top while holding onto the base. If the top comes off, but the stopper stays in the drain, there may be a set screw underneath the top of the stopper, which is easy to remove with a flathead screwdriver.

If you have a pop-up drain stopper controlled by a trip lever, you will see a stopper over the drain, although it is controlled by the trip lever. You will need to rotate the overflow plate and pull the stopper straight up and out. These types of stoppers may require adjustment after several years of use and can be replaced with a stopper that is easier to control.

A lift bucket drain stopper is also controlled by the trip lever, although there is no stopper visible in the drain as there is simply a plunger that lifts up and down to stop water at the overflow drain. With this type of stopper, you should see a drain cover over your drain. You will remove this the same way through the overflow plate. Have a rag handy to lay the assembly in the tub without scratching the finish.

Install a New Watco Bathtub Stopper

Watco offers the SimpliQuick® Tub Fix, a tub stopper replacement solution that quickly and easily replaces the most common types of tub stoppers. With the universal fit, this tub stopper replacement installs in minutes and can even sit over the drain with broken or missing crossbars. Learn more from the helpful folks at FixMyDrain.com.

FixMyDrain.com offers the latest innovative bathtub stopper solution from Watco, a leader in tub repair and replacement parts. The SimpliQuick® Tub Fix is easy to install and is backed up by the Watco five-year limited warranty. Get this Watco tub stopper solution today and combine with a matching overflow plate that is just as easy to install.

The Main Bathtub Parts And How They Work

Every homeowner should understand the different bathtub parts and how they work for easy tub repairs if something goes wrong. Understanding the parts of a tub also makes it easy to upgrade your bathtub with new replacement stoppers or tub fixtures. The main parts of a bathtub besides the tub itself include the means to supply water to the tub, and the framework of plumbing pipes and drains to control the flow of water.

The basic parts of a bathtub include:

Water supply - the water supply is the pipes that bring the water to your tub with a hot water and a cold water supply pipe.

Diverter pipe – a diverter pipe is often used to connect the hot and cold water supply to come out of the same faucet. They are used in many sinks and tubs and to send water to the shower. If you suddenly experience low water pressure, it is a good idea to check your diverter pipe.

Shut off valves - in newer homes built within the last 40 years, many fixtures will have a separate stop valve to shut off the supply to the fixture. In case of emergency, without shutoff valves, you would have to shut off the main supply to the house. If you do not have separate stop valves on your water supply, you may want to install them in case of emergency.

Tub faucet - your tub might have a separate faucet for hot and cold water control or it could have one handle to control the temperature from both hot and cold water supply. Your faucets control the flow and temperature of water entering the tub.

Bathtub drain - the tub drain is a key component of any bathtub, allowing for easy draining of water. The body of the tub is typically designed so that water will run towards the drain to exit the tub. A drainpipe is affixed under the drain to take your tub water to the main waste drain. If your drain is clogged, it is usually from a buildup of hair or debris and it may be a good time to change or tub stopper and make sure that you have a drain cover.

Tub stopper - your bathtub stopper holds water in your tub and can easily be controlled to let water flow out of the drain. If your tub stopper is not holding water, you should replace it with an easy to install product like the SimpliQuick® Tub Fix by Watco. This is a very simple tub stopper replacement with a high-quality product from a trusted name like Watco.

Overflow pipe - the overflow drain sits up high just a few inches away from the top of the tub, usually directly above the tub drain, and sometimes with a lever sticking out to control a trip lever stopper. The overflow drain protects against overflowing if the water is accidentally left on or gets too full. Watco provides a patented snap-on Innovator® Overflow that will retrofit any one-, two-hole or even a trip lever overflow.

Other plumbing pipes under the tub include the trap, also called in S-bend, which traps water in that part of the pipe to prevent gasses from passing into your home while still allowing wastewater to flow out of the house.

To learn more about replacing the most common bathtub parts like a new tub stopper or an overflow plate, FixMyDrain.com offers quality tub repair and replacement parts from Watco that are easy to install.

FixMyDrain.com has everything you need to replace your tub stopper in minutes, even if your tub drain is corroded or missing crossbars. The SimpliQuick® Tub Fix is a quality push pull stopper that allows for easy, high flow draining with a reliable, watertight seal. Check out FixMyDrain.com for quality bathtub repair parts with easy to follow videos that show you exactly how they work and how to replace them.