Here’s the Best Way to Replace Your Tub Overflow Plate

Your bathtub overflow plate is often overlooked until you need to update your bathtub stopper or you notice the overflow plate is corroded or plugged up. The overflow plate performs a critical function on your tub: it diverts water from an overflowing bathtub down the overflow tube instead of spilling out over your tub and ruining your floor. An upstairs bathtub can cause even more damage by ruining the floor beneath it and the ceiling in a downstairs room. 

The overflow plate has a small hole in the bottom of it that the water will go through when overflowing. If this hole becomes clogged up or your overflow plate just looks old and corroded, it could be a good time to replace it. It’s really not difficult at all to replace your overflow plate with a shiny new one when you start with the Watco Innovator® Snap-On Overflow Plate. Watco is known for high-quality, easy-to-install tub repair products that last. 

How to Remove Your Existing Overflow Plate

It’s easy to remove your existing bathtub overflow plate with just a screwdriver, whether you have a one-hole or two-hole overflow plate or a trip-lever bathtub stopper. Simply remove the screws on the overflow plate and pull out the linking mechanism if there is one. This is the best time to replace a trip lever stopper with a push-pull tub stopper like the SimpliQuick® Tub Fix, the easiest tub stopper replacement by Watco.

Replacing your tub stopper and overflow plate at the same time gives your whole bathtub a fresh new look, and Watco makes it easy with innovative and modern bathtub stopper replacements and overflow plates. Choose from a selection of beautiful finish options and turn your tub from drab to dazzling and just minutes with Watco tub stopper and overflow plate replacement parts.

FixMyDrain.com is your one-stop for the easiest tub fix solution with the SimpliQuick® Tub Fix and Snap-On Overflow Plate by Watco. We offer quality products and easy-to-follow video instructions to show you the best way to remove your tub stopper and overflow plate for an easy replacement. Contact us with any questions and upgrade your tub today with beautiful new Watco tub fixtures.

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.

When You Should Replace Your Tub Overflow Plate

The overflow plate is an important part of your bathtub plumbing fixtures and waste drain and can often be overlooked. The tub overflow plate is connected to the overflow pipe, which protects against an accidental overflowing bathtub. It happens quite often where someone will start to run a bath, then walk away and get preoccupied, forgetting the tub water is still running. This can cause significant damage to bathroom flooring, ceilings if in an upstairs bathroom, and furnishings.

How a Bathtub Overflow Plate Works

An overflow plate has an opening on the bottom, and once the water reaches that level, it should flow into the overflow pipe and out the main drain. An overflow plate is a protective device to detour overflowing water and provides homeowners with added protection against a flooding disaster. If your overflow plate has not been replaced in many years, it could be a good time to replace it to make sure it keeps doing the job it is intended to and will be ready if you need it.

Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Bathtub Overflow Plate

Identifying a problem with your bathtub overflow plate early on is always best in order to avoid a bigger problem. The rubber gasket that sits behind the overflow faceplate can break down over time which causes water to not drain as it should in the tub could fill out higher than it is supposed to. A clogged bathtub drain is another cause for the overflow pipe not draining as it should. Any problem with your overflow pipe or your overflow plate not draining like it is supposed to may cause water to seep under the tub and leak from a point away from the source of water.

Easy Bathtub Overflow Plate Replacement

If you want to prevent a catastrophe, consider replacing your bathtub overflow plate with one of the easiest replacements on the market, the Watco Snap-On Innovator® Overflow Plate. Watco makes it easy to upgrade your bathtub with an overflow plate that is simple to install and is available with a matching bathtub stopper for a complete and polished look to your tub. You can get Watco bathtub stoppers and waste drain products at BuyEagle.com.

BuyEagle.com offers the full Watco product line, including bathtub waste drain products, overflow plates, and replacement stoppers. BuyEagle.com is your one-stop for tub repair or outdoor water irrigation needs with Woodford outdoor faucets and yard hydrants. Contact us with any questions and to learn more about upgrading your bathtub with a new overflow plate.

How To Stop Tub From Filling Up When Using Bathroom Sink

A clog in the bathtub drain pipe is a pretty common occurrence that typically happens over time as you begin to notice the water draining slower. This is usually caused by hair clogs, soap scum, or hard water. The drainpipes all connect eventually and a clog may cause the tub to fill up when using the sink and vice versa.

Assess Your Drainpipe Situation

The tub drain is usually a good place to start when you do not know exactly where the blockage is. The P-trap in the bathtub drain can collect sediment and cause a clog over time. If the tub backs up when running water down the sink, however, this is not the issue and the P-trap is clear. There is a clog somewhere but it is beyond the point where the tub and sink drains merge. 

The blockage is most likely several feet below the tub drain and sink in the drain opening may not be a reliable strategy.

Plunging the Bathtub Drain

Plunging the bathtub drain can help dislodge a clog several feet down if done properly. If you just have a screen over your drain and you can fit a plunger around the tub drain you should fill the tub with a couple inches of water, stuff a rag into the overflow tube and also block up the sink drain with a rag or a reliable stopper. This diverts all force to the plunger and the blockage. Get an airtight seal and pump vigorously several times around the tub drain.

If you cannot plunge the tub drain due to an installed bathtub stopper, try snaking through the overflow tube after removing the overflow plate. 

Once you clear the blockage, consider installing a new bathtub stopper with a mesh grid drain cover to help prevent hair and debris from entering your drain. Watco offers an easy to install bathtub stopper and drain cover in one, the SimpliQuick® Tub Fix that can install over any drain, even drains with broken crossbars without removing the existing drain.

Learn more about Watco tub drain parts and tub fix solutions at FixMyDrain.com, your one stop for Watco bathtub drain stoppers and overflow plates. Contact us with any questions and for bathtub fix solutions.

 

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 Leaky Bathtub Overflow Tube

If you notice a leaky bathtub, the problem can often be traced back to the drain assembly or the overflow tube. A bathtub overflow drain acts as a safety feature to divert water down the overflow tube if the tub overfills, to prevent the water from spilling out over the top of the bathtub. This helps to prevent water damage from an overflowing tub by preventing water from spilling out and dripping over the sides and beneath the bathtub where it could damage the floor, or a ceiling if located in an upstairs room.

The first impulse when noticing a bathtub leak could be to get to the drain underneath the tub although in many cases, the overflow tube could be the source of the leak.

Locate the Source of Your Bathtub Leak

Before you start tearing things apart to get underneath your bathtub, locate the source of the leak by checking the tile around the tub for caulking or grouting issues. If this is the case, you will only notice a leak while the tub or shower are in use.

If you notice a continuous leak even when the tub or shower or not in use, it could be a waterline that is pressurized and leaking constantly rather than a leak with the overflow tube.

If there is a leak in the tub drain or piping, you can remove your access panel to view the plumbing for the bathtub. Run water while looking for leaks and any loose connections. Repair or tighten drain fittings as needed. 

If you do not see leaking when running water in the bathtub, run the shower and look for leaks coming from the faucet. If you do not notice any leaks from the shower running, the overflow tube is the most likely cause of your tub leak. 

Replacing Your Bathtub Overflow Plate

It is easy to remove a bathtub overflow plate with just a screwdriver to check the gasket. A ring-shaped gasket seals the overflow pipe and is located directly behind the flange around the opening. The rubber gasket can become cracked and brittle over time and cause leaking. Remove the overflow plate with a screwdriver and simply pull it off. You may need to cut the caulk out of the way with a utility knife. Inspect the gasket and replace it if cracked or worn.

One of the easiest bathtub overflow plates to install is the Innovator® Snap-On Bathtub Overflow Plate Kit by Watco. This innovative tub overflow plate is a simple replacement with easy retrofits to one or two hole trip lever overflow plates. If you are replacing a trip lever stopper, get the overflow plate with the matching SimpliQuick® Tub Fix for a quick and easy way to upgrade your entire tub with quality tub plumbing products.

FixMyDrain.com is the premier online retailer for all Watco tub plumbing products including replacement stoppers, tub drain parts and overflow plates. Watco is a name recognized by professional plumbers for quality products that are easy to install. Contact us with any questions and upgrade your tub today with the Innovator® Snap-On Overflow Plate Kit. 

How To Clean A Smelly Drain

A smelly drain can release an odor throughout the entire house. Kitchen drains can start to release odors like rotting food, or your bathroom sink and shower might start to smell like a sewer. Kitchen drains often accumulate grease and trapped food from dirty dishes, which can attract pesky fruit flies and produce bacteria. Bathroom sink and shower drains accumulate toothpaste, soap, hair, and body oils which eventually creates a clog that starts to stink.

Before you call in a plumber for professional help, there are some very simple things that you can do to clean a smelly drain yourself.

Use a Plastic Drain Snake

The plastic drain snake is a handy tool and does a great job of grabbing gunked-up hair and soap scum out of a drain. They are easy to use; you just remove your tub stopper or drain cover and then insert the snake into the drain while turning slowly so the tough little bristles can grab any hair and debris. You might want to be wearing plastic gloves for this and have a little trashcan nearby to quickly drop the disgusting, smelly mess. If you don’t have any plastic drain stakes, you should get some; they are inexpensive, and having a multipack on hand is always a great idea.

Use Hot Water and Dish Soap

There is a reason why hot water combined with dish soap cleans grease off of dirty dishes, this works on a stinky drain too. It has to be hot, boiling water for this to work so bring a pot of water to a boil, turn off the heat, and add a small amount of liquid dish soap. Slowly pour half of the boiling water and dish soap down your drain and let it work for at least five minutes to dissolve any greasy buildup.

After five minutes, turn on the cold water on high for at least one minute, and it will solidify the greasy residue. Then pour the rest of the hot water into the drain to flush it all out. This easy method with hot water can oftentimes solve your smelly drain problem but be sure to snake it first and remove any hair and debris that you can.

How To Keep Your Drain From Stinking

You can help to prevent your drain from developing odor-causing clogs by following some simple routine maintenance. For kitchen drains, do not pour grease down the drain and always flush with hot water after washing dishes. To help prevent stinky bathtub drain odor, use a plastic drain snake every 2 to 3 months and make sure you have a proper bathtub drain cover. If you need to snake the overflow tube, having a simple overflow plate like the Watco Innovator® Bathtub Overflow Plate Kit gives a beautiful look to your tub with an overflow plate that is easy to remove for maintenance. 

FixMyDrain.com offers the most innovative bathtub stopper replacement on the market from Watco, a name recognized for high-quality bathtub repair and replacement parts. The SimpliQuick® Tub Fix helps to prevent hair from entering the drain with a mesh grid drain cover and easy-to-use push-pull stopper. Practice routine maintenance to keep your drain from smelling and install the SimpliQuick® Tub Fix for a beautiful and functional drain cover.

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.

How To Keep Your Bathtub Drain Stopper Looking Shiny

Between all of the dirt, soap scum, and hard water deposits that your bathtub drain is exposed to, you might find that your tub stopper has lost its sparkle. Keeping your bathtub drain stopper shiny can be a challenge but persistence pays off. You can keep your tub stopper looking shiny and new without using caustic chemicals.

An Ounce of Prevention

As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Preventing your tub stopper from becoming dingy and corroded in the first place is the best way to keep your stopper looking shiny. Always wipe it off when you’re done with your bath or shower so that soap scum and hard water does not have a chance to tarnish the shine.

Just wiping off your tub stopper with a clean rag and some warm soapy water, then rinsing it clean and drying it should help to prevent a new stopper from tarnishing too soon.

Install a Quality Tub Stopper

Starting with the quality bathtub stopper in the first place is also important to retain that new, shiny look. To start with a brand-new shiny stopper, consider Watco’s SimpliQuick® Tub Fix, an easy to install push pull stopper available in many beautiful finish options such as shiny chrome, brushed chrome, brushed nickel, nickel polished, polished brass and more.

The SimpliQuick® Tub Fix by Watco is easy to install yourself, without calling a professional plumber, and can even install right over your existing drain without removing your current tub drain. Watco is a name recognized and trusted by professional plumbers for easy to install bathtub fixtures and plumbing products.

You can get the SimpliQuick® Tub Fix at FixMyDrain.com, where you can also find easy to follow videos to show you how to remove your tub stopper and install a new one in minutes. Check out the trim kits with a matching overflow plate for a polished, brand-new tub look. Get your SimpliQuick® Tub Fix today, and just keep it clean for a shiny brand-new tub look.

Unclog a Tub Drain With a Snake Without Removing Your Stopper

A bathtub drain can get clogged up pretty easily from a variety of things entering the drain over a period of time. Hair, dirt, soap, or the occasional foreign object can eventually cause your tub drain to form a clog which prevents water from draining as it should. This can be quite annoying when you are trying to take a shower and find yourself standing in inches of dirty water.

Depending on how often you use the shower, how many people are in the house, or especially how many people are in the house with long hair, you may have to clean your tub drain periodically.  There are a few simple tools that you can use yourself to fix your tub drain and you can even unclog a bathtub drain with a snake without removing your stopper. Most of the time when we think of using a snake, we think about snaking the drain through the drain hole, although most professional plumbers will snake a drain through the overflow hole to clean out a clogged tub drain. 

Remove Your Overflow Plate

Many obstructions in a bathtub drain can be dislodged manually through the overflow plate. The first thing to do without removing your tub stopper is to remove the tub overflow plate. This is easy enough to do with just a screwdriver. 

Now you can use a simple plastic drain snake that can be purchased at any hardware store and has little notches down the side that grab hair and debris to easily pull out of the drain. If you do not have a plastic drain snake, you can take a wire coat hanger and bend the end into a little hook to reach in and pull out any stuck hair. Pull out as much hair and foreign material as you can reach, and then flush the drain thoroughly with hot water.  

Most of the time this will do the trick, if you have a heavy-duty clog you may need to use an auger or a plumber snake which can also be purchased at any hardware store. Unclogging your drain yourself is pretty simple to do and there is usually no need to call in a professional plumber.

Installing a quality bathtub stopper with a drain cover helps to prevent excess hair and foreign material from entering your drain in the first place. Check out these quality bathtub stoppers made by Watco, a name recognized for high-quality tub drain products.

FixMyDrain.com is your one-stop for bathtub drain solutions with quality Watco tub drain products. The SimpliQuick® Tub Fix is one of the easiest tub stopper replacements available and you can even install it over a broken drain without removing the existing tub drain. Contact us to learn more and make sure your drain is covered with a quality tub stopper and drain cover.