I'm a renter and when I moved in, all the bathroom sink stoppers were broken. I've been dealing with the gaping holes, but last week I dropped the stopper back in to fill the sink for the first time. Now, six days later, the water is still sitting there, and I can't get the stopper out. I've tried pulling it with my fingers and a screwdriver, but there isn't enough space for that. The plunger creates suction but that's not working either. Can anyone help me figure out how to remove this stubborn stopper? Is it possible to access it from underneath the sink if I take off the P-trap?
3 Answers
Before trying to go in from below, check to see how the mechanism is attached under the sink. Sometimes it just needs to be reattached. You can find guides online to see if that’s the case. If water is still in the sink, it makes it tougher to get the stopper out, so do what you can to remove as much water first. But if all else fails, removing the P-trap is an option.
You can definitely remove the P-trap to push the stopper from below. Just make sure to have a bucket ready to catch any leftover water. If you want to try from the top first, use a suction cup to pull on the stopper after getting out as much water as you can. It might help you get a screwdriver under it better!
Honestly, I’d suggest calling your landlord to handle it. It’s not your fault the sink is acting up, and they might have a better way to fix it. Just let them know you've filled the sink and now it won't drain; they should take care of it.
Totally agree! It's their property, and they should handle maintenance issues like this.
Yeah, I found that using a suction cup works surprisingly well. Just make sure it’s sticking well before you pull!