Ask Me Help Desk - Open/close tub valve is broke

Its officially broke and the water goes down slow. I unscrewed the 2 screws that held the plate and cleaned it with baking soda, and found this metal wire part came out, one eye is broken (looks like a hook and eye thing that attached to 2 mental hooks). The tub came with the house built in 1989.

Is it repairable or do I have to call a plumber?

Thanks ever so much

It is called Tub Overflow. What you are describing is the trip lever part. It consists of two rods with loop at end. These rods are usually of different lengths and attached to a piston-like stopper. Sometimes, this stopper looks like a large, heavy-duty spring. These two rods can be adjusted in length and pull and push the piston up and down. With this movement, piston allows water through or seals the drain.

Can this rod be fixed? It depends where it is broken off. You may have plenty of the rod left so you can take needle-nose pliers and make a nice, new, loop. Readjust the rod to proper length and reinstall.

The tub overflows are inexpensive to purchase ( about $20.00) and bit tricky to install. But if you have "Joe's Plumbing Store" down the street, go there and talk to the old guy in overalls. He may have used overflow in the back of his truck and may give you the part you need for free.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Milo Dolezal

It is called Tub Overflow. What you are describing is the trip lever part. It consists of two rods with loop at end. These rods are usually of different lengths and attached to a piston-like stopper. Sometimes, this stopper looks like a large, heavy-duty spring. These two rods can be adjusted in length and pull and push the piston up and down. With this movement, piston allows water through or seals the drain.

Can this rod be fixed? It depends where it is broken off. You may have plenty or this rod left so you can take needle-nose pliers and make a nice, new, loop. Readjust the rod to proper length and reinstall.

The tub overflows are inexpensive to purchase ( about $20.00) and bit tricky to install. But if you have "Joe's Plumbing Store" down the street, go there and talk to the od guy in overalls. He may have used overflow in the back of his truck and may give it to you for free.

The left eye is broke I think... but thanks for the name of the parts, I can look it up and understand how to sit it back in if I can, or I wlil go see Joe, LOL

Thanks for your knowledge.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dellicate

Its officially broke and the water goes down slow. I unscrewed the 2 screws that held the plate and cleaned it with baking soda, and found this metal wire part came out, one eye is broken (looks like a hook and eye thing that attached to 2 mental hooks). The tub came with the house built in 1989.

Is it repairable or do I have to call a plumber?

Thanks ever so much

OK! You have the tub waste and overflow on the left,(see image) and the plug's,(see image) left in the seat. Ya got to fish it out. Put a small hook on a coat hamger and go fishing. Once out you can replace the plug and linkage assembly( see image) or simply repair the old assembly;.
This isn't a difficult job and should be handled easily by the average homeowner without calling in a plumber. Good luck, Tom

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedball1

OK! You have the tub waste and overflow on the left,(see image) and the plug's,(see image) left in the seat. Ya gotta fish it out. Put a small hook on a coat hamger and go fishing. Once out you can replace the plug and linkage assembly( see image) or simply repair the old assembly;.
This isn't a difficult job and should be handled easily by the average homeowner without calling in a plumber. Good luck, Tom

Thanks very much, I will try to fish the plug out. So far I got this line and rubber thing and the water in the tub won't go down. I will let you know what happens.

Thanks again

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedball1

OK! You have the tub waste and overflow on the left,(see image) and the plug's,(see image) left in the seat. Ya gotta fish it out. Put a small hook on a coat hamger and go fishing. Once out you can replace the plug and linkage assembly( see image) or simply repair the old assembly;.
This isn't a difficult job and should be handled easily by the average homeowner without calling in a plumber. Good luck, Tom

Just getting back to my solution... I fixed the overflow, shortened the plug and reattached the spring. I used liquid drain openener twice and now the tub is unclogged and in working condition. Sometimes its just a good idea to use the liquid stuff first... but the spring really threw me off, as I must have threw it off balance when I kept fiddling with it so much. The plug must have been too long also to begin with.

Thanks for other treads that I read too on the subject.

Glad you got repaired. Anything else we can help you with? Tom