bathtub drain

[Anne]

I would like to replace the bathtub drain in our 2001 Skyline guest bathroom. The drain now is the open type with a rubber stopper. I would like to put in the stopper you can turn one way to let it drop and plug the drain and turn it the other way to pull up and open the drain. How hard would that be?

[Mark Bower]

Hi,

Wouldn't be too hard at all. You'll need to buy a new drain assembly, then get underneath the tub to unhook things, but it's definitely an option.

Mark
You gotta see my repair manual!

[Anne]

By underneath the tub, you mean under the house? I don't think I want to change it that bad!

[Mark Bower]

Depends on the tub. Some tub drains you'll have to get underneath the house to access. Others maybe have a panel you can remove from behind a wall and access it that way.

Mark

[Anne]

No access panel so I guess it will not get changed out. Another question, should there be water visible in the drain? Which is one reason I wanted to change it out. The water has corroded the cross pieces in the drain and it looks gross.

[mac]

Yes, there should be water visible in the drain. This is a P-trap - the water forms a seal that keeps sewer gas out of your house.
Do you have iron in your water? Is that what you're seeing? Iron-Out removes some of this.

[Anne]

Doesn't look like iron. Looks more like the white calcium chunks. I knew about the P-trap but didn't think it the water would be that high up so as to corrode the little cross pieces. This is the guest bath and doesn't get much use. Maybe if it were used more on a regular basis the drain wouldn't corrode. A little CLR in the drain?

[mac]

Wow, that is a high water level. I'll guess it was always that way from the day the home was installed. CLR might work. Also, at a home store or good hardware store, there might be something you can slip into the drain - a screen or something similar.