6 Ways To Remove Stuck Bathtub Drain - Rusted, Won't Budge

Many times, when you are trying to remove a tub drain assembly with a pop-up drain to install a new tub drain stability, you find the old tub drain is stuck and won't budge. We'll teach you how to remove tub drain covers and how to remove tub drain assemblies that are stuck. Stuck tub drain removal is a sticky business!

✅ Stuck tub drains tools used in this bathtub drain removal video:

0:00 Introduction to a stuck bathtub drain, reglazing bathtubs
1:50 1) Danco shows using pliers to remove stuck drain
2:40 2) Drain wrench for maximum physical advantage
3:40 3) Plumber's Wrench attached to drain wrench
4:10 4) Tub Drain Extractor to loosen stuck tub drain that won't budge
5:02 5) Heat Gun for heating and expanding tub drain
5:50 6) Plumber's Wrench with ratchet to loosen drain wrench
7:50 Changing the tub drain gasket
8:47 Add plumber's putty to the new tub drain before installing
9:12 Installing the new tub drain flange/shoe

✅ SUBSCRIBE:

✅ WATCH: Right & WRONG Bathtub Drain Removal Tools:

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How to remove tub drain assembly

Is your pop-up tub drain stuck? Does your tub drain get frozen and rusted in place? So, if you wondered how to remove bathtub drain flange assemblies, you are in the right place. whenever you are doing a tub drain repair, we always tell people to use a tub drain wrench, or some other type of tub drain extractor tool. Pliers don't work for removing tub drains, you need special wrenches made just for stuck tub drain removal.

How to remove tub drain stuck to the bathtub

Too many "experts," tell you how to remove bathtub drain flanges during your DIY tub drain install project. They tell you to use pliers, but you quickly find your pliers don't fit into the tub drain cross assembly, and you have no mechanical advantage to turn the pliers to loosen the tub drain flange. The tub drain wrench is the perfect tub drain extractor tool.

How to remove stuck tub drain assembly

If you have a stuck tub drain, the tub drain wrench with a socket wrench and another long plumber wrench should do the trick as we show in this how to remove the bathtub drain flange and tub drain installation video. You just need to create a long moment arm for maximum turning force, that's how to remove tub drains. But using 2 wrenches, each longer than the old screwdriver produces a better gripping surface and longer moment arm for you to force that stuck tub drain to finally loosen up.

Stuck tub drain removal

If you have a stuck tub drain, clear your afternoon schedule because you'll be trying several tub drain extractor tools to loosen that stuck tub drain. You'll need more than just your tub drain wrench to loosen this stuck tub drain.

If you have a stuck tub drain assembly, you just must go old school on a stuck tub drain removal with brute strength, using the techniques we show you to allow your limited strength to be applied in the manner that has the best mechanical advantage for your stuck tub drain removal dilemma. Sometimes the best tub drain extractor tool is not enough, you just need brute force combined with 2 strong moment arms.

how to remove tub drain when tub drain stuck

When you have a tub drain frozen, rusted, or corroded, you must figure out how to remove a stuck tub drain using the most powerful wrenches you must get out of this plumbing repair dilemma and just be done with this tub drain repair already. Now you'll be able to show your friends how to remove stuck tub drains.

[jeffostroff]

✅ Stuck tub drain tools used in this bathtub drain removal video: ✅

[dm]

3-2024 - I have similar type old metal tub with similar drain issue. I have had 2 plumbers look at this drain to ask how to remove and replace and both said they didnt know exactly...and neither had any idea about what type of tool might be made, if any, to extract it! One was a 'part time plumber' and other was very young plumber....so thank you for showing us that there is actually an extraction tool and how to do it!
I dont know how I got to this site 5 yrs after you made it ha, but it is something I am very happy to learn!

[kangamaam]

Oh my gosh it actually worked!! What amazing advice. We ended up using the drain removal tool and a heating gun. We never thought we were going to get that thing out of there.

[JonathanPuddle]

Thank you! Was working tonight on an insanely stuck drain. I used the remover along with what felt like almost every other tool I had, broke 2 screwdrivers and nothing would budge it. Had a 2nd man working on it with me. Eventually took to it with a hair dryer and the heat made all the difference. Much appreciated!

[PLaTerra]

FINALLY- a vid that shows how to properly do this job. I’ve seen so many videos that are so amateur that are so frustrating to watch. Thanks!

[BA-gnqb]

I poured a large pan of boiling water over my drain before using the tool and a long wrench for torque.
Worked great.
Also used for the replacement install.

[brittanydudek]

2:25 The pliers thing has always been mind boggling to me until my BIL(50 year master plumber) showed me the exact tool to use, and truth is, it’s a fantastic trick when you have them. They’re pliers you’ll find in a plumbing department or one of those 3 pair kits for plumbers. They’re adjustable water pump pliers and they have straight arms and fit perfectly in almost any tub drain. However, you’re 100% spot on about potentially ruining a perfectly good pair of pliers because that trick is not designed for stuck or difficult to remove drain assemblies.
This is a wonderful video Jeff. You’re efficient, direct, you speak clearly and like a normal human using terms anyone can understand. You give just enough information to answer questions people have without going overboard. I didn’t have to fast forward through any part of this video which is a miracle 😂😂.
You definitely gained a new follower today sir!! Keep up the great work and I’m not sure if you have affiliate links but if you do I would definitely use them to make sure you benefit from the purchase ♥️♥️

[brittanyclayton]

I got that beat. I have a 100 year old tub with the original brass drain that has never been replaced. That's going to be really fun to get out.

[rohin]

I should have seen your video on how to remove an old drain on a bathtub before I went out and purchased some pliers. Even the manufacturer of the new drain told me to use pliers. I know now that I need to buy one of these drain wrenches . Thank you!

[jerrybobteasdale]

Wink Rust Remover removes rust stains like magic. After the stain is gone, deactivate with baking soda and wash. Then some spot sealer or spot paint layer might be good enough for awhile.

[krystalwang]

For the pliers, they meant to use the sharp end, so that it will fit. Great video thou! Thanks for sharing.

[vasantsande]

Tried and gave up.
I'm going to try your way. Thanks a million.

[texman]

Thank you, sir. Using a pipe wrench along with the drain wrench did it for me. It was pretty tight in there. Worked great.

[KB-pffo]

This video was a godsend!!! Honestly thank you so much for this video. And I can tell you when you are frustrated thanks muchly for the calming voice!!

[EllaWatson]

Thanks for the note about the heat gun! I was having a hell of a time and once I heated it up, it moved like butter. Thanks!

[mrappe]

The heat did the job for me! My drain wrench does not have a place for the ratchet but I was able to get it loose with a plumbing wrench on the metal sides of the drain wrench. Thanks

[ARBOURLAKERMAN]

Good tool to remove the rusted drain and much quicker. Obviously as you showed it, you cannot use the handle of a regular pliers to be inserted inside the rusted drain. Using a long nose plier (if you have one) and insert it into the drain pointing downward (not the handle) and turn it using a plier wrench might work to remove that rusted drain. Thanks for your video.

[netcacique]

The removal wrench is necessary. It's cheap and does the job right. Thank you for the video.

[kenklaus]

Thanks for some good tips, Jeff. Sometimes one just has to see the proper usage of tools. As an aside, tho', I have at least three pair of pliers around the house that do not have coatings on them and have worked in the past.

[timbradeen]

Thanks for the lesson. I was going to try and farmer Jerry rig my repair. I'm going to go get the right tools. Thanks again.