How to find a replacement for an obsolete plumbing plug
Standard new plugs do not fit older or uncommon drain sizes, leaving people with leaking mechanical plugs or missing shut-off systems altogether. Trying to find the right replacement part prevents people from successfully sealing the drain or bath.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Using a mechanical plug in the hole instead of a proper threaded plug, though it tends to leak.
- 2Trying to fill the threads.
- 3Removing the gasket portion and using a mechanical plug on the nominal opening in the clean out fitting itself.
- 4Contacting apartment maintenance or submitting a maintenance request to get a replacement or have it fixed
- 5Buying a universal or third-party replacement tub stopper online, such as an oxo tub stopper
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I am looking for a replacement sewer cleanout plug.”source ↗
“I have tried multiple brands and sizes of new plugs. None fit.”source ↗
“I currently have a mechanical plug in the hole, but it leaks, hopefully due to not having threads and not due to the slight damage to the gasket.”source ↗
“damn i thought i just had a weird drain 😭 thank you!”source ↗
“Recently moved into an apartment with a weird drain and no plug/shut off system and as someone who loves baths it’s driving me nuts. Does anyone know what kind of plug I need for this sort of drain??”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
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- 2Can you replace a broken plastic sink hose connector?
- 3How to get a stuck broken plumbing drain piece out