Broken Screw on Tub Overflow Plate. Hack - How to fix within 5 mins
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- Опубликовано: 2 дек 2021
- Attention DYI and Multifamily Maintenance with older apartment complexes and homes where your tub overflow screw/bolt has broken when trying to replace it. This video show what you could do in a pinch when you cannot afford an expensive plumbing bill, or you are in Apartment Maintenance and your budget or time is tight. This is a possible temporary solution until time or finances change.
Now, you can buy a tool that allows you to back out the broken screw/bolt, but depending on the break, the drilling of that broken screw may damage the plumbing further. I have found that with over 16 years in multifamily, this has helped over all in a pinch. MAKE SURE that when you are pre-drilling the hole for your SS screws, that the drill bit is a bit tinner in thickness than the SS threads of the screw you are.
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Thank you sir for your idea. I have to use smaller sized screws and overcame some issues but was able to do what you suggested.
This is exactly my problem- I’ll carefully give this a try!
Interested to hear how it works out for you.
Nice work and tip brother 👌
Hope it helped!
Thanks man you saved my ass tonight
😅 Awesome Response! Glad I was able to help. Go check out my other video on how to save a common door $45-$4,000 here on my channel Resecure Latch.
This is the problem I came here for tha ks for the tip
My pleasure Brother! Thank for the comment.
Thank you
Hope it worked out for you.
I have a similar problem only i have 2 screws broken off inside the 2 side holes... nothing in the middle (or anywhere) to screw into. You're lucky you have the side to drill into!!
You can do the same thing but tilt it 45 degrees to the 4 - 10 o'clock or 5 - 11 o'clock and pre drill. Yes it will look "crooked" but it will obtain a seal (as long as your gasket is still good.
What did you do to fix? Same issue here
My issue is I don’t have any plastic sides to screw into and I have the 2 hole kind but 1 hole has a rusted piece of bolt left in. I have an extractor set for this issue but can not get it to work. HELP!!!?
Unfortunately, if you cannot remove the broken bolt, the only option until you can get a plumber out to replace your drain, is to buy a bath silicone and seal around the plumbing drain and gasket to the fiberglass tub hole. There have been times in my career where we had to do this to buy time until the plumber could come out.
If your gap between the fiberglass and the plumbing drain is larger than 1/4 inch, you will need to build up a couple layers at first, allow it to dry, then set another layer. Create a "bridge" of silicone from the fiberglass tub to the drain. Hope that helps
How did you remove the nubs? That’s kind of a major part of the job.
You can take the very same drill bit and drill them down, or take some wire cutters or snips and cut them off.
What size drill bit did you use? I'm using the same size screw.
The drill bit depends on the size (thickness) of the screw. If you take the screw and a drill bit and lay them over the top of each other (screw on top of the drill), you want the drill to be a little thinner than the screw so that the screw teeth have something to bit into. If you use a drill bit that is the same size, then the screw won't work.
I’m having this same issue right now
Hey Matthew, did you happen to fix the problem with this method?
What size were the drill bit and screws?
It depends on the size of the Stainless steel screws your using. You want to use a Drill just smaller then the Stainless steel screws. This allows the threads of the screw to catch and not split the plumbing pipe.
what size drill bit did you use?
It depends on the size of the Stainless steel screws your using. You want to use a Drill just smaller then the Stainless steel screws. This allows the threads of the screw to catch and not split the plumbing pipe.
Mine has a screw in the very center and I have screwed and screwed and screwed and screwed and it doesn't seem to be coming out I'm pretty sure the inside piece is twirling around as well. How in the world do I fix this? The only reason I was trying to take it off is because I need to help my drain in my bathtub. I have one of those that you twist for it to stay up or down. I'm not sure how to get that piece off.
Kathey, if your overflow plate screw is spinning, that would mean that the treading inside it stripped. If you were to take a butter knife and get it behind the tub and the plate to cause resistance and then try to unscrew, tou might be able to. If not, then that center part that holds the screw is lost anyways. Maybe try to pry it off and then get a double hole like the repair in the video.
For your tub stopper. Some are designed where the screw is INSIDE the plug. You have to unscrew the top part from the base. You will need channel locks or anything that is big enough to hold the base, then get a smaller pair of channel locks and while holding the base, unscrew the tip (that the part you grab to pull it up or push down). That should loosen and expose the screw. Push the base down and take the small channel locks and unscrew that. Then you should be free. Chances are, that drain is plugged really bad with hair and that needs to be removed. That can be done with a needle nose pliers. That will allow you to pick out the clog.
Thanks!
For more I just ordered Thrift which is such a lifesaver. It's clog free for the moment but never lasts long. Their old pipes and I have no idea what's going on when I get to the basement there's a huge pipe but I'm not sure what size it is from the tub. These are all questions I wished I would have asked my father before he passed away. He took care of all the problems in the house including electrical. Lol
If mine fell off can’t I just caulk it back on ??
Yes, BUT, you will loose the seal between you tub and the pipe where the water goes to prevent your tub from overflowing. There is a gasket that sits between the tub and the pipe. The screw (when tightened down) pulls the pipe to the tub (creating the seal).
You replaced a one-hole cover with a two-hole cover. How do you replace a two-hole cover where both screws have broken off, with a new two-hole cover?
I don't believe you can (at least I have never seen it) BUT, you could try this (See if you can follow me). You would have to find a 3 inch stainless steel screw where the head does not fall through the overflow plate. Take a metal drill bit that is just a little smaller in thickness than the screw you have. Place the overflow plate when it would sit once installed, take the drill, and drill straight back into the PVC pipe. Take the 3 in SS screw, apply caulking seal to the threads, hand tighten the screw into the predrilled hole, then turn your drill torque down and tighten the screw unit the overflow plate is snug to the tub. The caulking will help seal the threads to the pipe as it punctures through. Don't tighten down too much or you will strip the pipe.
Mine doesnt have side holes
In this video, there isn't any side holes either, you have to make them if you have a single hole cover and drain fitting. If you follow what I did in this demonstration, you should be fine.
Thank you
Your very welcome!