In Built Sink Plug

Hey Guys,
My rental has a bathroom sink with an inbuilt plug - press down to close, press and release up to open it.
I have always used it with the top part (what would be the plug) unscrewed - I shave under running water and with the plug in situ it takes ages for the sink to drain.
The plug mechanism is now jammed in the down position, I'm guessing shaving rubble has got in to the mechanism - the inner peice has flats on it I'm guessing to unscrew it but I can't get to them.
Is there any way I can fix this, I've tried draino & crc to no avail - can the plug be removed from the sink and replaced or is it manufactured in to the sink.

If I have to get the agent to send a plumber will they accept this as normal wear and tear (the house is 7 and a half years old) or are they going to call it damage and bill me for it?
In regard to fixing it myself, the agent knows I am a former Man Arts teacher and within the bounds of my own ability and legality are happy with me doing my own maintenance.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Cheers
Smidsy

Yes I have come across this at a number of properties.

Here are two "pop up" plug mechanisms. The black one on the right is actually missing its spring. I removed it from a sink using a pair of pliers so a plain plug could be used. I do not have the actual plug.
The other mechanism and plug was bought off e-bay but I am yet to find a sink waste I can use it in. The plug looks right but is a fraction too big, however I have used the seal as a replacement on existing plugs.

Your use of CRC should eventually free the mechanism. You may need to move it up and down to free.
The plug itself just screws off the mechanism, but because it is nice and smooth it is hard to get a grip. You might need a screwdriver to either help pries it up or to start un screwing.

Yes I have come across this at a number of properties.

Try a sink plunger first, cheapest option. Fill sink a bit less than half plunger on and go up and down pick any song you like to plunge to. At first there will be little resistance but once you plunge the air away you will feel it firm up and then you are plunge a water column, this is what does the clearing. Rinse and repeat.
cheers

Try a rubber glove on the plug to get enough grip to unscrew. The plug and the pop up actuator are about $5 each from Bunnings or the complete fitting from the pipe up is under $20. Only this week I had to replace my actuator which was stuck in the up position.

If the plug sits in a (probably) chrome ring visible inside the sink, then the whole drain assembly is most likely replaceable. Just pop your head in the cupboard and you should see a) a fitting connecting the drain pipe/s-bend to the sink drain fitting and b) a large 'nut' or 'mechanically grippable fastener' :rolleyes: snug against the bottom of the basin, securing the drain fitting into the sink.

As apple8 said above, Bunnies should have something suitable, albeit a bit on the 'cheap in quality' side.

If, on t'other hand, the drain is obviously one-piece with the sink (eg. some butler's basins appear to be all ceramic, even where the plug fits) then you're probably all outta luck.

Before you fit the new one, take it apart and use a small very fine file to clean all the little Daggs off the castings that are actually inside it because that’s what catches the hair and all the gunk and then makes them jam up. Then when you put it together, check the action of it s few times, make sure it works well. They are prone to misalignment too. I live in a house with 4 girls, 3 have long hair, I’ve become very proficient at cleaning those sink wastes.

Would a small suction cup work? Stick it to the plug and pull up, with luck the plug will lift up enough for you to grip it with rubber gloves etc. Possible sources of suction cups - $2 shops, Bunnings, mobile phone or GPS device cradles that attach to windscreens, kids toys.
Double sided tape might also work.

Hope something simple works for you.

Alan...