My walk-in tub drain screw fell out, which part do I need?

When a small threaded piece drops out from under the chrome plug of an Ella walk-in tub floor drain, it is almost always the height adjusting stem, the part that threads into the plug cap and sets how high the stopper sits. It comes out completely if it is loosened too far or if its lock nut was never tightened after an adjustment, and in most cases you can reach into the drain and pull it back up with your fingers, a thin flat screwdriver or a dull butter knife. The full recovery routine is in What If a Piece of My Drain Stopper Went Down the Drain?; this page helps you tell which fastener you actually lost, since an Ella drain has three, and explains how each one is replaced.

Three Fasteners on an Ella Drain, and Which One You Lost

Owners describe all of these as the drain screw, but they are different parts and are replaced differently. Match what you see on your tub to the list below before you contact anyone.

• The height adjusting stem under the plug. Lift the chrome plug and you will find a threaded stem with a lock nut that sets the stopper height. If the plug came loose in your hand and a threaded piece fell into the drain opening, this is the part. It is the one most often reported as a screw.
• The set screw on the drain handle. The chrome drain handle slips onto a brass mounting on the drain assembly and is held by a single set screw that takes a 2.5mm Allen key. If your handle spins, wobbles or has come off, this screw has loosened or dropped out. The handle and its screw are covered in Replacing a Drain Handle or Overflow Plate.
• The set screw on the overflow plate. The overflow plate higher up the tub wall has its own set screw, and both the plate and its screw are available as replacement parts on the same basis as the handle.

If the loose fastener is at the faucet rather than the drain, it is a different part again: the Allen bolt under the handle cap, covered in Why Does My Faucet Handle Keep Falling Off?.

Getting the Stem Back and Refitting It

Nothing needs to be dismantled, and no tools beyond what is in a kitchen drawer are required.

1. Lift the chrome plug off and look into the drain opening.
2. Hook the stem out with your fingers, a thin flat screwdriver or a butter knife.
3. While the plug is out, turn the drain handle and watch the lever inside the drain move. If it moves, the cable is fine and the only job is the stem.
4. Thread the stem back into the plug cap. If the stopper will not screw back on, look for a stripped or bent thread and photograph it; that is the sign you need a replacement rather than a refit.
5. Set the height by loosening or tightening the stem a little at a time, testing the handle after each turn. Stop as soon as the plug seals when closed and lifts fully when open.
6. Tighten the lock nut firmly on the stem so it cannot back out again.

The warning in Ella's adjustable drain height video is the one to remember: never loosen the stem too far, because that is exactly how it falls off and goes down the drain in the first place.

If the Handle Set Screw Is the One That Is Missing

A handle that only wobbles usually needs its set screw tightened with the 2.5mm Allen key rather than a new part. If the screw is gone, or the handle is cracked or stripped, the replacement handle slips onto the same brass mounting. Before you slide it on, seat the key ring at the end of the emergency pull-up chain over the brass mounting so it rests under the handle; if you skip that step the emergency chain has nothing to anchor to. Then slide the handle on and tighten the set screw until the handle is snug and turns the drain cleanly. Older style handles are no longer carried, but the updated handle fits the same drain assembly, so the drain body and the overflow do not need to change.

Ordering the Replacement Part

If the stem cannot be recovered, or the plug, gasket or overflow cap is missing altogether, each of these is an individually replaceable part. Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, and include:

• Your model and serial number, and where you purchased the tub, so the request is matched to your order. The serial is on the label behind the magnetic access panel next to the door.
• A photo of the drain with the plug removed, and a photo of the piece you still have. A photo identifies the part even when the model is unknown, and support can reply with a picture of the current part so you can compare it with yours.
• A note on exactly what you need: a stem, a plug, a gasket, an overflow cap, a drain handle, an overflow plate, a set screw, or the full assembly.

The lifetime limited parts warranty covers the waste and overflow hardware for the original purchaser at the original installation address, and support verifies each request against your serial number before a part ships. Where a part falls outside the warranty terms, the team will explain how to arrange it through your order or where you purchased. Ella does not send technicians; fitting a stem or a handle is a job most owners do themselves, and a local licensed plumber can do it if you would rather not.

Related Guides

• Broken Drain Lever, Drain Cable or Full Drain Assembly: Which Part You Need and How It Is Replaced
• Drain Plug Will Not Open or Drains Slowly: Checking the Set Screw and the Stem
• My drain will not open or close: replacing the drain cable and adjusting drain height

Related Videos

Common Questions