Look under the sink for the popup connector/lever. Your drain is not opening fully becasue the connector needs adjustment, often moving the connection a hole or two.

Drains canbe replaced, use plumbers putty, not silicon. silicon may discolor.

If adjusting it doesn’t work swap out for a pop up style drain. Far easier to use and clean.

What do you mean by pop up style drain?

Like this (not suggesting this particular brand)

Maybe I will switch to that type. What makes it easier to use and clean?

Nothing makes it easire to use and clean…Your sink drain requires maintainence, not replacement. zThis maybe be beyond your abilities….Have you looked under the sink? Do you understand the adjustment ?

Hair and pop ups are not compatible.

Because you can grab the whole center section and pull it out to clean it. No linkage just gravity holds it in place. It is much easier to maintain. I encourage all my clients to get them.

There is no hair in the sink. Nobody is washing their hair or shaving in the sink.

The only thing I can imagine is causing slow draining is toothpaste.

I have no idea how to avoid toothpaste buildup unless you brush your teeth over the toilet or a trash can.

Have you used a plunger? Perhaps the toothpaste has caused build up.

You asked about adjusting the drain cover, now you are asking about toothpaste. Have you looked under the sink? Have you considered adjusting the level of the drain cover?

If it is toothpaste buildup, a plunger may clear the buildup.

I can’t use a plunger with this type of drain cover. So, I have a plumber remove the drain pipe and clear the slow drain every year.

Maybe with a pop out drain, I’ll be able to easily remove the drain stop and start using a plunger in the future.

I do not understand why your plumber has to remove a drain pipe every year.

I suggest you hire a different plumber. Do you have resources?

To clear the sludge build-up out of the drain that I assume must be from toothpaste and hand soap since nothing else except water is going down the drain.

I do not understand why a plunger will not clear the build-up.

Do you have photos of the sludge build-up?

Is water conservation causing this?

How can you use a plunger with the stopper only cracked open an inch? The drain hardware would need the be removed so there can be a clear opening to use a plunger.

Regarding plunger, you forceable push, (exhale) gently pull (inhale). You want to push the obstacle out, not pull it up.

Experience and Common Sense

Oh My, can the round thing be unscrewed and removed?

I tried unscrewing before and it wasn’t coming off. I thought it needed to be disassembled from below the sink and then pushed out from the bottom.

Did you use a wrench on the round thing?

I would have tried a plunger, if that did not work (never happened), I would have unscrewed the cap.

Ypu may have problems

What have you tried?

I just tried unscrewing it with more force and the cap came off.

I still want to replace it with a pop out style instead of using the awkward little lever behind the faucet.

Is this DIY?

No.

You do not need a plumber to clear your drain. Get a drain snake and a plumger, and learn how to use them. There is no need to spend the kind of money you are spending as "maintenance" when you can DIY in about 10 minutes.

I found a popup style drain at a local store, but it looks much larger.

The drain I have installed as shown in the photo is only about 2 inches across. The pop out drain kit looks at least 3 inches. I’m not sure it would fit and seal closed.

I took the first drain back to the big box store and went to a plumbing supply showroom and picked up a ”Zero Drain” pop down drain. It should get installed after the new years holidays.