Adjust a channel lock wrench or pipe wrench over the hex portion of the locknut of the shower drain, which is located under the subfloor. The first thing you need to know about removing a shower drain cover is to examine how it is attached. You’ll be glad you did. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 73,151 times. Four “wings” flip out under the shower base to clamp the drain in place. How to Remove a Shower P-Trap. Then, simply remove the old shower trap and discard. [color=#000000]About 25 years ago my drain field plugged. http://www.finehomebuilding.com/2016/05/17/whats-difference-spray-lubricants, http://www.wisebread.com/10-really-easy-ways-to-unclog-drains, https://dengarden.com/cleaning/How-to-clear-a-clogged-shower-drain-8-methods-to-try, https://www.lowes.com/projects/bed-and-bath/clear-clogged-drain/project, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOwr3ASh730&feature=youtu.be&t=44, Melepas Penutup Saluran Pembuangan Air di Kamar Mandi, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Put a hair trap in the shower drain, and clean it regularly. If you’re unfamiliar with the P-trap, then read on. problems contact webmaster@doityourself.com. So, locate the area in your basement or crawl space that is directly underneath the shower's plumbing. For drains with stoppers, like a push-pull or lift-and-turn style drain in a bathtub, check for a small set screw. Since there are different types of drain covers on the market, you need to figure out which type you have so that you can remove it properly. To do this, saw the inlet and outlet pipes on either side of the shower trap. If there's a set screw, remove that to loosen the drain stopper. We welcome your comments and The last thing you need when you jump in the shower is to be overcome by the smell coming from the shower drain. I'm trying to remove the drain trap in my shower. As an alternative, pour one cup of baking soda in the drain, followed by a cup of white vinegar. Make sure that the hole is big enough so that the blade of your reciprocating saw can fit through it easily. Knowing how to remove a bathtub drain is a helpful skill for when you need to deep clean the drain, replace the drain entirely or remove the bathtub. Take the reciprocating saw and cut out a rectangular area of the sub flooring large enough so that you can easily access the plumbing underneath the shower. The toughest part is removing the old drain flange. To do this, you'll need to use two pipe wrenches: one large and one small. Rough plumbing bathroom violetdecor co venting plumbing fixtures and traps 21 parts of a bathroom shower what is a drain stack in plumbing quora plumbing for a separate shower and tub How To Plumb A Shower Drain Diagram MycoffeepotRough In Plumbing Bathroom Evandecorating CoRough Plumbing Bathroom Violetdecor CoBuilding SHow To Plumb A Bathroom With Multiple… Let it sit for 5-10 minutes, then examine the drain for any screws you need to remove and take them out if you find any. You don't have to call a plumber or handyman to get the job done. The best rescue tactic is to remove the trap. Shower base and connect it to the drain how to replace the drain trap on a sink how to replace a shower p trap how to replace a shower p trap walk in tile shower drain Replace A Shower Drain From The Top Family HandymanReplace A Shower Drain From The … No matter how hard you may try to prevent it, hair always seems to get stuck in your shower drains.If you need to clear your drain of hair or any other type of clog, there are a couple of different methods for removing a shower drain grate. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. 2. Make your cuts along the floor joists so that you'll have something to support the new subfloor. Shower drains can easily be clogged with hair and other debris, but fortunately, they are among the easiest fixtures to clear using a drain snake.While a normal bathtub drain is usually 1 1/2 inches in diameter, a shower drain is often 2 inches in diameter, making it easier to insert a small drain snake directly into the drain opening and down through the trap, where most clogs are found. Use the flat head screwdriver to take out the screw in the middle of the drain trap. You can additionally have another filter that will prevent any non-water object from entering the trap – such as hair, soap residue, or any other foreign object.. Its in solid and need something to break the seal. Repeat if needed to get rid of any lingering smells. There are a nearly endless array of drain covers. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Because of this, many opt for placing a shower trap precisely under the shower drain cover. [1] X Research source Do not pour grease or fat down your drain in an attempt to loosen it. Boil a full kettle, leave it for a few minutes and then pour it all down there. Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be This should leave your shower drain clog-free and smelling great. There are usually two screws, one on each side of the rim around the drain plate. In this home plumbing tutorial, you'll learn how to clean and unblock a shower waste trap. Make your cuts about 2 to 3 inches from the female threaded ends on the old shower trap. By using our site, you agree to our. Put a hair trap in the shower drain, and clean it regularly. Screw-In Looking like a flat or slightly concave/convex strainer, simply unscrew these covers with a flat or Phillips head and remove. If you know that you plan on discarding the shower drain, you may handle it more roughly. A shower P-trap is located beneath the shower drain hole. Push/Pull (Often Confused with Lift-and-Turn) Hold the stopper body in place and unscrew the top knob (… They sell a gismo that works great at removing hair from shower and sink drains. This article has been viewed 73,151 times. to free it up. Before you can remove the old shower trap, you'll first need to find a place to access the plumbing for your shower. submitted to our "DoItYourself.com Community Forums". Then boil four cups of water and pour half of it down the drain. The first step to repairing or replacing a shower drain is often removing it from the shower. Unscrew the shaft cylinder, which is the part of the drain stopper that fits into the drain opening. How to Remove a Shower P-Trap. Hi Advice please I want to replace the drain trap on my shower. In truth, this is unlikely to unblock a shower drain on its own but it’s generally a good start. There are usually two screws, one on each side of the rim around the drain plate. HGTV expert Amy Matthews takes you through the steps of replacing a shower P-trap in a major bathroom renovation where you're basically building the shower from scratch. You’ll probably have to cut it with a hacksaw blade and pry it loose in sections from the shower pan. All rights reserved. How To Unclog A Drain When Drano Doesn't Work; 2. Make sure you pull up all of the screws and place them in a resealable bag or a safe place away from the drain and … The job takes about 30 minutes and doesn’t require any special plumbing tools. Website operating If the blockage is caused by a build-up of soap scum, then pouring some piping hot water down will loosen it up and get things moving. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. We’ll cover some of the most common here: 1. Baking soda is a fine preventative; drop a ½ cup of baking soda down the shower drain … Remove the drain cover; if the drain cover is held in place with screws, remove the screws with a screwdriver and set them aside outside the shower drain so they don't also fall down the drain. The drain itself is comprised of several different interlocking parts which constitute the entire assembly. Copyright© With the right tools and cleaners, drain removal is simple enough for any household handyman! Use a screwdriver with a magnetic head to keep you from dropping the screw and losing it down the drain. Don’t run any water through the drain — water may flush it […] suggestions. Use the flat head screwdriver to take out the screw in the middle of the drain trap. You may freely link A shower P-trap is located beneath the shower drain hole. Get expert advice. I have access to it ok and can remove the connecting pipes ok. Pull up the drain trap. Pour half a cup of bleach down the drain and let it sit for approximately one hour. Handle the pliers carefully so that you don't accidentally dent your shower drain. Is your shower draining slowly? Once you have located the area where the plumbing for the shower is located, take a drill and use a relatively large drill bit to make a hole that you will use for a pilot hole for your saw. home improvement and repair website. To do this, saw the inlet and outlet pipes on either side of the shower trap. When you have a stinky shower drain, it is most likely caused by a buildup of biofilm in the drain pipe or not enough water in the p-trap, allowing the shower drain smells to rise back up through the pipes. Use a screwdriver with a magnetic head to keep you from dropping the screw and losing it down the drain. Before you try to remove a shower drain, wipe it dry with a towel, then spray it with a lubricant like WD-40 or a silicone drain lubricant. Set the screw aside. If you live in an older home that uses an outdated metal filter and seal shower trap, or you want to replace a defective trap, you could call a plumber and have them do the work for you. This is essential for those with long, thick hair that can easily clog bathroom drains. Keep paper towels nearby for removal – hair and soap accumulations often come out with the cover. Cut the existing drain line that you want to connect the shower drain to by using a hack saw or power saber saw with a fine tooth blade. It will remove the grime that the baking soda and vinegar loosened. Hello and thanks for reading this post. Cover the drain and let the mixture fizz inside the pipe like a science fair project for a few minutes, then flush with hot water. For detailed, step-by-step instructions on the rather unpleasant business of clearing blockages in your shower, watch this how-to. Remove Shower Drain Cover. Set the screw aside. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published, This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Read More: Can You Pour Bleach Down The Drain? It’s happened to almost everyone:. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. If your drain is rusty, WD-40 is ideal. For most non-combination tub/shower drains you will need a screwdriver to remove two or three screws that are holding the drain trap into place. DoItYourself.com®, founded in 1995, is the leading independent Then, simply remove the old shower trap and discard. Buy a drain or spray lubricant, like WD-40, silicone lubricant, or PTFE. The problem is, I can't figure out how to get the darn thing off!! Mcalpine shower trap chrome effect 90mm types of plumbing traps and how they drench fast flow shower waste tap to keep your drains smelling fresh Replace A Shower Drain From The Top Diy Family HandymanHow To Clean Your Shower Drain Properly Plumbing Electric WonderhowtoDrench Fast Flow Shower Waste Tap WarehouseHow To Retrieve Lost Items In… Read More » Removing a bathtub drain is a straightforward beginner task, especially once you identify the type of tub drain and stopper you have. Use a circular saw to cut away the subfloor to gain access to the P-trap. You can use the same procedure to remove something stuck in a shower drain, although, because the strainer keeps out all but the smallest items, the zip-it tool is probably all you need. Send a handful of baking soda and hot water down the drain. Have replaced old metal pipe... Hello, I have an issue with my new drainage. Removing a sink trap releases whatever is caught inside. I would like to clean out my shower trap but when I put my fingers down it I can't feel the hole where the water is supposed to drain to the waste pipe. Could someone explain this please? Be careful not to drop any screws down the drain. In this video I will be showing you how to unclog and clean your shower drain or waste. An older drain may not readily come out even after it has been unscrewed. % of people told us that this article helped them. Then, simply follow the sound to the area where the shower drain is located. Where can I find a metal key and what solvant can i use (plusgas?) You're now ready to install your more modern PVC P-trap for your shower. I have been living in my house for ... How high to cut pcv from trap to base of shower. wikiHow's. This is particularly effective if you are replacing a shower trap on a second floor or first floor with a basement that may have wooden sub flooring. If … Loosen it if it is stuck by carefully inserting the flat head screwdriver underneath the edges of the trap. However its impossable to move the the old screw waste connection with the silly plastic key provided. The septic tank w... My plumber is gone for a few weeks and I need to get the project moving. I ... How to Replace a Single Lever Shower Faucet, Accessories for Handicap Shower Tub Units. If your drain is too rusty to remove or significantly clogged, hire a plumber to remove it for you. If you have PVC (plastic) pipes, note the boiling water can cause major damage, so make sure you check first. For tips on how to replace or repair the drain, read on! A clogged shower drain is a nuisance, especially if it happens frequently. 1995-2018 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. If you want to remove the drain, then make sure that you remove the drain cover. If you've never removed a shower drain before, don't fret. So, use this easy to follow step by step guide to learn how to properly remove the old shower trap before replacing it with a new one. For drains with stoppers, like a push-pull or lift-and-turn style drain in a bathtub, check for a small set screw. Purchase a drain lubricant to loosen the shower drain. All information is provided "AS IS." Clean the drain, then replace the drain plate by replacing and tightening the screws. Whether you have excess soap scum, long hair, or something else (like mold) clogging your pipes, this is a problem that doesn’t go away on its own and must be handled immediately. You might find it easier to find the shower by having someone stand in the shower and tap the area where the train is located with a plastic object that won't damage the shower. Continue twisting the drain until it is completely loosened, then lift the drain out of its place. If you know how to remove the sink trap you’ll be able to retrieve valuables that disappear down the drain. Step One Remove a Shower Drain Cover Many people are confused by the shower drain and by the shower drain’s cover. Terms of the Trade: What Is a Reciprocating Saw. Pull up the drain trap. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. You might also consider pouring a cup of vinegar down the drain after each shower to eat away at any debris in the pipe. I am working with 2x6 floor jo... How far below the shower drain does the P trap have to be? While this is not a 100% fool-proof way of avoiding shower trap clogging, it is still very useful. Before you install your new PVC P-trap, you'll need to also remove the threaded adapter that was used for the outlet pipe on the old trap. A mucky but essential job that should be done regularly.This video shows how to remove the chrome cover and the plastic basket hair catcher and clean out. The item, whatever it is, is probably surrounded by hair, and the zip-it tool is very good at latching onto hair. 2. Do not pour grease or fat down your drain in an attempt to loosen it. Take the small pipe wrench and place it on the threaded fitting for the outlet pipe, and then place the large wrench on the threaded adapter. In that case, start by pulling out the old shower pan and removing the old drain. You might also consider pouring a cup of vinegar down the drain after each shower to eat away at any debris in the pipe. Replacing your drainfield? However, plumbers are not cheap, and you could easily do the work yourself and save a couple hundred bucks. In order to do this, you’ll first need to collect a Flathead screwdriver. to this site, and use it for non-commercial use subject to our terms of use. (Note - Be careful; the old trap is probably filled with dirty water.) I can't figure out how the water drains away. For tips on how to replace or repair the drain, read on! (Note - Be careful; the old trap is probably filled with dirty water.). Clean the drain, then replace the drain plate by replacing and tightening the screws. Rotate … Fix a Broken P-trap. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Repeat this process as needed until the clog is gone. Most of the shower covers are attached with either a single screw at the center or by two screws along its edges. (save your old field). Set them aside somewhere safe and outside of the shower in case you will be putting the shower drain back in later. Shower drain stinks after 4 minutes of use. Before you begin, make sure the shower or tub is completely drained of water and relatively dry. Shower hair catchers have a round metal base that is perforated to allow water to pass through the drain while still catching hairs and other debris from your bathtub. I have access to it ok and can remove the connecting pipes ok. In most cases, if you cut out an area that is 1 foot by 2 feet, you should be fine. Last Updated: December 10, 2020 Again, use the reciprocating saw to cut out the old shower trap. Once you have identified the type of drain stopper, you can learn how to remove a bathtub drain by following the specific directions below for your type of drain: How to Remove a Toe-Touch Drain Stopper: Set the drain to its open position. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. If the drain won't budge, apply more lubricant. View our Privacy Policy here. Make your cuts about 2 to 3 inches from the female threaded ends on the old shower trap. While holding the pipe with the smaller pipe branch, use the large pipe wrench to break the grip on the adapter and the fitting connector. To remove a shower drain, the drain assembly can be accessed through the shower floor, and pulled out by individual pieces through the exposed drainage hole. If there's a set screw, remove that to loosen the drain stopper. Feeling unproductive while working from home? Not only will you have a higher respect your home’s plumbing system, These parts can be replaced at any time during the life of the drain. Installing hew shower base made of plastic(?). When it comes to shower P-traps, a lot of homeowners don’t even know what they’re for, if their shower drains are built with them, and how to replace them. References. Insert 2 nose pliers into the drain openings and grip the plier handles firmly, then twist them both to the left to begin loosening the drain. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/83\/Remove-a-Shower-Drain-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Remove-a-Shower-Drain-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/83\/Remove-a-Shower-Drain-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid9511918-v4-728px-Remove-a-Shower-Drain-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"