Standing water in tub, drain is good, tub eroding? Replace the Bathtub Drain Whether you are replacing the drain you just removed or installing a new drain, use fresh plumber’s putty. You’ll find most parts making up the bathtub drain assembly under the bathtub. Note the measurement. Between the underside of the flange and the tub surface, there's a good amount of plumbers putty that seals the inside of the drain. Use a hacksaw to cut the extra length. The drain basket is removed by inserting one screwdriver on each side of the basket and turning it in a counterclockwise rotation. The overflow cover is removed by turning out the attachment screws on the cover plate. Choose a Toilet Vent or Drain Configuration. Remove the old drain assembly from the top down. Once they are found, detach the drain pipe and over flow trim from the tub with the help of a drain wrench. 5. The average drain pipe repair cost is $549 with most homeowners spending between $500 and $1,150. Loosen the trap nut and move the trap and drain pipes out of the way to make room for the new tub drain. Part 1 of 3: Removing the Old Stopper. How to repair a leaky drain pipe under a sink. problems contact webmaster@doityourself.com. View our Privacy Policy here. When replacing your standard bathtub with a new unit, sometimes it is necessary to relocate the tub drain pipes. I have to move the drain. If this is a new drain installation, there may be additional costs for running new drain lines to the tub and interfacing to the drain assembly. Moving a bathtub drain from the center to the right side requires accessing the plumbing pipes under the sub-floor. Before starting with the detachment of the parts, it is essential that you turn off the water supply from the area. Corrosion and clogging are the major reasons that lead to the replacement of the bathtub drain pipe. If the pipes have fitted perfectly, they will match the holes in the tub. Donations appreciated - click in upper right corner "info" circle. If the toilet … Then I drilled a screw into the side and wedged it between the PVC and drain and with … Cost to Replace a Drain Pipe Under the House 1. Names bathroom sink plumbing parts bathroom sink repair a plete install a bathroom vanity and sink names bathroom sink plumbing parts find and repair hidden plumbing leaks Fixing Bathroom Sink Drain Pipe Image Of And ClosetBathroom Sink Drain Leaking Around Thre Premier Plumbing IncHow To Replace Drain Pipe In Bathroom Sink Image Of AndWhat Does… Read More » Write down the measurement for the vertical distance between the drain hole and the level where the piping branches off toward the drain. Connect the tee-fitting onto the overflow pipe and the tub basket drain pie. If no Plumbers Putty was used when installing the drain outlet flange in the sink, this is another reason it may be leaking. It should easily line up to the holes of the bathtub. Parts and these tools are available at your local Home Depot. shows, the flange is held in place with a threaded connection to the drain elbow (aka drain shoe). We welcome your comments and Remove the pipes that connect the overflow to the tub drain basket. Fit the drain and overflow pipe with P-trap. Remove the drain pipe leading from the tub to the main drain. A rubber gasket underneath the tub seals the drain elbow to the tub. 1995-2018 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. home improvement and repair website. The drain pipes consist of the tee-fitting and the waste pipes that lead to the main drain. Use the pliers to unscrew any stubborn slip nuts. Remove the tee-fitting behind the tub. After all, your drain line runs from your home all the way to the nearest waste source. Attach a PVC tub drain kit to the tub. These are available at your local hardware store, and you can get a PVC pipe with the proper threads to screw into a metal pipe. Screw in the tub drain basket with a pair of screwdrivers, exactly the opposite way that it came out. Luckily, you won’t come across many challenges when replacing a drain flange, according to our 24 hour plumber in Sydney. Whichever the case, replacing a tub drain demands the removal of the drain flange. If the pipes do not line up correctly, either cut them to fit or install a flexible PVC drain line. Slip the new gasket into place and screw in the drain flange. If it is plastic, use a tongue and groove pliers to loosen the connecting nuts. Now, measure the new bathtub pipe by placing it next to the old pipe. submitted to our "DoItYourself.com Community Forums". Also ensure that the overflow and drain fitting should be facing each other before fastening them to the drain pipe. They should be at a specific distance from the top of the drain fitting. 1. Place the cutter head into the sewer pipe and turn on the drain snake's motor. Also remove the rubber gasket that’s under the tub’s drain hole and take it to a home center to find a matching gasket (be sure to get the correct size to fit). 2. Measure the drain hole from the inside of the tub to the surface the tub rests upon. Copyright© If it is a PVC connection, cut the pipe one inch away from the main drain using a hacksaw. Toilet Vent Option 1: Indirect Connection. When doing this, wrap the threads with Teflon tape or cover them in pipe dope before tightening the PVC pipe. Note down the measurements and use them to purchase the pipe of proper length and diameter. A bathtub drain wrench or sometimes called a drain key. Yalanovsky also writes a bimonthly column that provides home improvement advice. For the metal pipe, simply unscrew it with the help of two pipe wrenches. Plastic. to this site, and use it for non-commercial use subject to our terms of use. How to Change Metal Pipes to Plastic Under the Kitchen Sink, How to Reconnect Plumbing After Removing a Garbage Disposal, How to Fix a Leak in a Kitchen Sink Flange, HammerZone: Replacing A Tub Drain and Overflow Tube, How to Stop a Drain Connection PVC Plumbing Leak, How to Remove Different Types of Bathtub Stoppers. One of the wrenches will hold the joint steady exactly at the point where the pipe connects while the other wrench will be used to unscrew the pipe. A sink drain is a simple creation. If it is a PVC fitting, there will either be a screw-on connecting nut, or the tee-fitting must be cemented in place using PVC cement. Now, attach the overflow and drain pipe to the tub with the help of a drain wrench. DoItYourself.com®, founded in 1995, is the leading independent The flexible line can be bent to form most any shape, and will allow you to connect pipes that don't line up right. Feed the spinning cutter head all the way through the pipe to cut away any roots. The cost of replacing cast iron drain pipes. All information is provided "AS IS." PVC plastic runs $0.50 to $5 per foot and became popular largely due to price. Next comes an elbow trap -- sometimes referred to as a J-bend, which is actually two pieces that attach either to the sink tail piece or to a short slip joint extension on one end and the outside pipe on the other. If the actual tub drain basket won't unscrew, use a reciprocating saw to cut a notch in the side of the basket. Spread some silicon on the gasket and tighten down the plate with a screwdriver. Use a hacksaw to cut the extra length. They are mostly found behind the tub. Unlike an individual tile, it’s hard to find the source a drain issue. From start to finish, installing a new drain should only take some elbow grease and an hour of your time! Lift and Turn: A drain with a plug that rotates in opposite directions to release or hold water; set screws are placed under the lip of the drain Drains With Trip Levers. Use penetrating oil on the threads if they do not readily unscrew. Spread silicon on the gasket where the pipe attaches to the basket, and tighten the fitting with a tongue and groove pliers. Cover the underside of the new flange with plumbers’ putty, then twist it into the drain opening. Attach a cutter head onto the end of an electric drain snake. Replacing sink drain pipes is an easy DIY project. Many bathtubs now come with a drain in the right corner of the bathtub instead of in the middle. To make sizing the new drain pieces easier, keep the old drain parts for now. Cast iron pipework runs between $2 to $10 per foot and was the standard until the 1960s. The flange is the drain’s visible part. Now, locate the area where the drain pipes are located. From outside of your property where the pipe cleanout access point is located, the pipe rust and scale is removed using a hydro jetter and a drain snake. It should easily line up to the holes of the bathtub. This washer comes with the part but it is not used on top of the tub where the drain you are replacing comes into contact with the tub it is used below the tub to seal the pipe. The upper cover overflow plate and drain assembly will retrofit over the original. The little lever under the fau... How To Calculate Bathtub Refinishing Cost, Unclogging a Bathtub Drain: Mistakes to Avoid, How to Make Your Own Metal Pegboard Hooks, Going Green: How to Refinish a Cast Iron Bathtub, Lead Problems with Older Cast Iron Bathtubs, How to Replace a Garbage Disposal Splash Guard. Fairly simple drain system. The cost to repair your drain pipe will depend on a few factors. First is a threaded tail piece leaving the bottom of the sink. Make sure the hole in the tub meets the drain fitting. However, plan on spending somewhere around $175 per foot. Once that is done, place tub drain rubber gasket and then the tub drain flange in their respective areas. To replace a bathtub drain pipe, you will need cement, drain pipe, drain wrench, hacksaw measuring tape, paper and tub drain kit. He specializes in do-it-yourself projects, household and auto maintenance and property management. Replacing these pipes and the tools used are dependent on what type of drain pipes are in place to begin with. Next we use a pipe video inspection camera to determine how long the break or crack in your cast iron pipe is. Or use a sanitary tee and cut a pipe that fits from the outlet of tee to the fitting of the drain. It would take about three hours to completely replace the drain pipe. S to bathtub replacement bath tub drain pipe and overflow bathroom sink drain pipe is leaking to replace or repair a drain pipe How To Replace A Bathtub DrainHow To Convert Bathtub Drain Lever A Lift And TurnS To Bathtub ReplacementHow To Replace A Bathtub Drain In Mobile Home2020 Plumbing Estimates Average Leaks Pipe RepairsImportance… Read More » If you are joining PVC to PVC, cement a coupler onto the one inch cut piece that leads to the main drain. Roll out an even bead of plumber’s putty and position it around the new drain fitting. Drain Pipe Repair Cost Factors. If the drain pipe under your bathroom sink is leaking, you may need to simply re-tighten the nut. From beneath the tub, position the rubber washer around the threaded drain tailpiece, then slip the tailpiece up through the drain opening. Turn on the water supply after everything has been fixed. If it is a metal pipe, unscrew it using two pipe wrenches. Cut the rest of the PVC pieces to fit with a hacksaw and cement them together. Drain Replacement 1 Turn off the water, and clear the area under the sink to prepare to replace your current drain pipes. Note the measurement. You can replace just this plate at your hardware store for a few dollars. It's quite easy to do. Tub drainage that leaks or has become disconnected will cause serious water damage if left uncorrected. Remove the bathtub and set the tub down on a hard, balanced surface. He has been published in "Woman's Day," "New Home Journal" and on many do-it-yourself websites. I have a bathtub drain that stopped working. The drain for the tub is made of a black plastic material and the tailpiece... Hello everyone, this is my first post on here. Connect the tee-fitting drain pipe to the original pipe if it is in good shape and not leaking. After this, place the center of the tub over the marked drain fitting. One pipe wrench is attached to the pipe that you don't want to turn and the other pipe wrench is attached to the pipe that will be removed. Measure straight down from the bathtub drain hole to the level where the piping branches off toward the drain (the plumbing pipe splits in two directions; the one for the overflow tank will go straight up, and the other will branch toward the drain). Also, buy a good quality drain pipe since it will last longer. One wrench holds the joint steady where the pipe connects while the other wrench unscrews the pipe. Parts and Tools Needed to Replace your Bathtub Drain. You may also have the gasket or rubber sealing washer that goes between the nut and the sink overtightened and this is causing the leak. Remove The Drain Pipe: If the pipes from the tub to the main drain are bad then remove them. Dale Yalanovsky has been writing professionally since 1978. Step 1: Choose Your Tools Items needed to remove and replace a modern screw in bath tub drain (not all drains are like this). Soften the Old Plumber's Putty. You will need the following tools and parts to replace your bathtub drain. Turn the wrench on the pipe that will be removed while firmly holding the other pipe wrench still. Take the measurements of the drain pipe and drain hole. Wrap the putty around the lip of the replacement drain basket. I tried using a tub drain remover wrench and all it did was break off the cross bars. I'm replacing a bathtub with a walk in shower. This is a situation that must be corrected before any real estate property is shown or sold. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Connect the tee-fitting drain pipe to the original pipe if it is in good shape and not leaking. P-Trap is a pipe that will connect the waste pipe and the overflow pipe to one main pipe. Replace the old pipe with PVC and the proper connectors. You really only need 2 tools to do this. If it is metal, use two pipe wrenches. Measure the drain hole from the inside of the tub to the surface the tub rests upon. If the pipes leading to the main drain are bad, continue to Step No. Make sure you meet all local plumbing ode requirements while choosing the pipe. If it is a … Steps. Hi Forum, okay I have a question. Turn the connecting nuts tight with your pliers. Some people will persist with a broken drain pipe under a slab in their bathroom for years, keeping the plunger constantly at the ready and hoping the problem (whatever it is) will right itself in time. So I found a 1 1/2 inch PVC pipe and it was almost the right diameter, but it didn't have any bite. Or use a sanitary tee and cut a pipe that fits from the outlet of tee to the fitting of the drain. You may need repeated cutting to make small changes. Once the notch is cut, use a pry bar to twist and pry the old drain basket out. You may freely link Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be First, the tools; slip joint pliers and a hack saw: You will have a choice on replacing your existing drain. suggestions. Now, measure the new bathtub pipe by placing it next to the old pipe. The steel pipes of the drain eventually rust and crack causing leakage which in turn lead to their replacement. Make sure the hole in the tub meets the drain fitting. Connect the Drain Fitting To connect the drain fitting, begin by applying a bead of plumber's putty around the flange of the drain opening from inside the tub. Website operating It is a trial and error process and may need repeated adjustment. Remember the drain trap (the U-shaped bend) will have a small amount of standing water so have your bucket or bag handy. Turn on a hairdryer to the heat setting, after making sure there is no … Move a light close to the area to illuminate your work. It allows water to drain out of the tub in the event the water is left on or the level gets too high when someone gets in and the water is displaced. Then clean the flange and apply silicone caulk. After removing the old stopper, take out the old drain flange, or the housing that connects the tub and drain to the pipe below. Beneath the tub, locate the drain trap secured by a nut. But good old denial (emanating from a very legitimate fear about just how much it’s going to cost to fix a drain pipe under a slab) can only delay the inevitable for so long. The waste and overflow is the drain mechanism behind and under the bathtub that connects the overflow with the tub drain. Although cast iron is prone to rusting, it may hold up better than PVC. Frozen drain levers are … If you have to hold your drain lever down for the tub to drain it is more than likely the tension spring on the back of the overflow plate. Mark the area of the floor where the center of the tub will lie. Replacing Cast Iron Drain Pipes vs. The old tub must be removed before the drain is moved. However, both the actual drain from the tub pipe and the overflow pipe may also be considered part of the drainage system. Insert a video inspection tool into the sewer pipe and look for evidence of tree roots growing inside the pipe. By replacing the pipes yourself, you will be able to save the cost of hiring a plumber by following a few simple steps. Once you ensure there is no leakage, you can store away the tools and clean up the work area. Roll the putty between your hands until it is a long log that is about as thick as a pencil. It comprises of a drain elbow that fits into the drain pipe, a curved trap piece and a tail piece. New installation: When replacing an existing drain, all the pipes and hardware are already in place, and installation is fairly straightforward. Fix it in place. Move to the top side of the tub. When it fits perfectly, join them with cement. 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Case, replacing a bathtub drain assembly under the bathtub drain from the to.