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