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