How to Fix a Leaky Tiled Shower Drain

You do not need to remove any of the tiled shower pan when the drain leaks.

Fixing a leaky drain that sits in a tiled shower pan does not require you to take out or modify the tiled shower pan. Leaks in the shower's drain occur when different parts of the drain age and no longer remain watertight, such as the plastic drain body or the rubber gasket. By removing the drain assembly you can see what parts have worn out and need replacement. The entire repair project should take an inexperienced do-it-yourselfer no more than 2 hours to complete.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver
• Drain key
• Adjustable wrench
• New shower drain kit
• Plumber's putty
• PVC primer
• PVC cement

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Instructions

1. Back out the screws from the shower drain's cover using a screwdriver. Pull the drain cover away from the drain opening and set the cover and screws aside.

2. Position a drain key inside the drain body, and then twist the dial on the drain key so it expands and fits tightly inside the drain body. Clamp an adjustable wrench to the top of the drain key and turn it counterclockwise to remove the drain body from the drainpipe and shower pan.

3. Use your fingers to move the drainpipe, which sits below the bottom of the shower pan, to the side slightly. Pull out the rubber gasket, as well as the metal washer and retaining nut that sit between the drainpipe and the bottom of the shower's pan.

4. Inspect the drain body, rubber gasket, metal washer and retaining nut for signs of damage or age. Replace any worn parts, or purchase a new shower drain kit if you need to replace all or most of the parts.

5. Slide the retaining nut, metal washer and rubber gasket back between the bottom of the shower pan and the drainpipe. Roll plumber's putty between your hands to create a rope, and then coil the rope around the bottom edge of the drain body that sits over the top of the shower's pan.

6. Apply PVC primer and then PVC cement to the inside of the drain pipe and the outside of the bottom of the drain body. Thread the drain body into the drainpipe, using the drain key and wrench to tighten the drain body until you feel resistance. Use a rag to clean up any plumber's putty that spreads out from between the drain body and shower pan.

References

• HandymanHowTo.com; How to Fix a Leaky Shower Drain; Bob Jackson
• Kohler; Shower Drain Installation Instructions