I tried your method trying to remove the drain with needle nose and vice grips, but the cross head inside the drain just snapped off. Maybe too much force on my end. What can I do now to remove the drain?
I’ve had to do this several times…not an easy proposition. What I did was ground a slot in the top of the drain and then I had something I could use a hammer and chisel on to loosen it. Hardest part doing it this was is trying to keep from damaging the tub. Can’t grind too deep and have to be careful using the hammer and chisel. I’m sure there are other ways but this has worked several times for me. Hope this helps, thanks for watching.
Thank you for the detailed video. You're the only person from 4 videos I watched that showed the rubber washer replacement and the plumbers putty. It's the details that count. Thank you for covering those 101's.
@@funbro1 - Only one thing next time. Remind people to take out the old one and measure it's internal diameter width and thread type. I just tried to do it from your video to memory. Went to home Depot right after work. Grabbed the basic old school type. Went home took old one out, puttied it, grabbed new to screw in after prep. Nope!!! My dumbass didn't measure. Fucked my whole night up now since my wife is pissed she can't bath. I say that because me second dumb thing was to throws that old shitty rubber gasket away. Do'h!!! Still think your video was great. Cheers
The drain started to leak into my downstairs ceiling and I found the rubber gasket was too thin and would spin around. I followed your instructions and used a thicker gasket. The repair worked great! No more leak!! Before your video, my wife was on me to call a plumber. Thanks for your expertise and saving me the cost of plumber.
Thank you so much, my kids bathroom drain broke and after your video, a quick trip to the hardware store ($10) and about 10 minutes I had it fixed! Very much appreciate the video!
Very good video. I love it when you get right to the point without wasting time. My drain was really stuck, probably from plumber's putty. I was afraid of breaking my needle-nose pliers, so I'm glad this shows what the tool looks like.
A no-nonsense video that shows the exact steps. You also showed how my messed-up drain was assembled wrong. The rubber washer was in the wrong spot (between the drain assembly and tub not between the tub and drain pipe) and was causing a gap. Great video!
Camera shot was close up, steady and clear. Bob got right to the point no preamble about why you need to change the drain blah blah blah! I think he’ll be my “go to guy”!
Great video, I just found a puddle in the basement under the tub drain and saw it was leaking where the pipe goes into the tub, I've never tackled a tub drain before, I've done plenty of sink drains and when I didn't see a threaded connection under the tub and I was unsure of how it connects. Now I am wiser from your teachings. I greatly appreciate how clear and calm your explanation was and I look forward to perusing more of your content..
Hey Bob. I never comment on vids but this one just saved my bacon. Daughter(16) was cleaning litter boxes and decided to "rinse them out". This was in her bathroom. I was able to get the drain off and cleaned out thanks to your help. I have never taken one of these off before and had no idea but don't want to call a plumber yet. Cheers to you.
Thank you! I had to sit in the tub and push the wrench with my foot using care to not become the Hulk and push the wrench through the tub wall to loosen the old one. I’m very proud of myself. I’m a YT graduate of plumber school 101. 👩🏽🎓
This was the best video because it's the right amount of info that was straight to the point and concise. And I did this replacement all by myself so thanks!
Thank you so much for making this video it helped me out a lot as I live a hour out of town where there is not much hardware stores to go to but you showed me how I could do it by myself with a needle nose pliers and after one full turn and a half it was snug- tight thinking I would have to tear apart the whole wall when it was just a simple fix and thanks to you I don't have to worry about it leaking and how much water damage it could do overtime I'm glad you made this video to help us out. Thank you keep up the good work.😉👍
My new apartment has a terrible maintenance staff and the drain was bad. I have two toddlers that need to take baths and not showers and they’re taking baths tonight from what I leaned here. Thanks bob.
Screw seemed stuck, couldn’t turn the drain by hand. A pair of pliers and LIGHT counterclockwise force and it began turning! Removed, then could properly access the screw for removal. Thanks for this helpful video.
A few notes after an all afternoon project... 1. I spent an hour looking for a replacement gasket and eventually had to buy a new drain assembly just to get the gasket. 2. The newer drains seem thinner compared to the old solid brass one I have so I ended up wire brushing the old one to re-use it. 3. I used pipe tape but left the end threads exposed to get it started straight. 4. I re-did the plumbers putty and ended up with double the amount I used at first. 5. I tightened up the drain right to point that I thought it might strip so it’s really tight. Water test right afterwards worked well.
Thank You for the easy instructions and tips,,,I just replace the plumber putty on my drain and the casket was in good shape so i kept it ,,My first plumbing repair,,i did the happy dance when i was done !!!
Thanks! I've got a pretty badly corroded drain in one of my bath tubs which I want to replace before the cross in the bottom actually breaks and makes it much more difficult to remove. I may just go looking for that drain tool because it appears to make things so much easier.
that's a great video on replacing the drain plug... please do a follow up one on how to change out the drain itself (the pipe below that you threaded the stopper into)
Quick and easy. In fact, you showed me what I needed to do in the first 15 seconds! Thank you! Just subscribed! Looking forward to seeing more DIY videos from you.
Just a note I had a little problem with it coming out so I heated it up to break up that Plummer putty. They say to use a blow dryer for a couple min. but I used a pro pane touch for about 45 sec. came out like butter. Thanks for the video.
Bob mentions somewhat offhandedly that you should be careful not to cross-thread it. I just replaced mine and it was WAY too easy to cross-thread it. I tried it-carefully and worriedly-maybe ten times before I got it in right. It would look like it was starting straight and would then slant over. I don't know what I'd do if I messed up the plastic threads underneath, I could imagine having to pull out the tub to replace that threaded drain piece. Not cool! I finally was able to get it in right. One other thing: that rubber gasket that seems to go in with relative ease on the video was also a bitch to get in. My tub drain had a very small space there, the gasket was too thick. First I put petroleum jelly all over it thinking that might help, which it did...slightly. The space was still just too tight. Eventually I was able to coax about 1/3 of the gasket into the space, but the other side was too tight. I finally took a flat-blade screwdriver and lifted it to widen the space, hoping that there was enough play in the plastic drain to allow me to slightly widen the gasket space. That worked okay but then I had one bit left (where the screwdriver was), so I had to relocate the screwdriver off to the side a bit to where I'd been able to coax the gasket into place. Levered it up again and after the requisite cursing was able to finally push the gasket into place. Not easy! Bottom line: Very often handyman jobs on youtube look easy but your situation, like mine, might not be a perfect as what's on the video. Hopefully these observations might help if you're in a similar situation.
A few things to address here, First is that all jobs are not the same and this video was meant as a general how to or just to show the processes of replacing the drain. Very rare if ever are they the same so this video was not intended to apply exactly to anyone’s drain in their home. Second while it may help with installation, I would not recommend the use of a petroleum product on rubber. Hydrocarbons attack rubber. If you coat rubber gaskets with petroleum jelly to preserve them, you will get the opposite effect. After a few months, the rubber will become porous and may leak or need to be replaced. If you need a lubricant that won't damage plastic and rubber parts, it's better to go for a silicone lubricant. I am glad you were able to complete the task and hope the video was of some assistance as it was intended. Thanks for watching.
Super good vid but one important tip missing is make sure the overflow cap is still connected before you start... if it isn’t you have a really good chance of breaking the ABS plastic drain piping behind the tub when you apply torque. Trust me I learned the hard way :(
I have never had that problem before, but with plumbing there is always the chance of something happeneing and it is hard to account for everything. Sorry to hear that you had issues, hopefully the video was a help and you got everything worked out. Thanks for watching.
Great info. I loosened my tub drain and it turned as if it was unscrewing, but then it would not come out. I don't see any apparent reason whyit shouldn't come out, but wondered if you had any ideas why this would be so and what you might suggest short of calling a professional.
I watched many tub drain replacement videos and one thing that's never mentioned, but you should be aware of, is that there can be different thread counts on the drain and tub shoe. I have an older home and the course threads on my new drain did not match the fine threads on my old tub shoe so I ended up having to replace the shoe as well (which was a complete pain in the butt...but I managed to do it).
While I am aware of different size drains Some replacement drains come with an adapter that will allow you to change the size and thread pitch at the same time. As for the same size but different thread that is something that should be looked at prior to cross-threading the drain into the waste shoe. Hopefully you had easy access to the waste shoe to ease installation. Thanks for watching.
Great video, now I need an idea on how to remove the broken drain pipe, the plumber who installed it used glue on the threads and it’s really hard to remove. 🤦🏻♂️
Thanks for this video and the trick to get the drain out without that special tool. My only problem was that I wasn't able to get the old rubber gasket out. It was really jammed in there and I may have damaged it while trying to get it out. Is that going to be a problem for me down the road?
I figured simply replacing this was easy enuff until I removed the plug and saw that the part where the drain wrench fits was already broken. I have to imagine the broken pieces are inside the drain line itself now. Now a job I should have been able to do on my own will require a pro to ensure I get those pieces out and don't break anymore off into the drain line. No access from the bottom without cutting into the 1st floor ceiling.
Very good video. Answered my question about installation. The instructions with the new drain assembly I ordered say to apply thread seal tape to the male threads on the drain assembly. Do you think the thread seal tape is necessary?
A little would not hurt but the gasket should do the trick and the tape may make it harder to align the threads causing a cross-thread situation. (No good). Hope this helps, Thanks for watching.
What can I do if while pulling the plug out I broke off the inside? I can't seem to get the drain to break free and loosen to unscrew it. Hopefully, that makes sense.
Make sure the rubber gasket is between the tub and the waste shoe. Also make sure not to use too much plumbers putty. Hope this helps, Thanks for watching.
What would you recommend doing? If after removing the shoe drain cover, the shoe drain is covered in gunk. I noticed that when you transition between the two shots that it went from being very cranky to spotless. What would you recommend?
Do all drains come out by unscrewing using either drain tool or needle nose pliers as shown? I'm trying to remove mine but it won't budge using needle nose pliers and wrench. I'm cranking hard and it won't move. Feels like I am about to break something.
Most of the drains I have seen are removed this way. That is not to say that there may be something else that was made somewhere at sometime. It is possible that it is rusted/corroded real bad. Also a good possibility of breaking something when it comes to plumbing. I wish you the best. Thanks for watching.
Hi Bob! Do you have any tips for getting the new rubber gasket in? I can’t get the pipe to push down at all, even with the overflow cap, screws, etc..removed. The guy at the plumbing store said that would help but it will only move side to side. The gap is only about a millimetre and I need about a centimetre of space. I tried to use a flat head screwdriver but that isn’t working either. I can’t get the gasket in for the life of me. 😭
You may have to gain access to the drain under the tub. It is possible that there is something built up under the drain keeping it tight up against the tub. Hope this helps, thanks for watching.
Oh wow that does happen, There are a few different ways to get it loose but they risk damage to the tub so proceed with caution. You could grind a shallow slot in the corner or the drain and use a hammer and punch and tap it in a counter clockwise direction. another way is you could try to get underneath the drain between the tub and drain and try to spin it that way. (This way is most likely to damage the tub). The next way is from the bottom of the tub, but you would need access to the bottom of the tub. If that is possible then just replace the whole waste shoe from the bottom. I hope one of these will work for you or at least one of them makes sense how I explained it. Thanks for watching.
Hi, thank you for the video. How does the waste shoe (that piece located underneath the tub) hold on to the tub? If I remove that drain part that is what you just replaced with a new one, will the under part stay in place or will it collapse under the house? That is what someone at Lowes told me once before so I never got to fixing it! Thanks for your time.
It is held into place by the drain pipe on one side and through the tub by the drain on the other. Theoretically it should not fall or collapse when the drain is removed. If it does then you have problems that would have shown up soon. Hope this helps, Thanks for watching.
Thanks for the reply, I actually switch my today before your reply. I did not have anything inside the drain for a tool to hold on to but found another drain removal tool made by Husky. There was nothing for me to hold on to and that took really help me get it out of there. Once out I was surprised to see that the same replacement part I had bought was too big and had to go to a different place than Lowes or HD to get something to replace with. I finally was able to do that but realized that I did something different than you did and pretty much did like it was installed. In other words I put putty like you but also put the black seal and added it above the putty. Is it actually supposed to go under the tub and as well as above (above putty)? I think I added too much now!!!! What do you think? Thank you.
The black rubber “washer” should go between the tub and waste shoe. If you have too much putty it will squeeze out when you tighten the drain to the waste shoe. Hope this makes sense.
The man at the hardware store said the same thing, not to risk losing that bottom portion, so I decided to just go with a rubber stopper. I am glad I cam back to the video and saw this comment, I think I'm going to try it anyway.
excellent video! Unfortunately, the cross thing is completely broken in mine and I have no idea how to get the ring out without tearing up the fiberglass around it. Any suggestions?
That type of extraction is much more difficult. many times it requires bending a corner of the drain up (carefully as to not damage the tub) then grabbing the piece that is bent up and twisting. All this assuming you have NO access to the underside of the drain. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching.
I hear some plumbers say not to use plumbers putty, for the drain and use silicon instead, especially on an acrylic or fibreglass tub. What’s your opinion on this? Also, can any plumbers putty be used or is there a specific kind for drains?
With some shower bases they do not recommend plumbers putty with this one it could be either silicone or plumbers putty so it does not really matter. Also the rubber washer on the bottom of the drain is really what seals everything. Thanks for watching.
Thanks for this. After removing the old drain, the PVC under the tub dropped down far enough so the new drain cant reach it. Any ideas before I make a hole on the wall to push it up?
Oh no, That is no good. If you cannot reach it from above and you have a finished ceiling below then unfortunately you will need to cut a hole in the ceiling below to get it reattached. The part that concerns me is why it dropped so low? It should be seated up against the bottom of the tub and if it fell down like you described then it is possible that your drain is under stress (someone has pushed it into place to make it fit) or something is loose. Either way it may be a good idea to open it up just to inspect the plumbing. Sometimes I will cut a small hole and use my phone to video the area , that way the hole is not so large and I get a good view of the plumbing. Hope this helps, I wish you the best. Thanks for watching.
@@funbro1 Yes, I too do think something was pushing it up. The old drain was so corroded that I had to use a Drain Extractor, the kind you hammer inside the old drain and then twist with a wrench. The instructions say "tap lightly with a hammer" but it kept coming off. So maybe an unsecured piece of wood was holding it up, then it felt out of place after the hammering, which I had to do almost a dozen times. Anyway, I was able to lift the PVC with my finger and although it would go back down slowly, I tried without the plumbers putty, and it give me enough time to reach the treads with the new drain. I hope now I can do it with the plumbers putty. If I cant, then I'll make a hole. My question now is, if I make that hole on the back wall (plumbing wall) could I see what's going on? I'm just thinking that thru a wall it'd be easier to fix whatever needs to be fixed.
Any recommendations on how to remove one of these if it’s so corroded that the “+” inside of the drain no longer exists? I am having difficulty gripping the remaining ring to unscrew it out.
I’ve had to do this several times…not an easy proposition. What I did was ground a slot in the top of the drain and then I had something I could use a hammer and chisel on to loosen it. Hardest part doing it this was is trying to keep from damaging the tub. Can’t grind too deep and have to be careful using the hammer and chisel. I’m sure there are other ways but this has worked several times for me. Hope this helps, thanks for watching.
