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    Knucklez's Avatar
    Knucklez Posts: 129, Reputation: 2
    Junior Member
     
    #1

    Sep 15, 2006, 08:42 PM
    This is how NOT to install shower drain
    Hi everyone,

    I recently purchased a shower from home depot. When I installed (no previous experience) according to instruction the drain leaked! I tightened, I re-did, I losened.. always leaked. Always leaked around the drain (the abs piping I did was OK, didn't leak, it was the outer shell that was leaking).

    So frusturated. This is a "no-caulk" shower base. It has a plastic base premade, with metal support so a mortar bed is not needed. Obviously, this shower is made for the "do it yourself" person... but no.. It sucks because it leaks!

    Anyway, I read this forumn and found much help. I installed the drain according to information found in this forumn and it worked first time. Many thanks!

    Here is what the manufacturer said to do. Place rubber gasket ABOVE the base, no caulk, hand tighten only. Specifically sais no caulk and hand tighten.



    If you do this by manufacturer's instruction it will leak! I guarantee you!

    So instead, follow speedball's direction.

    Use caulk. Put the rubber gasket under base, followed by fiber gasket, followed by large plastic lock nut.

    No leak, and your wife think you a hero (thx speedball)

    Knucklez
    Ps. Picture is hosted by --> http://imageshack.us/
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
     
    #2

    Sep 16, 2006, 06:33 AM
    Hey Knuck,

    "here is what the manufacturer said to do. place rubber gasket ABOVE the base, no caulk, hand tighten only. specifically sais no caulk and hand tighten."
    WRONG!!
    Follow speedball's direction, use caulk. Put the rubber gasket under base, followed by fiber gasket, followed by large plastic lock nut. (and snug the nut up with a large wrench)
    CORRECT!!

    It doesn't take a rocket scientists to see that without a under base seal, (the rubber ring and anti friction fiber washer) you're going to have a leak.
    Of course the people writing directions have never install a shower drain, so you got to cut them some slack. But not much when you consider that they are being paid to be correct.

    "no leak, and your wife think you a hero (thx speedball)"

    Speedball blushes modestly and says, "Thanks"!
    Barry Campbell's Avatar
    Barry Campbell Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #3

    Sep 16, 2006, 08:05 AM
    Thanks for the detailed drawing. This helps me considerably because I do have to pull my shower drain out and see why it's leaking. Perhaps my installer put that gasket in the wrong place. "Just following directions." -Barry
    rdtour's Avatar
    rdtour Posts: 11, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #4

    Jan 29, 2010, 02:26 PM
    Also, grab a grocery bag and stuff the drain, in the process of doing mine (1st time) and the freaking wrench key slipped off and into the drain hole. Now looking for a magnetic fish rod. Dang it!
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
     
    #5

    Jan 29, 2010, 06:27 PM

    Rdture, Welcome to AMHD!
    You're responding to a thread that's been closed since 2006. Before you answer look up in the upper left hand corner tosee the date it was posted.
    Regards, tom
    rdtour's Avatar
    rdtour Posts: 11, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #6

    Jan 30, 2010, 10:12 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by speedball1 View Post
    rdture, Welcome to AMHD!
    You're responding to a thread that's been closed since 2006. Before you answer look up in the upper left hand corner tosee the dare it was posted.
    Regards, tom
    Thanks Speedball, I did see that but figured if the material was still pertinent, then it was OK to add to it. In the future I can star a new thread if that is my acceptable practice.
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
     
    #7

    Jan 30, 2010, 11:42 AM

    In the future I can star a new thread if that is my acceptable practice.
    New threads are for questions. Then we respond. That's how it's done.
    1st time) and the freaking wrench key slipped off and into the drain hole. Now looking for a magnetic fish rod.
    Your wrench key should be down in the bell of the trap. Can you fish it back with a bent coathanger? Good luck, Tom
    rdtour's Avatar
    rdtour Posts: 11, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #8

    Jan 30, 2010, 02:27 PM

    Luckily, a neighbor with a magnet-on-telescoping-rod. That did the trick. I was worried that I would just push the wrench further into the pipe. So the magnet was my first go to shot at it.
    Xfilespoker's Avatar
    Xfilespoker Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #9

    Nov 4, 2011, 02:57 PM
    Very good advice! Thanks! Son of a ***** I hate doing things twice. Lol

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