I have a stand up shower in my finished basement. It doesn't look like the drain was properly sealed to the drain pipe. It looks to me like a 3" metal drain under the shower. I can see through the open hole to the drain pipe.

My question is, is there anyway to fix this without the costly effort of ripping the whole shower out? Right now if you try to shower the water fills up under the shower and drains out onto the floor. So we have discontinued use until I can correct this problem.


I uploaded a photo, though it isn't that good. I will try to get a better one to put up if it will help.

Thank you in advance for the help.

I took a couple more photos in case it will help. I looks like a big metal pipe in the concrete floor. It doesn't seem to be connected to the shower in anyway. I don't have the slightest clue how I would connect to this even with the shower torn out.

Thanks again.

There is no connection between you shower and the drain pipe. There isn't even a shower strainer. Sorry, but the only way to do this correctly is to tear the shower out. I looks like somebody just set a shower over a floor drain. I think I even see the floor drain cleanout on the right side. For this to be done right, you will need to remove the shower base, break up the concrete, remove the floor drain, adapt to the drain under the concrete, install a new trap and stub a pipe up for the shower. Looks like its time for a plumber. Even worse, it looks like your shower base is cracked, so while your at it, replace the complete shower assembly. Now of course, this is how to do it correctly. However, if you just want it to drain without flooding the bathroom, try to auger the floor drain.

Thanks for the added pics. Yep, that's a floor drain. Time to tear the shower out, or like I said, you can try to auger the drain.

That's what I was afraid of. I will try to auger it. Since this is mostly a utility shower and not used for much else and see how that works for now.

Thank you a ton for your time.

How long has it been like this? Before removing the shower and starting over you could try to make up and indirect drain, I've done this several times over a floor drain. Read this and maybe get 3 plumbers to give you their bids if you can't handle it. WingTite Shower Drain- Replace the Drain, Not the Whole Shower

Well I bought the house less than a year ago. It was like that when I moved in. I just didn't realize till it started flooding and I pulled the silver drain cover off the shower floor.

Thank you for that idea. I will get a plumber or two in here and see if that can be done.

Although a good idea Bob has presented here, with the broken shower pan and the fact that the wing-tite shower strainer can't fully align over the floor drain, (so leaking into the floor will occur) I just don't think it is worth trying to save the old unit.

Here, I would recommend biting the bullet and removing the unit and doing it all right. Cut out the old trap and snake the drain without the trap in place for best overall result.

The fact is that the shower pan is only going to continue to crack and you'd only be putting the complete job off for the short run, overall.

We are glad to talk you through things if you decide you want to tackle this yourself, OK?

Mark

Good point Mark, I missed that crack.

Thank you tons guys. No I think I will call a plumber in and have it done right. You guys have been a great help.

Thanks again.
Jeval

Great vid Bob. I have never actually used one of those before, but you can bet I will in the future. There are definitely spots where that would come in real handy. Thanks again for sharing.