I'm removing my old shower pan and it appears that the drain is 2" copper pipe and appears to be leaded in. How should I remove the shower pan and also remove the lead from the 2" copper pipe. Once that is all done, do I need to remove the 2" copper drain and replace with PVC?

Hi Peter

When I remove a copper pan from a copper pipe I usually use a hammer and a wood chisel to cut a 5" hole in the pan around the drain assembly. Then I can lift the copper pan up and out and then deal with the drain assembly by rocking the drain back and forth or drilling out the lead around the pipe. If you are installing a new pan that requires a PVC or ABS plastic pipe then you can just cut the old drain off at this point... ;)

Alternatively, you could drill a series of holes around the lead that surrounds the copper pipe and then leverage the lead out with a screwdriver, and then lift the pan up and off... either way works!

In terms of what to do with the pipe I would need to know what kind of new pan you are putting in to answer properly, OK?

Back to you...

Mark

Thanks. This is very helpful. I will be installing a fiberglass pan with surround panels on the wall.

Fiberglass pan should be set in a bed of mortar or structolite perlited gypsum for best result.

For ease of installation I would cut the copper pipe about 2" above the PTRAP and install a SHIELDED transition clamp that goes from 2" copper to 2" PVC (see image). This will make installing the new drain real easy for you

PS: Don't forget to drop the pan over to a junk dealer... could pay $20.00 to $40.00 depending on the size of the pan!. ;)

Awesome! This is perfect. Thanks for the great advice.

Glad to help!