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clooless · May 23, 2010, 05:45 PM

So, we've had this leak fixed once before by a handyman whose work appears to have been pretty shoddy. Water started coming through our ceiling again last week so I cut open the ceiling to try to identify the source. The pictures below show where I think the water is coming from and what my drain looks like from above (it looks a little rough as I took a quick first stab at trying to remove it).

Any suggestions on the easiest way to repair this? I've read about the Wingtite and am wondering if this would work or if it can be done cheaper simply by replacing with better-installed drain parts.

Thanks for any and all help... Chris

massplumber2008 · May 23, 2010, 07:48 PM

Hey hey Clooless...

The problem here is going to be that black neoprene washer you see under the strainer assembly (on top)... that needs to be installed under the shower floor.

You will probably be best to cut out the old strainer assembly and install a new strainer assembly. You'll need a new 2" socket weld shower strainer, a 2" PVC coupling, a small piece of 2" PVC pipe (sold in 2' lengths at home depot), PVC primer, PVC cement (small cans), and a squeeze tube of clear silicone. All of this is available at any home supply store.

Cut the 2" pipe about 6" to 1 foot below the old strainer assembly and remove the old strainer assembly. Clean everything up real well and finish with some isopropyl alcohol for best result. Install the new strainer using a large bead of the silicone under the lip of the new strainer (on top). The black neoprene washer goes underneath the shower floor with a cardboard friction washer just on top of the nut (underneath the rubber washer). Here you have strainer, silicone, shower floor, black washer, cardboard friction washer and finally the nut you tighten up to the strainer to set all this into place... see image below.

Finally, you'll prime and cement the new pipe and coupling into place to join all up... ;) Let this dry at minimum of 24 hours or as recommended by the silicone manufacturer before using the shower.

Home depot sells a strainer wrench real cheap... see image. You may need to bend it at the handle to get it into that tight space.

That should be all you need here! Let us know if you have questions...

Mark

ballengerb1 · May 23, 2010, 07:55 PM

Do my eyes decieve me or is that nut tightened up againist particle board? Not wise. Also the leak could be the threads of the nut and might be sealed with three wraps of white teflon. Is it coming out of the thread?

massplumber2008 · May 23, 2010, 07:57 PM

Hi Bob...

Nope... the nut is tightened up against the shower floor as it should be... issue is with that black neoprene washer, for sure... needs to be on underside of the shower floor!

Mark

ballengerb1 · May 23, 2010, 08:26 PM

I seeit now, thanks. For a moment I thought there was a piece of Tyvek above the sub but it is the bottom side of a fiber glass shower pan. Old eyes, damn

clooless · May 27, 2010, 07:10 PM

Thank you guys very much. This is all very helpful and I've gotten started on making the repair, but I have one question...

How do I couple the existing pipe to the new pipe when I can't move the existing pipe down or, once the drain is glued to the pipe and screwed into place, move the new pipe up to make room for the coupler? And if I couple the pipe first, I won't have the room to insert and glue in the drain.

clooless · May 27, 2010, 08:10 PM

Maybe I've got it. Do I want to use this drain...

Instead of this drain...

massplumber2008 · May 27, 2010, 08:14 PM

Hi Clooless...

You install a compression type shower strainer as you posted on the left.. not the socket weld type... ;) Here, you install the compression type strainer assembly first and then DRY FIT a piece of pipe into place and mark it off at the correct length. Then you'll install the pipe and then the compression washer and tighten up the inner nut and you should be all set. I show a brass type of compression strainer below... same as plastic one.

You could also consider a WINGTITE shower strainer... this would allow you to do the work from above if you purchase an inside pipe cutter.

Check the wingtite strainer out here:

Google Image Result for http://www.wingtite.com/images/orangead.jpg

Let us know if you need more info... O.K?

Mark