How to Remove a Shower P-Trap

Remove the Shower

• 1

  Determine how to reach your shower's P-trap. If a crawlspace, basement or room is beneath the shower, then you can access the pipes from underneath. If you don't have this option, then you'll have to remove the entire shower.

• 2

  Remove the shower walls. If the walls are a hard surface such as tile, strike them with a heavy hammer and then peel them off. If the walls are made of a thin material such as vinyl or linoleum, you can cut directly into them with a saw. Peel away the folds.

• 3

  Cut the caulk between the shower and the floor using a utility knife.

• 4

  Unscrew the drain cover.

• 5

  Scrape away the rubber flange surrounding the drain using the utility knife.

• 6

  Remove any brackets or screws holding the shower floor in place.

• 7

  Pry the shower floor up using a flat bar. Remove the floor from your workspace.

Removing the P-Trap

• 8

  Place a bucket beneath the P-trap. The P-trap is holding water that will pour out when you remove the trap.

• 9

  Loosen the upper bolt of the P-trap with a pair of channel locks or a wrench. Once it's loose, unscrew it all the way with your hands.

• 10

  Unscrew the lower bolt. Water will start dripping from the pipe.

• 11

  Pull the P-trap down to remove it.