Removing Tricky Shower Drains

The person who installed your shower’s drain body may have used plumber’s putty or silicone caulk on the underside of the drain body’s lip. The putty or caulk creates a waterproof barrier, protecting against water leaking under the drain body and into the subfloor. The putty or caulk also hardens, making removing the drain body difficult unless you use the right tools and methods. Even with the right tools, at first you must apply as much force as possible on the drain to break the putty or caulk.

Screwdriver
Channel-lock pliers
Drain key

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the screws holding the drain’s cover in place, and then pry the cover off the drain’s opening. Place the screws and drain cover in a safe place away from the drain opening.
- 2
  Insert the jaws of a pair of channel-lock pliers into the drain’s opening, and adjust the jaws so they press against the sides of the drain. Turn the drain body counterclockwise with the pliers, unthreading the drain body from the drainpipe below.
- 3
  Remove the jaws of the channel-lock pliers from the drain if you cannot loosen the drain body, and then slide the pliers handles in the drain’s grid. Insert a long screwdriver between the pliers handles, and use the screwdriver to turn the pliers and drain counterclockwise.
- 4
  Insert a drain key in the drain’s opening if the grids are broken or not present. Turn the dial on the drain key, expanding it against the drain’s walls until it fits snugly. Grab the top of the drain key with the pliers, and turn it counterclockwise to unthread the drain.

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