A Comprehensive Guide to Floor Drain Removal and Replacement

When renovating a home, the installation of floor drains in the bathroom and kitchen is very important. Don't underestimate a small floor drain; if not handled properly, it could lead to issues such as clogs and unpleasant odors.

How to Remove and Replace a Floor Drain

Before removing the floor drain, you need to prepare some tools, such as a wrench, hammer, utility knife, electric drill, etc. Use the hammer to pry off the surrounding cement to loosen the floor drain. Be careful to prevent any cement from falling into the drainage pipe, and remember to wrap the drainpipe beforehand.

Next, use the utility knife to cut away the cement around the floor drain. Finally, you can take out the old floor drain. Make sure to clean up any residual cement around the area, and then prepare some cement mortar, mixing it well.

Apply the prepared mortar to the original installation spot. Install the new floor drain, adjusting its position as needed, and then use white cement to fill in the gaps to ensure a sealed effect around the drain. After some time, once the cement mortar sets, it will provide an effective seal.

What to Do if the Floor Drain Leaks

1. If there is a leak around the floor drain, it is generally because the waterproofing wasn't done properly. Over time, this can lead to water seeping around the area. It might also be due to settling of the house, which causes problems with the waterproof layer. The solution is quite simple.

2. First, you need to break away the tiles around the floor drain and redo the waterproofing. Some homeowners, fearing the hassle, opt to simply replace the floor drain without breaking up the floor. While this method is simpler, it doesn't address the root problem, and leaks are likely to reoccur after a while.

3. You can use a chisel to cut out a ring-shaped groove around the floor drain, approximately 3 cm deep and 3 cm wide. Clean the edges of the groove with a brush, then fill the groove with a waterproof cement agent and compact it smoothly.

In summary：the above is a guide on how to remove and replace a floor drain. If a leak occurs, it is necessary to replace it, but it’s best to remove the surrounding tiles and redo the waterproofing to ensure lasting results.