water leak in basement

[mmorris]

I have a leak in the basement coming from just below the shower floor drain. I suspect it needs some plumbers putty or a new gasket but I'm having trouble removing the shower drain from the plumbing below. It should just unscrew if it's like a house one. But I can't get an adjustable plumbers wrench onto the drain rim on the shower side to hold it from spinning. Anyone have any idea how to remove the drain?

[Lloyd]

Can you go down thru the top and hold it? If there is any cross pieces or something similar in there that you can stick a pair of needle nose pliers down into, you might be able to hold it. Especially if you get someone to help you on one end or the other.

[mmorris]

Originally Posted by Lloyd

Can you go down thru the top and hold it? If there is any cross pieces or something similar in there that you can stick a pair of needle nose pliers down into, you might be able to hold it. Especially if you get someone to help you on one end or the other.

Lloyd,
Thanks for the advice. I did get it from below using needle nosed pliers and a water pump wrench. Now I have a new, but smaller, problem. When I unscrewed the "nut" from below, both a rubber washer and a paper (?) washer fell out. Which goes upwards towards the shower bottom?
Also it seems that maybe that foam seal between the shower drain lip and the shower floor might be too short to make a good seal. Wouldn't plumbers putty or silicone caulk work as well, or better?

[Stan]

Morris - Use clear silicone on the upper flange and wipe up the excess, as it will squeeze out, after you are done. As far as the gaskets go, the rubber seal goes against the fiberglass stall and the paper one goes just before the nut. The paper one will slip instead of turning the rubber one which cause a bad seal.

[travelin texans]

Personally I'd use plumbers putty, you may want it apart again someday & silicone is just a PITA to clean off.

[mmorris]

Thanks to all. I got it back together, although I put the paper gasket in the wrong position. Since it's winterized, I'll have to wait a while to test for leaks.