How to Remove A Shower Drain Cover

Removing some kinds of shower drain covers can be a pain in the back. Some covers can be removed just by flipping them over. Others are more complicated to remove.

I’m guessing you want to remove a ball of hair or some clog in the drain, but the cover is in the way. So, you would want to know how to remove the shower drain cover. Due to the various types of covers, answering this question isn’t straightforward.

Removing the shower drain depends on what kind of cover you have. Usually, a screw should be unscrewed, or you’ll have to push, pull or lift the cover.

Let’s get right to it. All will be clear in a minute.

Types of shower drain covers

We’ll go over the most common shower drain covers. Simultaneously, I’ll explain how to remove them.

Screw-in shower drain cover

These are flat covers screwed in at the top of the drain pipe. Usually, there are 2 screw holes on opposite sides.

Just go over the shower drain, look closely and you’ll notice the screws. Check out their size and find an appropriate screwdriver.

Unscrew the screws and the cover will detach. Take out the cover and that’s it.

Keep in mind that you’ll find hair beneath the cover, so make sure to remove that.

Push/Pull shower drain cover

This type of cover is a bit more complicated, as it’s made of multiple parts. Namely:

• A top knob
• brass insert
• lift stopper
• and a drain body

Don’t worry, you don’t have to remove the whole body if you’re not replacing it. I’ll walk you through it step by step.

First, you need to remove the top knob. To unscrew the knob, hold the stopper and twist counterclockwise. You can try to do it with your hands or just use pliers.

Next, you need to remove the brass. With some models the brass comes off with the top knob. If the brass is still in, using a flathead, unscrew it.

All that it’s left to do is to remove the lift stopper.

Lift and turn shower drain

These are similar to the Push/Pull covers. They also have a top knob, brass, and a lift stopper.

The only difference is; you can take off the whole assembly by turning the top knob. The brass, lift stopper, and top knob are a whole body on their own.

Just lock the lift stopper in place, then turn the knob counterclockwise. Make sure to keep the lift stopper in place while turning.

When finished, pull out the cover. Now you should see the main drain body.

Flipping shower drain cover

This type of cover is the easiest to deal with. The cover is separated from the drain, so you just flip it over.

Toe Touch shower drain cover

Finally, there’s the Toe Touch. This drain cover is one of the simpler ones. It just has a screwed-in main body and a cap. So, all you need is a screwdriver.

First, unscrew the cap. You’ll be left with the main body. In it, you’ll find a screw. Unscrew it, then, unscrew the body with your hand.

There are other types of drain covers but I don’t see them being used in showers. I’m sure you’ll find what you’re looking for here.

Additional tips

If the cover is eroded and removing it is exhausting, try using a plunger (Affiliate link to Amazon). That way you won’t have to remove the cover.

If you want to change the type of shower drain you have, you’ll have to remove the main drain body. If the cover is damaged, just get the cover for the same model.

Regularly open the shower drain cover so you can remove hair buildup.

Related questions

Should I remove old, eroded shower drain by myself?

It’s not recommended that you remove eroded shower drains by yourself. Even if you’re handy, erosion means a weak pipe also, so you may damage the plumbing.

Can I unclog a shower drain without removing the cover?

Yes, you can, if you use a shower drain liquid cleaner. Grain like cleaners may not work as well if poured in while the cover is on. So, look for liquid cleaners.