Bathtub repair, replacement and conversions in San Jose
Most tub problems are the drain, the overflow or the valve, and a replacement is mainly about getting the old tub out cleanly.
- 24/7 answered
- Phelan Ave San Jose office
- Tank, tankless, heat pump
Perfect Tankless Plumbing, San Jose, CA
Bathtub work in San Jose covers repairing leaking drains and overflow gaskets, replacing tub and shower valves, installing new alcove or drop-in tubs, and converting tubs to walk-in showers; drain alterations are permitted and inspected, and slab homes need extra planning when the drain moves.
Updated September 2026
Fixtures & Bath
Repair the tub or replace it
A tub that leaks into the ceiling below usually has a failed drain gasket or overflow seal, not a cracked tub. Those are repairable from the access panel or from below. A chipped or worn finish can be refinished; a cracked fiberglass or steel tub needs replacing.
Replacing a tub means removing the old one, often cutting it out, then setting the new tub level on proper support with a new drain and overflow, and adjusting the valve and spout to suit.
Cost factors
What tub work costs depend on
We do not publish a local tub price; the tub type and the drain work set the scope.
- Repair or replace. a gasket or a new tub
- Tub type. alcove, drop-in or freestanding
- Removal. cutting out a cast iron or steel tub
- Drain relocation. slab work costs more
- Valve replacement. when the old valve is worn
- Permit. for drain alterations
Options
Keep the tub or convert to a shower
| New tub | Walk-in shower | |
|---|---|---|
| Bathing | Soaking possible | Showers only |
| Access | Step over the rim | Low or no threshold |
| Drain work | Same location | Often relocated |
| Waterproofing | Tub plus surround | Pan and full membrane |
| Slab houses | Simpler | Concrete opened at the drain |
| Best for | Families with young children | Accessibility and space |
DIY or call
Tub fixes you can try
| Task | Reasonable to DIY | Call a plumber |
|---|---|---|
| Clearing hair from the drain | Yes | If the trap is clogged |
| Replacing a stopper | Yes | If the drain leaks |
| Recaulking the tub | Yes | If water gets behind the surround |
| Replacing the overflow gasket | Handy owners with access | No access panel |
| Replacing the valve | No | Always |
| Installing a new tub | No | Always |
Tub drain and overflow
The tub drain shoe and the overflow gasket are the two seals most likely to leak, and both usually leak only when the tub is used or filled high. We replace the drain assembly and gaskets from the access panel or from the ceiling below, set a new stopper mechanism, and fill the tub past the overflow to test. If the stain below appears only after baths and never after showers, the overflow is the prime suspect, and it is an inexpensive part that stops a recurring ceiling stain.
Tub to shower conversion
Converting a tub to a shower removes the tub, reworks the drain to a shower drain in the right location, moves the valve to shower height if needed, and adds a pan or a mortar bed with waterproofing. On raised-floor houses the drain is adjusted from below; on slab houses the concrete is opened at the drain. We coordinate with the tile or panel installer so the pan, the membrane and the drain are compatible and the finished floor height works with the doorway.
Drop-in and alcove tubs
Alcove tubs sit between three walls with a tiled or paneled surround; drop-in tubs sit in a deck; freestanding tubs need a floor-mounted drain and often a floor-mounted filler. Each has different rough-in requirements for the drain and supply. We set the tub level on the support its manufacturer calls for, connect the drain and overflow, and confirm the valve and spout line up with the new tub before the walls are finished, since moving a valve after tile is set is a much larger job than moving it during rough-in.
Local context
Slab homes and moving a tub drain
Tub and shower work changes character on a slab. In the slab-on-grade homes of Almaden Valley and Cambrian Park, the tub drain and supply lines run under the concrete, so converting a tub to a shower or moving the drain means opening the slab at that spot, setting the new drain, having it inspected and patching the concrete before tile. On raised floors the same change is made from underneath, which is why the two quotes look so different.
How the job runs
How tub work runs
- 1
Diagnose or plan
Leak source or the new layout.
- 2
Permit
When drains are altered.
- 3
Remove
Old tub or failed parts.
- 4
Rough in
Drain, overflow and valve.
- 5
Set and connect
Tub level and supported.
- 6
Test
Fill past the overflow, check for leaks.
FAQ
Bathtub Installation and Repair questions from San Jose homeowners
The overflow gasket is usually leaking when the tub is filled high.
Yes, usually by breaking it up in place, which is safer than carrying it out whole.
When the drain is altered, yes, and the rough-in is inspected.
Yes, with a floor drain and supply set to its position.
For a worn finish, often yes. A cracked tub needs replacing.
Same family
Related work in fixtures & bath
Kitchen Sink Plumbing
P-trap and drain assembly, Sink replacement.
Kitchen Sink PlumbingGarbage Disposal Installation
Jammed or humming disposal, New disposal install.
Read about garbage disposal installationKitchen Remodel Plumbing
Moving the sink or adding an island, Gas range and pot filler lines.
Moving the sink or adding an island and related workDishwasher and Refrigerator Line Hookup
Ice maker line, Dishwasher supply and air gap.
Dishwasher and Refrigerator Line Hookup in San JoseToilet Installation and Repair
Running toilet parts, Wax ring and rocking base.
Running toilet parts and related work
One number, any hour
Fix or replace the tub
Call and tell us what is leaking or what you want to change. We will plan the plumbing.
