QA

Question: How Does A Tub Drain Work

How does bathtub drain work?

Bathtub drains have two legs, one to the main drain opening and the other to the overflow drain opening. With a pop-up drain, linkage forces the drain stopper up or down by way of a rocker arm. With the plunger type, a hollow brass plunger slides up and down inside the drain assembly to seal the drain opening.

Do you need a trap on a bathtub drain?

Does a bathtub need a P-Trap? Yes, you should always install a P-Trap as part of the plumbing of a bathtub or any other wastewater drain system. Failure to include a P-Trap could result in foul smells, harmful gases, and small animals entering through your tub’s drain.

Why is my bath tub not draining?

You Have Clogged Drain Pipes Of course, the most common reason why a bathtub won’t drain is due to clogged pipes. Over time, nearly all bathtub drains will develop clogs. These are most commonly caused by a combination of: Soap residue.

Is it easy to replace bathtub drain?

Bathtub drain removal and replacement can be an easy task, regardless of the type of bathtub you own. Once you know the appropriate steps for how to remove a tub drain, you can even replace the bathtub drain with a different style of drain that better suits your needs.

How far below drain should p-trap be?

However, the Universal Plumbing Code stipulates that the total developed length of all tailpieces, arms and fittings connecting the drain to the p-trap must be 24 inches or less. Jennifer Roberts has enjoyed writing since 2008.

Are tub drains standard?

According to Bonnets Stems and Accessories, Inc., a standard modern bathtub drain is 1 1/2 inches in diameter – the width straight across the middle. Antique bathtubs, such as historic clawfoot tubs, sometimes have slightly smaller drain openings, often 1 3/8 inches in diameter.

Why is my new tub draining slowly?

When you have a slow drain, it’s a sign that a clog is developing. Partial clogs limit water flow and are likely to get worse with time. They need vents to release the air pressure generated by water as it drains out. If your show drain vent becomes clogged or partly clogged, your shower will drain much slower.

Can’t get snake past trap tub?

So, why won’t your drain snake go down the bathtub drain? The answer may be that you are either using the wrong kind of drain snake, or you are trying to force it through a P-trap, or you are forcing the snake cable through the pipe too quickly or the clog is just too darn big.

Can you use a toilet plunger on a bathtub drain?

Next to the kitchen sink, garbage disposal, and toilet drains, the tub drain gets the most abuse of any drain in the home. You can easily unclog your bathtub drain with a standard cup-style plunger, but you have to seal the overflow drain first.

How does a push pop up drain work?

The “pop-up” waste operates the drainage plug by lifting a lever, which is located directly behind the faucet, up and down. When the drainage plug pops up a “clack” is often heard and when pushed back down it makes a “click” sound, hence the origin of its name.

Does P trap have to be directly under shower drain?

It doesn’t have to be directly under the shower drain, but it should be as close as possible. Shower drains and traps are notorious for getting hair clogs, and it’s best if they are reachable with a drain snake or cleaning tool of some sort.

Does P trap need to be directly under drain?

7 Answers. You attach the p-trap directly to the drainage and manuever the p-traps exits into you existing drain. It is not ideal to have the p-trap below the the exit drain because water gravity has to force the water out instead of it flowing downwards naturally. They both work and have seen it many times.

Can a drain trap be too deep?

When the trap is too deep, liquid may flow through it too fast, which can lead to siphoning of the trap seal and sludge buildup. If installing a sink with a deeper bowl results in a trap seal deeper than 4 inches, you’ll have to open up the wall and relocate the trap arm connection at the drain (see photo, above).

How far should tub drain be from wall?

You will need to cut a hole in the floor at the drain end of the tub to position the tub drain and install it. The hole should be at least 9 inches wide and 12 inches from the wall.

Are all bathtub drains in the same spot?

All bathtubs drain in basically the same way, with a drain assembly located on the bottom of the tub linked to an overflow that may or may not have a toggle switch. When the plunger or stopper is opened, water drains out of the bathtub, through the drain assembly, down a tailpiece and into the trap.

What size pipe is used for bathtub drain?

The proper size for both a bathtub drain and trap is 1 1/2 inches in diameter, regardless of the bathtub size.

Can a sink drain go straight down?

Can a sink drain go straight down? – Quora. It can. However without the trap, It would let sewer gases into the home.

Which is better P-trap or S trap?

P-traps are generally considered by most to be more effective and consistent in maintaining water trap compared to S-traps. Their design makes them less vulnerable to drying out and losing seal: a properly installed P-trap will never lose its water seal.

How do I make my bathtub drain faster?

Baking Soda and Vinegar Drain Unplug Remedy Take one cup of baking soda, one cup of vinegar and one of salt, if you want some extra power, and make sure there’s no water in the tub. Dump the baking soda into the drain, followed by the salt, and finally the vinegar.

Can plunging make a clog worse?

Take the plunger and position it directly over the drain and firmly plunge down and up several times. Too much pressure can damage the drain line connection and ruin the trap. DO use a plumber’s snake if plunging didn’t work. When you encounter resistance, you’ve found the clog.

How fast should tub drain?

For an average bathtub to drain its water it takes typically around 4 to 6 minutes if the existing drain system operate properly. Factors that depend on how quickly the water will drain from the bathtub depends on the volume of the tub, the filling of the tub, and the diameter of the drain.