QA

How To Plumb Shower Drain

How do you plumb a shower drain line?

Does a shower drain need a trap?

Do shower drains have traps? According to regulations, all shower drains are required to have P-traps. This includes all fixtures connected to a building’s main plumbing system. P-traps are curved pipes installed under showers and drains of all kinds.

Where should the drain be placed in a shower?

Point drains ideally sit in the middle of the shower floor or by the end of the wall. Either way, the water drains downward by a slope in the bottom. When placed by the wall, the floor is sloped sideways.

What kind of pipe do you use for a shower drain?

Keep in mind that shower drain assemblies are generally made to fit a 2-inch drainpipe, not the 1 1/2-inch pipe usually found on tubs. A 2-inch pipe is the recommended size because showers have a low threshold for flooding, and a 2-inch pipe helps the water drain faster than does a 1 1/2-inch pipe.

How far can P-trap be from shower drain?

The maximum distance between the shower drain and the P-trap is 5 feet. However, the P-trap should be as close to the shower drain inlet as possible. You should even have the P-trap directly under the shower drain for the best results.

Can I use 1.5 inch pipe for shower drain?

Current plumbing codes (IPC as well as MA Plumbing Code 248 CMR 10 for instance) need 1.5 inches to drain for a tub with a shower. The tub can drain at leisure and the shower function when in utilize, with flow-limiting showerheads, fall within the flow rate that a 1.5” drain can handle.

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.

Does a shower drain need a vent pipe?

Vent Pipe Requirements for Showers It’s easy to forget, but it’s a vital and required part of any plumbing fixture drain. The vent pipes remove sewer gases while allowing air into the system to help the water drain. Without a vent, your shower won’t drain correctly.

Does a shower trap need AU Bend?

Newcomers to bathroom plumbing sometimes ask, ‘why do I need a U bend? The simple answer is that the water trapped in the U bend acts as a barrier to the foul smells that otherwise rise from the sewer or other drainage pipework. This is why it is an absolute requirement in the building regulations.

How far should a shower drain be from a wall?

The drain hole should be a minimum of 12 inches away from the wall and 9 inches in scope. To rough in the drain, use a 1.5-inch pipe.

Does it matter where the shower waste is positioned?

technically, the trap far away from shower exit as possible to prevent slipping in water when exiting. pratically, nearest place possible for trap maintenance.

What is the slope for a shower drain?

In a stall shower, the plumbing code requires the floor to be sloped one quarter (1/4) of an inch per foot in order to carry the water effectively to the drain. This slope, according to the TCNA Handbook is called “sloped fill” or commonly known as the pre-slope.

Why is ABS pipe no longer used?

Manufacturers used the regrind or recycled plastic as a way to reduce costs and make ABS pipe more competitive with PVC pipe (which has a lower resin cost than ABS); it was generally not done for environmental reasons. Nov 1, 1994.

Can you use plastic pipes for showers?

Plastic pipe is the easy-to-use plumbing solution for running under floorboards and up behind stud walls. Always use pipe inserts at joints to stop plastic pipe deforming. Include a shut-off valve on both hot and cold supplies as close as possible to the shower.

How high should a shower drain be from the floor?

2″ Drain Pipe should be centered in a hole (approximately 5″ diameter) in the flooring. The top of the Pipe should be no higher than, and no more than 1/8″ lower than, the top surface of the floor on which the base will be set.

Can a shower and sink share a drain?

Is It Possible to Have the Same Drain for the Shower and Sink? Yes, the drain for the shower and the sink can be the same. The shower and sink can use the same drain pipe if it is well below the sink and shower level.

Does a tub drain need a trap?

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 does my shower drain smell like sewer?

Smells in a shower drain can be caused by odor-causing bacteria that feed on debris in the pipe. Some of these anaerobic bacteria live in fetid water in the P-trap and produce hydrogen sulfide gas, which smells like sewage. Other odors can also be caused by the debris itself, like hair or soap scum build-up.

What is code for shower drain size?

Shower drains shall have an outlet size of not less than 11/2 inches (38 mm) in diameter.

Can showers have a one and half inch drain?

IPC International Plumbing code allows a 1 1/2′’ drain on a shower BUT, the minimum size for a Floor drain is 2′’. Code only requires 1.5″ for either tub and shower combo or shower alone.

What diameter is a shower drain?

The majority of shower drainpipes are two inches in diameter, but if you have two-inch drains and you run into a three-inch drainpipe, you’ll be making another trip to the plumbing supply store.