Tiled showers offer another complication: Because grout can crack, it’s important to have a backup plan to catch any water that might leak through. Snaking is the process of using a plumber’s snake to clean out all of the old hair and soap residue that collects in a drain. A little bit of warning here: this method might not be successful for all kinds of … The plumbing code calls for the transition to be made with a reducer directly below the shower, nowhere else. No matter what challenges you face, the following tips will help the project go a little more easily. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Most shower drains are designed to receive 2-in. The drain should come up to ¾ to 1 inch below the lip of the shower drain. Disclosure: BobVila.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Other types of drain pipes are sometimes encountered in pre-1960 homes, such as drain/waste/vent (DWV) piping made of iron or steel. With a two-inch drainpipe, the body of the drain fits over the pipe; with a three-inch pipe, it fits inside. Need a part from the store? After the shower base is set, lubricate the gasket with plumber’s soap and slide it into place between the drain body and the pipe. Family Handyman. Luckily, most shower drain odor and clog issues are easy to handle. Like compression drains, glue-on drains are also available as ABS or PVC. Find PVC shower drains at Lowe's today. It doesn’t happen often, but occasionally when you cut through the ceiling below the shower you find wiring or pipes that prevent you from getting your water pump pliers firmly on the nut that connects the drain to the pipe. A shower drain is made of several parts. A serious drain blockage may even result in bathroom flooding, or leaks developing as standing water may seep through shower joints. The compression and glue-on drains are easy to install, and you don’t need to be a plumbing expert.Compression Shower Drains. Glenda Taylor, Bob Vila, Sioux Chief 2-Inch JackRabbit Shower Drain, The Best Winter Camping Destinations in America, All You Need to Know About Walk-in Showers, Video: 3 Fixes for a Clogged Shower Drain, Waterproof Gadgets to Revolutionize Your Shower Experience, 10 Stunning Showers to Give You Bathroom Envy, A Tub with a View: 10 Bathtubs on the Edge of Heaven. If you’ve ever looked at a PVC pipe and noticed something that resembles purple dried glue, that’s PVC primer, and you use some before you finish the installation. Shop for Shower Drains at Ferguson. Installing a shower pan can be done on your own, but it’s a little more labor intensive and requires several more steps and materials. This article has been brought to you by SupplyHouse.com. A two-inch pipe is more common because it allows water to drain more quickly, which is essential when you have a shower pan (rather than a tub). Unlike standard drains that solvent weld or attach with a nut, the JackRabbit drain attaches via four jacking screws from below. Bolt Down Shower Drain with Stainless Steel Strainer - flange with weep holes bolts on body over the shower pan liner - 2" x 3" ABS body (view dimensions by clicking here) - fits over 2" Sch.40 pipe and inside 3" Sch.40 pipe: $22.87 : ABR-407: Low-Profile Bolt Down Shower Drain with … Shipping According to plumbing code, drain pipe has to be sloped a minimum of 1/4-inch per foot and a maximum of three inches per foot or vertical. Remove the gasket before the shower base is set. Learn how to install a shower drain with these easy steps. Most experts, when talking about a shower drain, are referring to the shower drain cover while others talk about the plumbing directly below the drain. Replace and install the shower drain when you have time. In addition to this, you can also pour a safe yet effective drain cleaner down your drain from time to time. Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila.com. To install, attach the base of the three-part drain to the drainpipe before the first mortar bed is smoothed into place. The drain body features a push-on compression gasket that attaches to the drainpipe without the need for caulking. theplumbinginfo.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. If you take these precautions, once the shower floor has been tiled, any water that makes its way to the membrane will exit through the weep holes and down the drain rather than leak out elsewhere. Otherwise, start by removing your shower drain cover and using a bristled brush, vinegar, and warm water. Tight spots spell trouble. An unpleasant odor emanating from your drain is a further sign of a blocked drain, and may be caused by the debris which is clogging the inner walls of the pipes. The shower drain body is the removable fixture that sits underneath the strainer. Be warned: Balancing the shower base while you align the drain body over the pipe will almost certainly require the help of an additional person. Without the correct drain pipe connections, wastewater can drain from the tub and accumulate underneath it until it finds its way to the floor drain and eventually to the drainage system, which can create a health hazard. It’s also important to note that we will only be discussing how to install a shower drain in a stand-alone shower, not a bath/shower combo (as the plumbing setup is different). A shower has no waste-and-overflow assembly, so the rough plumbing consists of a cemented trap that rises to the correct height for the shower base. Continue this motion until the shower drain body is loose enough for you to unscrew with your fingers. While these are the basic steps to installing a shower drain, you may find that the steps differ depending on the drain kit you purchase or the type of drain cover you select. Oatey design line Decorative Shower Drains Oatey design line Decorative Shower Drains are made of a 304° grade stainless steel construction. A well … “If a leak is present, you’ll probably have to replace the drywall on the ceiling below as well as the drain, and you should take care of it as soon as possible to minimize damage,” O’Brian says. While glue-on drains are relatively easy to install, it’s important to make sure that you have the right size pieces (and double check the fit) before you glue the drain down. 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. You agree that BobVila.com may process your data in the manner described by our Privacy Policy. If you’ve already shopped around for tips on shower drain installation or just a shower drain, you might be a little confused. The standard slope required on a water drainage pipe is 1/4 inch per linear foot of pipe. After the shower base is set, tighten the jacking screws from below to suck the flange downward until it seals against the shower floor. You can use a plunger drain pump to push all the water away. Step 9. That debris then adds to the clog and makes it worse. Copyright © 2021 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. Shower only units require a 2-inch drain and P-trap. Even though a shower drain is a relatively small plumbing part, it’s an important one that may need replacing when you own a home. PVC is supposedly more sound resistant. (It’s usually much easier to get a screwdriver in a tight spot where bulky water pump pliers won’t fit.) If you’re planning on replacing any of the piping below the drain, make sure to choose a piece of PVC pipe that fits. Shower floor is getting remodeled or re-tiled, You want a different style of drain cover. Uni-Green 4-1/4" Square Shower Drain for Low Profile Shower Pan Drain, Chrome Plated and Adjustable Height, PVC Material for 2" Solvent Welded Pipe 4.6 out of 5 stars 8 $28.89 $ 28 . Fernco's shower drain connectors are used by professionals nationwide. In most cases, you won’t be able to avoid cutting through the ceiling below the shower to gain access. How to Fix Frozen Pipes and When to Call the Pros. Once you decide which type of drain you want it shouldn’t be too hard to select the right one. If you’ve never replaced your shower drain, had any work done on your shower, or live in an older home, you might have older copper piping. While most showers are only designed for one person at a time, it’s always a good idea to have someone on hand to help you out. Every drain channel comes fully assembled and … Then, connect the body of the new drain to the new shower base, and set the shower base in place according to the manufacturer’s specifications. This weld-type drain fits either a two- or three-inch drainpipe. A shower drain should pipe directly to a shower outlet, and a tub drain should pipe directly to a tub outlet. 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. Most drains are made to fit a two-inch drain pipe, which is standard for most stand-alone showers. It doesn’t happen often, but occasionally when you cut through the ceiling … If you have a compression drain cover, it will be relatively easy to remove with a screwdriver. Many plumbing projects are often best left to the professionals, but installing a shower drain is a relatively easy task and can be done by anyone who has the time and patience. ABS can handle cold temps better, but also contains BPA and sensitive to sunlight (which shouldn’t matter in your shower drain). PVC is a little more flexible, but ABS is shock resistant and more durable. The only time you won’t need to cut through the ceiling below the shower is when you’re replacing both the drain and the shower base. Create a Makeshift Drain Snake with a Wire Coat Hanger. by The Plumbing Info Team | Installation, Resources | 0 comments. If that doesn’t work, stick a brush with a long handle into the drain and try to scrub. Ideally, you should be able to remove the drain without removing or altering the shower pan. Shower Drain Grid, Drain Grates, Grids and Strainers, Pipe Dia. Don’t know the difference between PVC and ABS? If you can’t find a way to remove the nut or reach the pipe to cut it below the drain, you may end up having to pull the shower base out so you can access the drain from the top. While this is necessary, it leaves you with a shortened drainpipe that you’ll need to extend before you can install the new drain. Contact your local plumber. Ferguson is the #1 US plumbing supply company and a top distributor of HVAC parts, waterworks supplies, and MRO products. A 2-inch drain pipe is better. Even though it’s a pretty straightforward installation, you never know if you’ll encounter issues and if you have to rush through it, you are likely to miss an important step or have your shower out of order. To install another weld-type drain, such as this 2-Inch Sioux Chief PVC Drain (available at SupplyHouse), you’ll want to assemble and dry fit all the connections before you glue them together. We will give you all the information you need for a shower drain installation, so you can decide if you want to replace it yourself or call a pro. PVC is white; ABS is black. 89 Your email address will not be published. If you notice some cracks or leaking in the pipes, you might want to consult with a professional plumber before you proceed with the drain installation. Replacing a shower drain isn’t usually a difficult task, but it always pays to be prepared for complications before you start the job, especially as every project is different. These high quality connectors connect drain, waste, vent, plastic, schedule forty steel or extra heavy cast iron pipe to shower drain bodies. Kohler Elliston Toilet Review: Is This the Best Throne for You? Then, just like that, what should have been a simple drain replacement turns into a major project. Calculating the slope of you… Although linear shower drains are popular and unique, they require a little more time and expertise. Shop Menards for a great selection of shower and floor drains that are available in a variety of styles and sizes to meet your needs. Tighten the drain base and then attach the drain cover. While there are many designs and colors to choose from, when choosing a new shower drain to install, there are two basic types: compression or glue-on. Shop shower drains and a variety of plumbing products online at Lowes.com. Find shower drains at Lowe's today. Best Budget: Liquid-Plumr Pro-Strength Clog Remover Hair Clog Eliminator. Compression fittings are easier to use, particularly if you’re a DIYer, but it’s important that you install the fittings correctly to ensure a tight seal and are long-lasting. These types of drains are best suited for plastic, steel, or fiberglass shower pans. If there are cracks or it looks like it might need replacing sooner than later, you may want to consider a complete shower floor remodel. Buy on Walmart. To ensure that water will be able to flow through the weep holes, place several handfuls of pea gravel around the base of the exposed drain to protect it from the next layer of mortar. For example, pouring chemicals down your shower drain in an attempt to clear it up can pull gunk off the side of the drain before the clog. A 1-1/2-inch drain trap is often permitted for a shower, but a 2-inch trap will ensure quick flow of water and will be less likely to clog. If your home has three-inch drainpipes, it pays to pick up a box of size-adaptable drains to have on hand. Tiled showers rest on a mortar bed laid over a waterproof membrane (such as the Oatey 5’ x 6’ PVC Shower Pan Liner, available at SupplyHouse) that’s installed over yet another mortar bed. Most drains are made to fit a two-inch drain pipe, which is standard for most stand-alone showers. A compression style shower drain attaches to the drain pipes with compression nuts and washers. 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