A shower drain manage the movement of water out of the shower enclosure. For showers to drain proper, the drain must be installed in the floor correct. If the drain is too small or the slope of the drain is incorrectly instal, water will collect in the shower instead of draining out of the shower.
The collection of water in the shower can lead to various problem for the homeowner. In addition to understanding the function of a shower drain, it is important for individual to be aware of the difference between the drain pipe locate beneath the floor of the bathtub or shower and the drain grate locate on the floor. In most residential home, the drain pipe has a small diameter.
Shower and Bathtub Drains: Types, Parts, and How They Work
The small diameter of the drain pipe may not be sufficient for homes that install multiple shower heads or body jet. In homes that have multiple water sources, a larger diameter drain pipe is required to allow for the higher flow rate of water necessary to properly drain the shower. The location and shape of the drain can impact the way in which the shower floor is sloped.
For instance, if a bathtub or shower has a center drain, the floor slope toward the center of the bathtub or shower from all side of the floor. The use of these slope can make it difficult to install large tile along the edges of the shower floor. An alternative to the center drain is the linear drain.
A linear drain is a long and narrow drain that is installed against one of the walls of the bathtub or shower. The floor can only slope in one direction with these type of drains which makes the installation of tiles easier. Additionally, the one-way slope create by linear drains allow for more functional showers.
Another consideration in the installation of a bathtub or shower is the type of drain grate that is install into the floor. Drain grates can be of various shape. For instance, some drain grates are round while others are square.
The shape of these drain grates is typically a matter of personal preference. Another type of drain grate is called a tile in drain. A tile-in drain is a drain that allow a piece of tile to be placed into the drain grate.
Using a tile-in drain makes the drain less visible within the bathtub or shower. The drain grate that you select for placement into the floor should be coordinated with the layout of the tiles within the bathtub or shower to ensure that there are no small piece of tile located along the edges of the drain grate. Other component of the bathtub or shower that should be considered include the materials that are used to construct the drain and the drain pipes.
Plumbing pipe are typically made out of PVC because PVC is inexpensive and does not corrode. Drain grates are typically made out of stainless steel because stainless steel is a durable material that produces a polished look when it reflect the light. Additionally, if an individual is installing new plumbing pipe into the existing cast iron pipes of an older home, it is important to use the correct plumbing adapter.
Using the wrong adapter will create a leak in the plumbing system that allow for water to travel through the ceiling of the room beneath the bathtub or shower. The installation of the drain should follow the code that relate to plumbing systems and the slope of the pipes that create the drainage system of the bathtub. Plumbing code state that the pipes should slope in a way that allow for the water to naturally drain out of the bathtub through the use of gravity.
Another necessary component of the installation of a bathtub is the inclusion of a P-trap. A P-trap is a bend in the pipe that hold a small amount of water. The use of water within the P-trap create a seal that prevent the gases from the plumbing system from entering the bathroom through the drain.
Finally, although these component of the bathtub are small, there are still small component that must be included in the installation of the bathtub. Weep hole allow water that has seeped into the mortar bed of the bathtub to escape. Without weep hole, the bathtub may rot over time.
Another small component that may be included in the installation of a bathtub is the installation of a hair catcher. A hair catcher is a device that is placed within the drain that catch the hair that enter the drain. A hair catcher prevent the hair from entering the drain system of the bathtub.
Without a hair catcher, the hair that enter the drain may lead to the clogging of the drain. A clogged bathtub drain will prevent the bathtub from properly drain its water.
