Shower drains cover a big deal with the flowing of the waste-water of your bathroom. The drainpipe is one of the most important key components of it. The efficiency of the drainage system mostly depends on the pipe size. If the pipe is oversized, it can slow down the flow while the small tube can cause over-flow of water on your shower base.
So it’s vital to know about the necessary pipe size for your shower drain. Now you can face a common question regarding the pipe size:
So, can you use 1 ½ pipe for shower drain?
Go through the article to clear your doubts as we are to put a full stop to all the questions regarding the shower drain and drainpipe size.
What is a Shower Drain?
A shower drain is an appliance that funnels waste-water into the sewer system. At the same time, its design also prevents the back up of sewer gas into your bathroom.
How Does It Work?
Though the shower drain looks like a simple hole, its work mechanism is a little more complicated. It has a pipe which flows the water. The pipe features a trap that works like a kitchen sink.
The bottom area of the trap holds some water that prevents sewer gas. Besides, the drainage is vented so that the vacuum created by the water flow can’t slow it down.
Steps for Installing A Shower Drain with Drainpipe
Placing the 1 ½ inches pipe on the floor:
The 1 ½ inch shower drain should be centered in a hole (approximately 5 diameters) on the flooring. The pipe should be exactly 1/8″ lower from the floor. Mark on the tube to get the appropriate height, remove the shower base, and cut it if necessary.
Installing Drain Body To The Shower Base And Attaching It To The Drainpipe
Part 1:
- Put silicone caulk or plumber’s putty on the top flange and press it firmly into shower base from the top.
- Insert the rubber and slip washer from the bottom and thread the drain nut onto the drain body.
- Tighten the shower drain properly and remove the extra silicon or putty.
- Set the shower base in place so that the drain body drops into the drainpipe, and the drainpipe stays precisely at the center.
Part 2:
- Push the compression gasket down the drain body from the top to line up with the top of the drainpipe. Then drop the compression nut on it.
- Tighten the nut from inside the drain using the special tool that comes packaged with these drains.
- Press the metal strainer into the drain body and make sure it stays lower than the shower base.
- If you use putty, then it’s ready. Otherwise, let the silicone sealant dry.
Now your shower drain is ready to drain water through the pipe.
Can You Use 1 ½ Pipe For Shower Drain? [Know The Right Shower Drain Pipe Size]
Determining the shower drainpipe’s right size seems like a hurdle while installing a new shower in the bathroom. Besides, the material with which the pipe is made also has a vital thing to think of. Among the pipes, the cast iron materials are the roughest.
On the other hand, PVC pipes can accommodate good water flow. The life expectancy of PVC pipe is around 100 to 300 years long. It’s important to know why the size of the drainpipe is so crucial for the shower.
Showers have a minimum threshold for flooding. Moreover, nowadays, many showers use multiple heads to spray water from all angles. If you use a small pipe, that might not prevent the water from overflowing into the bathroom floor.
Standard Size
The standard size of the shower drainpipe is 2 inches. This is generally large enough to keep even the shower tray has a tiny size. Besides, most of the building codes suit this size. But not for all of us, as there are many things to consider. It may seem like a small one and not sufficient for many of us. However, the local building codes and shower drain size code can differ in some states and cities.
Some areas only require a 1 ½ inch pipe. You can use a 1.5-inch pipe there. 1.5 inch will be sufficient for bathtub for its size, and volume allows it to reserve some water. But you can still go with the 2 inches one if you don’t want your leg to be drowned into the soap water.
Consult with professionals before purchasing a smaller pipe.
Shower Drain Reducer
If your building code requires only a 1.5-inch pipe and you don’t want to go with the 2-inch size even after purchasing it, you can reduce the pipe size. Just glue a reducer and make the opening slightly smaller according to your need.
Shower Drain Cleaning
Hair or other specks of dust can slow down the water flow into the drainpipe. To prevent this, you should take some measures. The measures can be:
- Pouring boiled water on the drain
- You can use a plunger with petroleum jelly to remove hair.
- Using baking soda and vinegar can resolve the bigger blockage.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Can showers have a one and half inch drain?
In some areas, showers can have 1 ½ inch drain. But in general, it can be smaller and unable to prevent the overflow of water onto the shower base.
Does a shower drain need a vent pipe?
Yes, a shower drain needs a vent pipe. It carries away the waters to the sewerage line or the septic tank, and the shower becomes empty.
What size pipe is used for bathtub drain?
In the modern bathtub, drains of one and a half-inch are used. Since tub has a bigger volume to hold water, 1 ½ inch pipe generally seems sufficient. But the local building code can vary according to the slope and venting method of the drain.
What size is a standard shower drain?
The standard size for the shower drainpipe is 2 inches. Most of the shower drains are compatible with this size.
What is the best shower drain?
OXO Good Grip Easy Clean Shower Drain, LEKEYE Shower Drain, or HANEBATH Linear Shower Drain can be some of the best showers drains for you.
How long should a linear shower drain be?
For a three-sided installation, the length should exactly be the same distance between the walls. Also, the wall tiles need to be placed on the shower drains flange. For one-sided installation, the length needs to be at least 8-10 cm shorter on each side than the distance between both walls.
Wrapping it up!
Installing a shower drain and connect it with the right-sized pipe is very important. 1 ½ inch pipes do not seem that much comfortable for showers. Rather they are used in bathtubs. Many people remain confused about the different shower drain pipe size code or find it challenging to install a shower drain.
However, we hope the confusion about the most common ques – ‘can you use 1 ½ pipe for shower drain’ must’ve eliminated now! So it’s time to remodel your bathroom with a beautiful shower!