Basement Shower Drain
#1
03-20-11, 06:43 PM
Basement Shower Drain
I would like to install a shower stall in the basement. There is a 1 1/2" ptrap in a pit below cement floor. This ptrap was originally installed for a tub with the drain above the ptrap. I would install the shower in the same area but the shower drain is about 2 feet from the ptrap. I would have to build a platform for the shower to raise the base up enough for an elbow. The question I have is will there be sewer smell with 2 foot pipe if ptrap is not directly under shower drain; and will this installation cause any draining problems?
#3
03-20-11, 08:35 PM
What I've done in this situation is jackhammer a little trench over to the shower drain and set a 2" p-trap. There is a good chance that the current 1 1/2" trap drains into a 2" pipe close to the trap. Dig aroung a little bit.
#5
03-21-11, 03:06 PM
I'll agree with you. Makes no sense to have 50 gallons of water go through a 1 1/2" line at one time, while a shower would put 3 gallons per minute max through a 2" line. Go figure. BUT they don't make a 1 1/2" shower drain, so it' catch 22.
#6
03-21-11, 03:15 PM
Super Moderator
Because a shower does not have a high lip like a tub. You need to remove the water from the base faster then a tub, so you dont overflow. Plus a tub have a overflow a shower does not.
Does it sound logical?
Mike NJ
Does it sound logical?
Mike NJ
#8
03-22-11, 07:31 PM
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Wet side of Washington state.
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Well, Chandler, there may come a time when you get your wish and all drains will be a minimum of 2-inch pipe. In the meantime I guess you'll just have to wait another few minutes for the tub to completely drain.
How often have you heard/read of someone still using a bathtub that takes an hour to drain after a bath? You sure wouldn't be doing that with a shower! The 2-inch minimum for a shower DOES make sense.
How often have you heard/read of someone still using a bathtub that takes an hour to drain after a bath? You sure wouldn't be doing that with a shower! The 2-inch minimum for a shower DOES make sense.
#9
03-26-11, 06:22 AM
Oh, I agree. It would just make my job of remodeling much easier to go and remove a tub, slightly relocate the drain and put in a shower without having to remove the floor to run a new 2" line to the main. I've got two lined up this month 
and have to tell the client why it costs what it does. They think a drain is a drain.
and have to tell the client why it costs what it does. They think a drain is a drain.
