How to Plumb a Shower Drain

Always pick a shower drain that should fit the shower pan and your current situation. This is important because there are only a few options when selecting a shower drain for your installation. One of the determinants that you can refer to is the type of pipe you have at home. Most of the time, manufacturers have their own set of recommendations for both drain and shower pan. You might as well use recommendations made by manufacturers that should determine which product offers a good buy.

Here are a number of steps that you can use to plumb a shower drain yourself. Just make sure that you have some basic knowledge about plumbing or else you will have some serious issues.

1. Installing Compression Type Shower Drains

Basically, compression type products are made with ABS, brass, and PVC. These products can be installed on fiberglass, plastic or steel shower bases. In order to do this, you must first install the shower drain on the base.

  • Measure the drain pipe and it should measure around ¾-inch to 1-inch below the rim of the shower drain. Simply put the shower base in place so that it will mark the correct height. You can also remove the pan when you need to cut the pipe.
  • You can use silicon or plumber’s putty over the ring of the drain. Place the ring on the top of the base then put the friction ring and washer below the shower base.
  • Tighten the drain and then remove the excess silicon or putty.
  • Place the base in place then push the gasket over the pipe. Just use a screwdriver in order to push it into place whenever it will give you any trouble.
  • Tighten the nut using a set of tools that comes together with the shower drains upon purchase. You can do this by tightening the nut from the inside of the shower drain.
  • If you used putty, you can use the shower drain after you have tightened it. For silicon installations, you need to allow it to dry first before you can test the drains for any leaks.

2. Installing Glue on Shower Drains

Similar to the compression type drain, you can use the glue on shower drain with steel, plastic, and fiberglass shower bases. With plastic drain pipes, you need to get a shower drain that should match your requirements.

  • Don’t cut the drain pipe too low. Simply place the bottom part of the shower drain onto the pipe, but don’t glue it yet.
  • After cutting the drain pipe at the correct height, install the drain pipe on the base initially. You can also glue the bottom part on the drain pipe and tighten the flange on the top after the base is put into place.
  • You can now put plumber’s putty or silicon over the flange of the drain. Just use the friction washer and rubber washer into the base.

Simply use appropriate type of glue when connecting the drain to its pipe. For white plastic, you can use PVC glue. Meanwhile, you can use ABS glue for the black plastic.

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