Hi,
In an 2nd floor bathroom I am trying to separate a tub/shower into a separate shower and free standing tub. Is it okay to used the same drain that was used for the tub previously which is 1 1/2″ ?
Would there only be a problem if, by chance, the tub was draining at the same time someone was taking a shower?
The first floor has been remodeled so it will require tearing into some walls to run a new drain.
It seems that a new 2″ drain should be installed for the shower but I don’t know if that is going overboard. I really don’t want to have to blow my budget on something that would never be an issue.
Thanks.
Replies
It depends on how much of a code weenie the inspector is. I can't remember whether a transition to 2" is required when any two large-volume drains meet, or whether it's just when the drains from two different rooms meet.
From a practical standpoint, the danger is that if someone drains the tub while someone else is taking a shower, and the drain is sluggish due to hair buildup, etc, the tub water will rise an inch or two into the shower. It is unlikely to cause a flood unless the occupants ignore the warning signals and don't get the drain augered when their toes keep getting wet(ter).
That is what I was thinking. Can the transition to the 2" be done in the basement assuming there is access or does it have to be right after the two drains meet?
2"
A shower requires a 2" drain. A shower drain has a 2" fitting. You can't put a 2" fitting into 1 1/2" pipe. This is not an issue of whether you can put 2 1 1/2" drains into a single pipe (you can). If, somehow, you can find a 1 1/2" shower drain your inspector might buy it.