This is for all you plumbers. Can you help me?

Question

The shower in my new place has been ripped out by the previous owners. All that is left is a hole in the ground for the drain. I have my tub drain kit ready to install and put down this hole. Question is, does it just drop in there or is there something that it should connect to to keep back splash from occurring? what do I do?

the hole in my floor is actually a metal pipe flush with the concrete flooring. Looks like I will need to chisel out about 2 inches so I can hook up a rubber coupling from the drain pipe to the drain. Tub is level otherwise.

Answer 1

I'm not a licensed plumber but have been a GC for many years and have rebuilt a few bathrooms.

The intake lines to the tub should be attached by plumbing to a "T" with a pipe that goes to the TUB faucet, then extends in one or two pipes, depending on whether or not the faucet is a single or dual handle,,,IE: HOT/COLD. From the T, a single pipe extends up to the shower head. You'll need straight pipe, elbows, possibly solder or PVC cement, possibly a roll of teflon plumbing tape, etc.

Many Tub outlets, single faucet or not, have a pull up tab on them which blocks inlet to the tub and diverts the water to the shower head.

Certainly it's up to you,,or the current plumbing to the tub, to know whether or not to use PVC or Copper,,,or even galvanized in some older homes, but even those older forms of plumbing have advances in attaching other plumbing of other materials to achieve what you want.

Rev. Steven

Answer 2

I'm a licensed homebuilder/remodeler, and I can do most construction type projects first hand... including a lot of plumbing. My advice to you is to get a professional plumber to install the tub. It is not a DIY job! I know how to do it myself, but I always subcontract it out. There are a lot of little things that an experienced plumber has to figure out on the job site. When you say "hole in the ground for the drain," I assume you mean the drain opening in your floor. (If it's really a hole in the ground, then you're in for a lot of foundation problems). The plumber needs to set the tub, it needs to be set at a proper angle so that the water drains off the sides and from the back to the front (towards the drain). The drain line needs to be properly connected and water-tight so there are no leaks. There also has to be a trap somewhere below the tub so the sewer gases don't get into your house. Then all the supply lines need to be connected. I highly recommend you call a licensed plumber to get those jobs done. Otherwise you'll be spending a lot more money in the future fixing other problems. Water damage can cost you a bundle!!! Spend Two or Three hundred dollars now, or spend 10 to 15 THOUSAND in the next few years.... No Joke!

Answer 3

You need to make a positive connection with whatever drain pipe is down that hole. The hole should have been plugged previously or you would have been getting sewer gas back into your home.

Basically, you need to rip up the floor and find that pipe to make the connection over again.

Answer 4

To a lesser degree, I am just like "landslide". I am a handyman and I can't do as big a jobs as he can but I know exactly where he is coming from. My dad was a master plumber and I worked with him for years. I can set a tub and have on several occasions but it is a job that has to be right the first time. Call a plumber or two and get a couple of bids. The money you spend will be well worth it in peace of mind if nothing else.

Answer 5

You connect it to the pipe- depending on what kind of pipe it is- PVC, use a coupling - Cast Iron use a no hub fitting, -

Answer 6

read the instructions that came with the kit.