Plumbing drain pipe too high for shower drain

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

I'm currently remodeling my master bath with a curbless walk-in shower on a concrete subfloor. Basically I used a jackhammer to break out and lower a section of the floor for where my shower will be so that it can slope properly. I was getting ready to set the height of the linear drain that I'm using and create the pre slope until i realized that the drain pipe may be too high for what I am trying to do. The drain pipe is about 4.5 inches below the subfloor. The linear drain and flange that I am using is about 4.5 inches as well and that is not taking into account the 1 inch or so below the subfloor that I planned on placing the drain. Including that the bottom of the drain flange would end up 1 inch lower than the drain pipe.

Is there anything that I can do to fix this issue? Thank you!

Edit: I've tried adding photos but they wont show up for some reason. The drain pipe is coming horizontal out from a vent pipe in the wall. Is the only fix to cut the vent pipe and lower where the drain comes out from it?

Featured Answer

Bruce in Northern Virginia

5 years ago

Plumbing new drains and vents can be complicated, but in this case it seems you are just replacing your old shower pan and drain with a new curbless design. You are not really changing the basic plumbing design; you are just trying to get the drain to align.

I assume you have fully researched the design for a curbless shower, since that is more complicated to implement than your plumbing changes. In most cases its easier to use a pre-sloped pan covered with a waterproof membrane by Schluter or other good company. They recommend also using waterproofing membrane under the bathroom floor for several feet around the shower, since its hard to predict how much water will end up on the floor when you have a curbless design.

This company has a low profile P-trap, but I'm not sure it will be low enough for what you need. https://pvcpipesupplies.com/1-1-2-p-trap-low-profile-dwv-fitting-d706-016.html

If the vertical pipe in the wall is accessible and made out of PVC or ABS, it is a relatively simple job to cut it and lower the drain connection. If you are motivated enough to break up concrete, cutting into and splicing a drain pipe should not be that hard for you.

Bruce

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Comments (8)

User
5 years ago
Hire the Pros that should have been hired from the beginning.
Cyndy
5 years ago
I would investigate other drain pipes. Is 4.5" standard? Do you have a plumber friend you can consult? We are heavy DIYers and have jackhammered concrete, don't let the "hire a pro" comments scare you away. Terry Love plumbing forum is a better place for specific advice like this. .
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PRO
Sina Sadeddin Architectural Design
5 years ago
Ugh I'm sorry no, plumbing work should NEVER be a DIY project unless you have EXTENSIVE experience with it. Stop, hire a professional, and be thankful you won't be dealing with expensive water damage or plumbing issues in a few years.
PRO
Mint tile Minneapolis
5 years ago
Oh my we are smack dab in hopefully the latter stages of the hgtv houzz diy craze. Hopefully.
laynemcd24
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you for the replies that were actually helpful! Just for clarification, I am not doing the plumbing, I have a professional who is doing that. I'm just at the stage where the drain would connect to the piping and the pre-slope and waterproof membrane would go in.

Bruce, your reply was specifically helpful, the vertical vent pipe is made of ABS and is accessible with a little jackhammer work. I was assuming cutting into it and lowering the drain connection would be the only option but wanted to just make sure. The low profile P-trap you linked to could potentially work but it would be a close call. But thank you, your info was very helpful!
User
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Plumbing pipe is required to slope 1/4” per foot. If you can not achieve 1/4” per foot, the branch arm to the main may need to be relocated. NOT DIY able.

You should NEVER EVER place a tight P under a shower unless you like multiple blockages that are extremely difficult to dislodge. Snaking one of those is virtually impossible. You need a downstream clean out immediately following it if you are going to do something amateur like that. That’s just what everyone wants in the middle of the bathroom. Avoid that induced problem by avoiding amateur plumbing. HIRE A PRO.
djbmw
4 months ago
What's all this "hire it out" talk about? If someone is capable and knowledgable (or willing to learn), why are you discouraging them? I understand you want to "protect the trade" but lets not encourage people to be useless.

Plumbing drain pipe too high for shower drain

Bruce in Northern Virginia

Comments (8)

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Cyndy

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Bruce in Northern Virginia

Comments (8)

User

Cyndy

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