The Installation Size for a Shower Drain

Different Sizes

• There are two types of showers, and each takes a different drain size. A standalone shower takes a standard 3 1/4-inch opening. If the shower is set in a bathtub, then the tub drain opening is a standard 1 1/2-inch drain. These specifications and other codes are found in the National Plumbing Codes Handbook. A building that does not meet code can be rated as unsafe by an inspector.

Types of Drains

• Shower drains can be simple, chrome mesh drains that fit over the opening and are screwed into the tile with screws on two sides. Other, fancier drains are built into the tile at the time of construction. Unlike tub drains, there is not normally a provision where the drain can be closed and the water kept within the shower.

Costs

• Bathroom fixtures are all serviced by the same drain lines and piping. When installing for new construction it costs about $1,000 in labor costs for each fixture as of the date of publication. For this reason, having a combined bath and shower makes financial sense. It also makes it easier to start with a bath and then finish the rinsing under the shower.

Clogging

• A bath drain can clog easier than a shower drain because of the smaller size. When a person has exceptionally long hair and shampoos it often, the hair can quickly anchor a clog that builds sufficiently large enough to delay the passage of water through the drain, or to deny it altogether. When this happens, a commercial drain cleaner may solve the problem as it dissolves the hair and other gunk.