Greetings,
About halfway through converting an add-on three season porch into a bath for my mom. Need to install drain for acrylic shower – 2″ pvc line.
No permits or inspections needed, according to the township.
This is in an weird old home and access underneath makes the job extremely difficult…I’ll spare those details but this part of the job is cruel and unusual punishment.
I can’t fit a trap going directly from the shower bottom as is normally done unless I chisel out some of an 16″ thick stone wall. Can barely reach in to do this and I am thinking of another alternative, which is:
1. Drop from the bottom of the shower with a long sweep 90..that just fits, top to bottom.
2. Add a short horizontal (about 1′), pitched properly.
3. Drop into another long sweep 90 to get vertical again.
3. Add the trap to the bottom and run to soil pipe (straight shot) from there – height is not an issue.
I know the less turns the better, but will this function okay with these fittings ahead of the trap?
Planning on a clean out, vent is no problem.
Wall is heavily parged two sides (can barely access one side only) but maybe knocking out a rock to gain clearance is possible, if necessary. Or, is it possible to shorten the trap height a little…about 1″?
Moving the shower is definitely not an option. Any guidance very much appreciated.
Todd
Edited 3/21/2007 2:03 pm ET by todd
Replies
You can't move the shower, but can you move the drain position, or is it a preformed pan?
Dan,
It's a one piece, fastened in place...walls in place on either side, supplies tied in.Didn't want to get into it, but the shower and toilet (both requiring direct downward drains) need to be located in an area about 4' x 4'where steps/porch trapdoor were. This open area has thick masonry walls all around and rock fill in between placed close to top of the floor above. Inaccessible unless you are a convict.The other stuff (washer and lav) will have drains running horizontally along one interior wall that I've studded out...will drop in the same 4 x 4 opening.More than you wanted to know. FWIW, this is a rental and it ain't mine. Good Homebuilding, not Fine Homebuilding, is an appropriate goal. Electric splices balled up and taped (no solder, nuts), etc.Todd
Thanks for all the responses! No...the fitting don't create a trap prior to real trap.I am hoping that a picture will clarify things. My new printer doesn't scan, my SO's computer (scanner) crashed today so I will attempt to attach a stick figure photo of sketch. Here goes...hope it's not too big for dial uppers.I "think" this should work but want to make sure...dreading a second go-round in the pit cutting stuff back out and putting it in right.Todd
Edited 3/21/2007 5:25 pm ET by todd
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every court needs a jester
That cuts the problem down to size!
So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin
You're making a big trap with the two 90s and the one foot lateral between. So why add a regular trap down stream? Or am I not envisioning this correctly?
The first two don't comprise a trap, as the second 90 turns downward.
So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin
Gotcha. I can't imagine any problem with that set up, particularly using the big 90s. They make it easy to run a clean-out snake down to the trap.
I can't picture what yer trying to do ...
but ... if accessing the stone to chip it out is the problem.
why not straight down ... from above?
shower's gotta be sitting on a floor.
floor's gotta have a hole in it for the plumbing.
shower base is gonna cover said hole.
so but a big hole and work.
patch the subfloor in ...
set the shower.
?
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Re one of the original questions, I'm certainly no code expert, but I don't see any obvious reason why the vertical on the trap couldn't be shortened, as much as clearances allow. I'm guessing that the length is there simply to provide more clearance between horizontal pipe and flor above.
Can you build the floor up? Ya know, make it a step up into the shower. That way you'd have plenty of room for the trap.
Good idea. The old porch (8' x 12') sloped, as well it should.Installed 2 x 4 sleepers, leveled with shims on top of old t/g floor. Rigid insulation in between. New floor now matches up with adjoining kitchen floor.Don't want a step up...ma is 83, mind is quite willing, flesh is just a tiny bit weak.Todd
go for it. Only issue is drop from shower to trap. Up here I'm limited to 36". Somebody down there should know your max drop.
will it work.... yes... is it code most places NO lots of things will function that are not "code"
due to my solid wood floor/ceiling system in my lofts i had to install the trap inside the wall... with the drain line running across the ceiling 3 ft... inspector saw no other way to do it... and since it would function and provide the protection required... he passed it.... it was only in one unit... had it been in 10 units... i think he'd have made me find a better way...
go for it... i don't see an issue with it... (my opinion) as long has you have a cleanout but with 2" pvc the chances of a shower clog'n are about zero
good luck
p
Thanks, guys, appreciate the input.Todd