Table of Contents
What plumbing is needed for a shower?
The water supply for a shower arrives via two pipes: hot and cold. In construction that is less than 30 years old, these pipes are usually copper. The pipes connect to a shower valve that controls the temperature and flow of water to the shower head.
Can I use PEX for shower plumbing?
Use threaded PEX water line fittings for shower valves. A plastic bracket forms the sharpest 90-degree angle permitted for this brand of PEX.
Does a shower drain need a vent?
It’s easy to forget, but it’s a vital and required part of any plumbing fixture drain. The vent pipes remove sewer gases while allowing air into the system to help the water drain. Without a vent, your shower won’t drain correctly.
Why is PEX plumbing bad?
Potential chemical leaching is another downside of PEX piping. Due to its chemical composition, the PEX pipe material may leach toxic chemicals including bisphenol (BPA), MTBE, tertiary butyl alcohol (TBA), and others.
Can you use 1/2 in PEX to the shower head?
As long as the supply lines for the shower tie into a 3/4″ line, 1/2″ will be fine. I use a Delta shower faucet that already has pex adapters made into the valve body, no threading or sweating, just crimp and you’re done.
Where is PEX not allowed?
PEX can’t be installed in high heat areas. You can’t install PEX in high heat areas like near recessed lighting. This also means you can’t connect PEX directly to a hot water heater, but you can use a connecting material to do this.
How far out should a shower valve be installed?
Your goal is to center the shower valve between studs 12 inches apart. A little mark at the midpoint of the plates, in line with where you expect the faucet and shower valve to be, helps for the next stage of this project. Next, mark 6 inches on either side of the midpoint.
Where should the drain be placed in a shower?
Point drains ideally sit in the middle of the shower floor or by the end of the wall. Either way, the water drains downward by a slope in the bottom. When placed by the wall, the floor is sloped sideways.
Can a toilet and shower share the same vent?
Wet vents are typically used when plumbing a bathroom group. So yes the shower can also be vented by the wet vent along with the toilet. There is one major stipulation when wet venting multiple fixtures when a toilet is one of them: the toilet must be the last fixture connected to the wet vent.
Can I install a shower myself?
Once your plumbing is installed, putting in a shower is a good project to do yourself in a new home construction. You can learn to prepare the space for installation and approach the work of putting in a variety of different showers.
How do I run plumbing through walls?
Step 1: Assess and Remove the Wall. If you need to run a new stack, assess your framing. Step 2: Prep for New Pipe. Cut a hole with some wiggle room for the new pipe. Step 3: Assemble and Place Drainpipe. Assemble the approved fittings onto the top of the drainpipe. Step 4: Run the Vent. Step 5: Guide and Attach Pipes.
What type of shower valve do I have?
Look at the center of the trim plate behind the shower handle to find a brand name or manufacturer symbol. If you see a “K,” the faucet is a Kohler unit; an “M” signifies Moen. American Standard, Delta and Price Pfister typically print their entire name on the faucet itself.
Which is better PEX or copper?
Copper Pipe Lifespan. PEX pipe is not only cheaper than copper but more durable too. PEX is immune to corrosion and mineral build-up, and it’s not affected by electrolysis, which can cause small pinhole leaks in copper piping. PEX pipe is more resistant to bursting in freezing conditions than metal piping.
Can mice chew through PEX pipe?
Mice and rats will chew through anything they can, including plastic, so PEX tubing is at just as much risk as the plastic-coated wiring in a car or an HVAC unit. While all rodent damage can be expensive, if rodents chew through a home’s PEX water pipes, the result can be disastrous.
How long does PEX last?
Additionally, long-term testing programs on PEX have shown that it has a potential lifespan of more than 100 years. So, while copper systems may have to be re-piped every few years or decades due to corrosion and pinhole leaks, a PEX system can last 10 times longer — or more.
What size PEX should I run to my shower?
To get the proper water flow going into your shower, you will need to install water lines that run into the fixture itself. It is a good idea to go with ½-inch or ¾-inch PEX for the main lines. The good rule of thumb and standard is to simply replace the old water supply lines using PEX that is the same size.
What size PEX should you use in a bathroom?
Most homeowners aren’t willing to wait 15 minutes to fill their bathtubs, so running a minimum 1/2-inch line to the tub is a good idea. Other fixtures that benefit from 1/2-inch lines are washing machines and dishwashers. Sinks and showers are water guzzlers, and you can conserve by running 3/8-inch lines to them.
