Tin Can 1 Function A Basement Floor Drain For A Shower?

So, yous are installing a basement bath amongst a shower. I know how tempting that pre-existing floor drain can wait. Surely, this is the simple solution to your shower plumbing!

Happily, using the existing basement flooring drain could rattling good live the mode to become. However, it power non be every bit slowly as well as straightforward as you were hoping. There are several of import factors to reckon before taking on a projection like this, so let’second get over them.

Basement flooring drains can be used as shower drains, but only if they lead into the sanitary drain (draining into the ground or stormwater organization is against code). They volition too be required to have a proper p-trap as well as the correct flooring angle to ensure proper drainage.

Floor Drain Must Connect to Sanitary Drain

Rainwater flows downwardly the gutters inward the street to a storm drain which ultimately leads to rivers in addition to streams. Similarly, the floor drain inwards your basement was designed to carry excess H2O to the stormwater organization from the HVAC condensate, heavy flooding, a leaky hot water tank, etc.

On the other manus, a sink, laundry, or, inward your instance, a shower drain must drain to the sanitary sewer or septic system as per Section P2601.two of the International Residential Code. That style, you aren’t creating H2O pollution.

It’sec probable that the drain inwards your basement connects to a storm drain or, if y'all accept an older dwelling house, it power simply drain directly into the earth past mode of a French drain (a perforated pipe that allows H2O to filter downwards through a layer of gravel).

Some basement drains direct H2O into a tank or cistern that is emptied past a sump pump that connects to the drainage organisation.

So, first make up one's mind precisely what type of drainage organisation your basement has as well as where that organization empties. 

Generally, homes built prior to 1970 will take all the drains connected to i drain occupation. Modern homes will take class drain lines for stormwater too sewage.

Homes, sometime as well as novel, located in rural areas, volition probable role a septic organisation. In comparing, homes in more urban areas volition use sanitary sewers.

Is the Floor Angled Enough?

Another affair to think near is the gradient of your basement flooring. Is it angled plenty toward the drain for your shower to drain properly?

Basement floors typically gradient gently to a drain in the middle of the space. They are not designed or intended to handgrip the volumes of H2O a daily shower creates, which agency that y'all could air current up amongst perpetually standing water inward your shower area.

If this is but a stand up-alone extra-shower-inwards-the-mancave kind of project, it power non live a deal-breaker for y'all.  However, if y'all are making the basement expanse your master suite, this could acquaint meaning problems from mold too mildew to structural impairment. 

Does the Floor Drain Have a Trap?

Your novel shower drain is going to call for a trap. I’m talking most a p-trap like the 1 under your kitchen sink.

These are designed to go along sewer gas from coming upwardly through the drain in addition to stinking up the house, or, inwards this case, more specifically, your basement. 

It is not likely that your existing basement drain has a trap installed; they are non required for stormwater systems. So, you’re going to take to take that into consideration.

Installing a trap into an existing basement floor drain agency busting upward concrete together with perhaps busting the budget besides.

Is this starting to sound like more trouble than it’sec worth? Well, I’thousand non hither to merely pass on you problems! The side by side section looks at solutions to the issues of adequate floor angles in addition to p-traps, solutions that do not take excavations!

Solutions to Floor Angles as well as P-Traps

Elevated Shower Pan

An elevated shower pan may simply be the respond to both the floor angle as well as the demand for a p-trap.  

They are relatively inexpensive for a criterion 32”x32”x6” square pan. They tin be fiberglass or acrylic and are easy plenty for DIY installation.

The six” clearance gives yous enough room to install a p-trap without breaking the concrete floor, and they are designed amongst the ideal shower floor angle.

However, if your basement has a driblet ceiling, you lot could be getting around the 6’viii” minimum superlative requirement of bathroom ceilings fix past IRC. Be certain to measure out carefully so that y'all don’t brand whatsoever costly mistakes! 

Upflush Drainage System

One other matter to consider may be installing an upflush drainage system. 

The basic concept is an electrical ticker pushes the wastewater from the basement shower and sends it upwardly to the primary drain upstairs.

These units sit down on peak of the flooring as well as are minor enough to be concealed behind the walls of the shower. They by and large only cost a couplet hundred dollars in addition to solve a lot of the challenges you’re existence presented alongside.

Compensate for Loss of Flood Drain

One of the biggest challenges that are presented with using your existing basement flooring drain for a shower is that y'all right away have no manner to drain whatever floodwater that may pass.

Minimize Water Entering the Basement

You can definitely cut down the likelihood of water entering the basement from outside past doing a few things around the outside perimeter of your dwelling.

• Ensure the backfill about the basement walls is properly graded to gradient away from the household.
• Remove whatever foundation plantings from the basement side of the abode.
• Apply waterproofing below the land business.
• Extend or divert gutter downspouts to send rainwater farther away from exterior walls.

Removing Water Without a Drain

To clear H2O from a flooded basement without a drain you volition need to install a sump heart.

These pocket-size electric pumps can live installed correct on the flooring or submersible styles, such as the WAYNE CDU980E iii/4 HP (amazon link), tin sit down inwards a pocket-sized pit inward the flooring. They go on a float organisation, either mechanical or sensor, whereby ascent H2O levels plow the heart on automatically and water is pumped out to a drain or belongings tank. When the H2O drops the pump turns off. 

Be warned, nevertheless, they are another electrical/battery-powered appliance that tin campaign issues. A common issue is beeping for about unknown drive. Happily, ane of the best brands, Basement Watchdog, has a dandy troubleshooting conduct, which I take expanded upon inwards my article: Reasons Why Basement Watchdog Alarm Won’t Stop Beeping.

Dehumidifiers can live installed to cutting down on condensation together with the inherent dampness and so common alongside basements. 

Proper basement ventilation tin too minimize dampness, although it exclusively removes atmospheric H2O every bit opposed to standing or running water.

As e'er, before starting whatsoever renovation or abode improvement project, bank check your local building codes to encounter what is allowable, every bit local codes tin can vary slightly from country to state.

Reassess Other Plumbed Fixtures

If you lot have your laundry room in the basement, then taking over the floor drain for your shower way that y'all volition accept to discover an option mode to drain your washer.

Related article: Can You Live inward a Basement Without Windows?

Sources

https://terrylove.com/forums/index.php?threads/basement-floor-drain-equally-shower-drain.64884/

nidirect.gov.uk/articles/connecting-your-dwelling house-correct-drains

https://www.hunker.com/12003251/how-to-add together-a-basement-shower-without-breaking-concrete