Plumbing for a shower stall - selection and installation of equipment

Branded manufacturers of shower cabins try to fully equip the equipment.In this case, shower fixtures are part of the latter. Although when purchasing, you can always choose one option from several offered: by design, by operating mode and other characteristics. But not all shower cabins are equipped with plumbing fixtures.

How to choose plumbing for a shower stall

What is included in the plumbing for a shower cabin:

• mixer;
• watering can with hose or stand;
• siphon of the sewer system.

Which mixer should you choose?

This cannot be said to be the most important plumbing fixture in a shower stall. But it is he who creates the operating modes of the equipment, and therefore occupies a central place in terms of functionality. Manufacturers offer a large number of models that differ from each other in shape, size, materials, method of fastening and control.

If the shower cabin is equipped with plumbing fixtures from the manufacturer, then you need to find out in the store how many modes it has. Usually from one to five. The more, the more expensive.

Mode options:

1. The mixer has one or two modes. They are usually installed in all budget cabins. And these are the cheapest models, although this does not mean that they are of poor quality. There are just two modes: hand shower and overhead shower. The latter is mounted in the ceiling of the shower stall.
2. Three modes. Such faucets are used in most modifications of shower cabins.To the first two is added a so-called tropical shower with a large amount of water poured from the ceiling. Some manufacturers do not offer rain showers. But there is a hydromassage of the lumbar back.
3. Four modes. The equipment is the same as in the previous version. Only the foot massage mode is added.
4. Five modes. There is full functionality here: a watering can, an overhead and tropical shower, hydromassage of the body and feet. The most expensive option, but also the most functional.

The next criterion for choosing plumbing is based on the control method:

• using two valves;
• single lever model;
• sensory;
• thermostatic.

The most popular option is single lever. Convenient, unpretentious in operation, easy to manage, inexpensive. Plus there are many design options.

Don't skimp on a faucet. If you need to change it, you don’t have to look for models from the same brand. You can always find cheap products with high quality on the market. The main thing is that the characteristics of the new mixer coincide with the old ones. Particular attention is paid to the distance between the two hot and cold water supply pipes. In the booth this is a standard parameter: 100, 125, 145 and 150 mm.

The third selection criterion is the material from which the mixer is made. In this regard, the best option is brass coated with chrome.

Which drain to choose for a shower stall

Drainage equipment is responsible for removing contaminated water. In this case, the pipe structure of which it consists must be 100% sealed. Otherwise, flooding of the bathroom cannot be avoided.

To reduce costs when constructing a sewer system, it is necessary to initially determine the location of the drain.

There are two options here:

1. The sewer pipe is already installed in the floor.Then the shower stall, or rather its tray, is selected taking into account the location of the sewer pipe. The hole in the pan should coincide with the place where the sewer pipe is brought out.
2. The sewerage system has not yet been installed. Then a shower stall is selected, and a sewer pipe is fitted under its drain hole in the pan.

An important parameter is the installation height of the pallet. Plumbers recommend installing the pan higher. It will be easier to repair or change the siphon.

Today, shower cabins are not only equipment that includes a tray. There are also palletless models.

Drainage devices for trayless showers

The drainage device, also known as a siphon, is mounted in the floor base and covered with finishing material. Only the drain hole is visible.

There are two models of plumbing fixtures of this type on the market:

• shower drain;
• channel system.

The first is structurally a prefabricated product consisting of several parts:

• frame;
• below is a water seal, also known as a drain cup, which is constantly filled with water and does not allow the unpleasant odor from the sewer into the shower stall;
• on top of the body there is a garbage bin;
• above is a decorative grille;
• Between all the parts there are gaskets that create a tight structure.

Material: plastic or stainless steel. Previously, cast iron was used, but it had to be abandoned. A plastic ladder is an inexpensive product, but one cannot say that it is of low quality. Typically, all parts of the plumbing design are made with a thick wall, which ensures long-term operation of the shower drain.This especially applies to the decorative grille, because it is often subjected to strong shock loads: soap, bottles and other bathroom accessories falling from hands. A stainless steel drain is not a cheap pleasure, but it will last forever in the shower stall.

This type of plumbing is available in two variations on the market: horizontal and vertical. For shower cabins, use the first option. It takes up less space. The latter are used to organize drainage in swimming pools - they have a large throughput.

The main thing when choosing a drain for a shower stall is to choose the right size for the drain hole. The amount of water poured out of the shower must flow freely through the opening of the drain. Therefore, its minimum diameter should be 50 mm.

Replacing a shower drain in trayless shower enclosures is not easy, so you should not buy cheap, low-quality models.

The second type is channel. There is one difference from a shower drain - instead of a round drain device, a rectangular tray resembling a channel is used here. The design is convenient in that it has great cross-country ability, which ensures 100% removal of contaminated water from the cabin floor.

These devices are presented on the market in three modifications, differing from each other in material:

• plastic;
• ceramics;
• steel.

Siphons for shower cabins with tray

Manufacturers of plumbing fixtures for showers offer many options for sewer siphons.

But all of them can be divided according to two criteria:

• design;
• principle of operation.

Structurally, the proposed models are divided into three groups. The first is the simplest siphon. It is a corrugation with a drainage device.The design is convenient in that it can be placed at any angle, ensuring the outflow of water. This is especially important under pallets, where there is little space, and in a situation where the location of the sewer drain pipe is non-standard.

The second type is bottle type. It is often used under kitchen sinks. An elongated design where small debris settles at the bottom. It requires free space under the pallet. Therefore, plumbers rarely install this option.

The third type is pipe. It is often used under bathtubs. These are “S” or “U” shaped structures, where the bend of the pipe acts as a water seal.

Advantages:

• small overall dimensions;
• minimum number of joints.

There is only one drawback - it is difficult to clean such a siphon due to the minimum distance from the floor to the back of the tray.

The second category is the operating principle. There are also three groups:

1. A standard siphon in which the drain hole is closed with a rubber stopper.
2. With manual control. The drain regulator is located on the wall of the shower stall at a comfortable hand level. This is a handle connected to a valve that opens or closes the drain hole in the pan.
3. Click-clack system. It includes a spring-loaded plug that, when pressed, opens the drain. When pressed again it closes.

How to install plumbing in a shower stall

Plumbing installation is divided into several stages:

1. Installation of a siphon and connecting it to the sewer.
2. Mixer installation and connecting it to the water supply.
3. Checking the functionality of the shower cabin.

Installation of sewer plumbing in a shower stall

If palletless equipment is installed, then all work is carried out at the floor formation stage.The drain is installed in the floor base and covered on all sides with finishing material (usually ceramic tiles).

If a pallet is mounted, then first a drain structure is mounted on it exactly according to the instructions that the manufacturer encloses with the product. After which it is installed in place, and the siphon is immediately connected to the sewer pipe.

An important point is that the pallet itself must be installed horizontally. This is checked by the building level. The position is achieved by adjusting the legs.

Installation of plumbing fixtures in a shower stall

Connecting plumbing is also carried out in stages:

• Preparation;
• connection;
• examination.

Preparatory stage

Experienced plumbers install ball valves on all water pipes, which are used when repairing the plumbing system of a shower cabin. With their help, the water supply is simply cut off.

It is also recommended to install filters after the taps. They will ensure long-term trouble-free operation of the equipment.

If the shower cabin is equipped with a hydromassage function, then the design requires a small pump. Its inlet pipe must coincide exactly with the outlet pipe of the water supply pipe - they must be located on the same horizontal line.

During the installation process you will need:

• flexible inserts;
• connection fittings;
• FUM tape.

Cabin connection

All work must be carried out strictly according to the instructions supplied with the equipment. Faucets with water pipes are connected by flexible inserts. It is important here to prevent leaks, so it is recommended to use inserts with union nuts. Inside the latter there are gaskets that ensure the tightness of the joint.

The complexity of the connection diagram depends on the number of functions of the shower stall. If this is a simple model, then everything is connected to the mixer. If the circuit is complex, for example, with connecting a hydromassage, then you will have to use more hoses. In this case, it will be necessary to install tees or crosses on the water pipes, which will distribute the flow of water to consumers: mixer, shower, hydromassage.

Checking the correct plumbing connections

Open the water in the shower stall at full power and check the joints. If there are no leaks, the installation was carried out efficiently. If even one drop of water appears, it is better to separate the joint and reconnect it. This applies to both the water supply and sewer networks.

Replacement of shower cabin plumbing

The quickest thing to fail is the mixer. Replacing it with a new one is difficult. To do this, you need to remove the wall on which it is installed. But if there is space between the wall of the bathroom and the wall of the stall, then you can try not to remove the latter. Some booths can be easily moved away, which means replacement can be done without worry.

To do this you need:

• Remove the mixer covers from inside the cabin;
• fasteners are removed: bolts or screws;
• the hoses are removed from the reverse side;
• the mixer is removed;
• Installation of the new one occurs in the reverse order.

Sometimes it is easier to repair the faucet. Usually the cartridge or ball begins to leak, depending on what model of plumbing fixture was installed. Or the handle is difficult to move, making it difficult to adjust the water temperature. In any case, it is necessary to react quickly to a breakdown so that it does not develop into a catastrophe - the outflow of a large amount of water.

Features of plumbing installation

Whatever type of plumbing fixtures there are no particular differences in the installation process. Regardless of where it is installed, it is connected to the water supply system. And here the connection occurs either using flexible hoses, or directly onto the pipe thread. This is how installation is carried out in shower cabins, on sinks, in bathtubs.

In the cabin, the mixer is more complex, especially if the equipment has multiple functions. Then you have to connect each consumer with hoses.

It's the same with sewerage. But it’s easier here, because the diagram is simple - from the drain hole to the sewer pipe. And the shorter the distance, the more efficient the work.

Installing a shower faucet: video.

I would like to hear from our readers who have had experience choosing a shower stall without plumbing and then installing it. If anyone has any questions, ask in the comments. Save the article to your bookmarks so as not to lose useful information. Share it on social networks.