How to install plumbing for a bathtub

Maybe you want to learn more about the installation process and costs, or you want to find a local plumbing company that will install one for you. Whatever information you need, we can help. If you are still not sure what kind of water heater you need, take a look at our Hot Water Heater Buying Guide for help. We also offer a variety of residential and commercial plumbing services in the Huntington Beach and Orange County, California area.

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Click Here to Verify Our License. Yes, We are open for ALL plumbing services during this trying time. And even among these, different materials and style options produce a range of costs. Drop-in sinks in a vanity cost the least, while console sinks that need legs to be assembled on-site cost the most. Every bathroom needs a toilet , and you have many choices when it comes to this fixture.

Toilets can be one-piece or two-piece , round-front or elongated , pressure-assisted for flushing or water-saving. Some of them even clean themselves. They have a wide range of associated costs, depending on the make, model, material, and even color. Bidets have been gaining in popularity, with many people choosing to add them to their new bathrooms. They allow you to replace toilet paper, keeping you clean, and reducing the environmental impact. Bidets have a few models to choose from, including floor and wall-mounted, and different faucet configurations.

Depending on the bathroom size and your preferences, you also have many choices for bathtubs. Tubs can be small, alcove installations that include a shower or stand-alone models with an air bath and chromatherapy. Showers are very common in most bathrooms, and their total cost varies depending on the shower type. For example, acrylic showers have a different cost than if you tile with ceramic or porcelain. From a plumbing standpoint, you have a single valve, showerhead, and drain at a minimum.

Your plumber can also install body sprays, enclosures, and performance shower features. Other professionals handle the tile, waterproofing, and flooring.

Find the best plumbers near you Find Pros. It is very common during a bathroom remodel to change the footprint of the room. Doing so opens new space or makes the layout work better for your family. If this is the case, you need to pay to have the various plumbing lines and drains moved and the installation of the various fixtures:. If your washing machine is in the bathroom and you want to relocate it, you need to have a new line run to where it eventually goes.

Most plumbers do not install or handle the actual washing machine, so these costs are just for the plumbing. Your stack line is how your plumbing system vents. Most low-flow toilets use this line to vent air ahead of the flush, creating a vacuum to pull the waste through without much water. If you are moving your bathroom sink or adding a second sink to an existing wall, you need to have a new line installed.

This project is expensive because the concrete needs to be broken up to reach the plumbing before it can be located. So in addition to the cost of running the new line, you have added labor costs for however long it takes to reach the plumbing. When you relocate a toilet, you need a new water line and also a new waste line. This makes two separate lines, with two different sizes and installation types per toilet that you move.

Get free estimates from plumbers near you Get Free Estimates. Often during a remodel, you take an existing area and turn it into something else. For example, you may convert an alcove tub into a walk-in shower or a former closet into a dedicated toilet room.

Each conversion has its own set of plumbing costs, although it is important to keep in mind that most bathrooms are torn down to the studs during a remodel. That makes things like tub and shower conversions about the same cost as installing a new version of what was already there. A tub-to-shower conversion cost is identical to the cost of a new shower enclosure.

And, the cost to convert a tub into a walk-in shower is similar to that of a new walk-in shower. It matters less what was there than what will be done. A sink-to-shower conversion is not possible, but a sink and shower can both be moved to new locations. From a plumbing perspective, the cost for that and the cost of converting a cupboard into a toilet are the same as moving and installing a new toilet.

Part of a renovation is the tear-out - or the removal of what is already there. For most bathrooms, the demo is not going to be priced by the fixture. When doing a partial remodel, you may need to pay a fee to remove a fixture before replacing it with a new one. Others charge a removal fee, particularly if the item is large, heavy, or difficult to dispose of. Most plumbers remove a toilet at no cost. If the toilet is difficult to remove, such as when the bolts have rusted and need to be cut off or is wall-mounted and they need to open the wall to remove the carrier, there could be additional costs.

Bathtubs have a wide range of removal costs. Some acrylic tubs are lightweight, so they pull right out. Cast iron tubs are hard to remove but are often recycled or re-sold, so they may be removed at no cost.

Many cast iron tubs are removed at no cost. This is because special equipment is often required for the job. Jetted tubs can be very easy or difficult to remove, depending on age, features, material, and size.

They often cannot be recycled or re-sold because of the way they need to be dismantled. When you have a new plumbing line installed, your plumber usually uses either copper or PEX pipes. He added the silicone to the overflow then bonded the rubber gasket to it.

He then adds another bead of silicone to the tub where the overflow will go. And a silicone bead directly on the part of the gasket that will attach to the tub.

And yes, Steve loves clear silicone almost as much as coffee. Kohler provides a bracket to hold the overflow in place. Use a screwdriver or impact driver to secure the bracket to the overflow. If you use an impact driver just be careful not to overtighten as this can crack the tub which would be super BAD.

Then screw on the PVC pipe fitting. The nice part about this Kohler Clearflo kit is the flexibility of the pipe fitting to move.

Steve does the same silicone procedure with the tub shoe and drain. All parts get a nice bead of silicone. To see the detailed plumbing installation start watching the video at the mark. There are a lot of great tips. One of the biggest mistakes DIYers can make when installing this kind of tub is to not set it in mortar.

Steve always has the best material suggestions. And this tutorial is no exception. Usually you need one 55 lb of mortar for one tub. Mix the mortar so that it can support the tub. The mortar should be evened out and about 2 inches thick on all sides. Then embed the tub into the mortar. Pre-drill holes in the tub lip. The holes should correspond with the stud locations. Once the tub is level you can attach it to the studs using 2 inch galvanized screws.

Place your foot on the inside edge of the tub to hold it steady while securing one screw in the center of the tub on the main wall. Check the tub is level again on the main wall then transfer your level to the front of the tub.

Push the tub down into the mortar to get a level position and secure one screw through the tub lip and into the stud. Do this for the back wall as well. Otherwise you could break the tub lip when you secure it to the stud. Watch our video to see all the awesome tips. Take out your brand-new fixture and read all the instructions. Install the supply elbow to the wall.

And with some distance, attach the arm for the showerhead. Now attach both ends of the hose to the supply elbow and showerhead. And lastly, you need to install the trim to the wall, and you are done. While selecting a shower plumbing fixture, you will have to select the one that will go well with your bathroom. You have to select from several brands , sizes, and designs. Likewise, if you are replacing the old one, select one that is compatible with your old faucet.

It has an o-ring inside, and you can fasten it to the valve on the wall. It can be hand-tightened but use a wrench for added security. Now, mark the area on the wall where you have to install it. You can mark anywhere depending on the size of the showerhead, the height of the ceiling, and the people who will use it.

You will need to mark the location of the arm on the wall. Install the arm carefully on the designated spot and tighten screws with a screwdriver. Attach the parts of the arms according to the instructions given.

Image Source: Pinterest Now you need to attach the hose. It comes with a couple of gaskets. One gasket goes into the angle shower, and the other goes into the showerhead side.

Connect the one end of the hose to the supply elbow.