Installing A Bathtub

In this article I view the instructions and precautions for roughing in,as well as installation procedures for tying into your present drain waste hole and supply systems.when all roughing in has been completed and you are ready to gather your shower and bathtub,your rough plumbing should resemble that shown here.

Installing your bathtub
pipes required include the cold and hot supply lines and a pipe leading to a shower head. A shower head and mixing valve are also needed.Air chambers may be required.

Bath fixtures also rate low in fixture units and are often positioned on branch drains and wet or back vented as are the sinks.both tubs and shower stall enter the stack at floor level or below because of the position of the floor drain trap.The spout and shower head assembly required an open wall for installing.
Remember bathtubs and shower stalls may require support framing.A bathtub filled with water is very heavy.so check building codes and framing support before installing the bathtub.

1. Install all pipes before installing the tub it self.
2. Lower the tub into place so that the continues flange fits against the wall studs and rests on 2x4 or 1x4 supports.
3. Assemble the drain connections by connecting the bathtub flowing with the tub drain above the trap,the trap will have a compression fitting that screws over the arm of the over flow assemble.
4. Cold and hot water lines are run to the bathtub mixing valve where they are attached,usually by sweating these directly into cold and hot ports of the mixing valve.
5. Run a pipe up the wall for the shower head,on the top of this pipe,sweat on a brass female threaded winged fitting that is nailed or screwed into a framing support.
6. Extend a pipe of 1/2" pipe ,according to the manufacturing instructions,for the tub spout.sweat on a male thread fitting at the end of pipe or use a brass nipple of the proper length and 1/2" cap.
7. You will need to have your rough plumbing inspected.
8. Restore  water pressure and check the drain connections and the supply pipes for leaks.
9. Replace the wall with with moisture resistance drywall as a base for your wall covering seal joints between the wall and your new tub with silicon caulk as protection against water see page.
10. Install the spout handles and showers head. the shower head screw onto the shower arm stub out.whether installing a new shower head or replacing an old one. always clean the pipe threads and apply new pipe joint compound.PTEF tape or both to prevent lakes.

The Common Mistakes 

1. Using pipes that are too small.
2. violating or ignoring local code restrictions.
3. attaching copper to galvanized without using a brass or dielectric fitting between.
4. Not using PTFE tape or pipe compound at threads joints.
5. Not installing an air gap filling for fixtures.
6. Not leaving your fixtures when installing them.
7. Cutting supply stub outs too short to install the shut off valves onto after the finished wall is in place.
8. Not properly aligning tubing into fittings or stop valves.
9. When turning the water back on your home always run the outside hose valve or flush your toilets to bleed dirt and air from the lines.This debris can cause problems in your sink faucets and other plumbing trim.