I'm an accomplished DIYer, not a pro plumber.
As part of master bath renovation I'm replacing a large built-in tub with a freestanding tub. Thankfully I only need to move the drain p-trap a few inches to accommodate the tub drain location. The question is how to connect the tub tailpiece to the ABS trap. Since it is not new construction I don't have easy access to the drain from below. The options apparent to me are:
- cut an access hole in the ceiling of the room below. I'd like to avoid this if I can, but it's possible.
- cut an access hole in the subfloor at one end of the tub. This would necessitate tiling under the tub first, setting the tub and drain, closing up the hole and continuing tiling the rest of the floor. With a elongated bowl shaped 60" tub I can probably get within 2 feet of the drain. The tub will run parallel to the floor joists so access would need to be from the end of the tub, not the side (darn!)
- solvent weld the tailpiece blind in one shot. Besides the precision needed to guide the tub into place there's no way to observe whether the connection is solid and leak proof. I'd need to have support under the trap too. This maneuver is further complicated by the tub being located in a corner with walls on 2 sides (back and side) leaving no room for the person on one end to stand while precisely lowering the tub into place.
- use an o-ring sealed quick-connect drain. This is by far the most convenient and I'm fine with the additional cost.
There are 3 or 4 of these quick-connect drains available now (OS&B ITD 35, Fleurco RapidConnect, Quick Connect) and have been in use for several years now. The few posts on them are dated. How have they functioned in the field?
Do they work - are they trustworthy? If there is a clog that back up the drain will they remain water tight?
Recommend them or AVOID them?
As part of master bath renovation I'm replacing a large built-in tub with a freestanding tub. Thankfully I only need to move the drain p-trap a few inches to accommodate the tub drain location. The question is how to connect the tub tailpiece to the ABS trap. Since it is not new construction I don't have easy access to the drain from below. The options apparent to me are:
- cut an access hole in the ceiling of the room below. I'd like to avoid this if I can, but it's possible.
- cut an access hole in the subfloor at one end of the tub. This would necessitate tiling under the tub first, setting the tub and drain, closing up the hole and continuing tiling the rest of the floor. With a elongated bowl shaped 60" tub I can probably get within 2 feet of the drain. The tub will run parallel to the floor joists so access would need to be from the end of the tub, not the side (darn!)
- solvent weld the tailpiece blind in one shot. Besides the precision needed to guide the tub into place there's no way to observe whether the connection is solid and leak proof. I'd need to have support under the trap too. This maneuver is further complicated by the tub being located in a corner with walls on 2 sides (back and side) leaving no room for the person on one end to stand while precisely lowering the tub into place.
- use an o-ring sealed quick-connect drain. This is by far the most convenient and I'm fine with the additional cost.
There are 3 or 4 of these quick-connect drains available now (OS&B ITD 35, Fleurco RapidConnect, Quick Connect) and have been in use for several years now. The few posts on them are dated. How have they functioned in the field?
Do they work - are they trustworthy? If there is a clog that back up the drain will they remain water tight?
Recommend them or AVOID them?