Weep holes in shower drain flange underneath the shower pan? Leaks?

Users who are viewing this thread

Holz

New Member
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Location
Maine
I am working with an ALFI linear shower drain that requires that a rubber-gasketed, PVC flange (ALFI BRAND ABDB55 shower base drain) be installed underneath the shower pan to collect the drain water into our 2 inch PVC drain pipe. The trouble with the ABDB55 part is that it has weep holes, and ALFI specifies that it this part is "required" to be used underneath the drain pan. This means that the weep holes open into the floor cavity, and if the drain pipe ever gets clogged the only place the water can go is up through the weep holes and into that floor cavity! I have spoken to an ALFI rep who insists that this is not a design flaw and that they never have had any problems. This same shower drain base seems to also be specified (by ALFI) for use in tiled showers where the weep holes may be above the shower pan. So, I am wondering if the ALFI design team or engineers thought this through when also specifying that it be used with their linear floor drain pans? Is my thinking correct that if installed under the linear floor drain pan as specified, the weep holes would leak into the floor cavity if the drain line clogged? The ALFI rep disagreed vehemently but then just said, despite the use of the word "required" in the written instructions saying that the ALFI base drain must be used, that I could buy a different brand of base drain connector, or just plug the weep holes with caulk. Something doesn't seem right and I am worried about voiding warrantees and of course getting leaks. Suggestions?
 

Attachments

  • Weep holes in ALFI linear floor drain connector.jpeg
    Weep holes in ALFI linear floor drain connector.jpeg
    109.1 KB · Views: 127

CENTRALFL

Member
Messages
74
Reaction score
25
Points
18
Location
Central, Florida
That looks like a clamping style drain, which means it'd be clamped to a PVC liner, no? So any back up would go onto the PVC liner that's imbedded between the preslope and top layer of your mud bed, until you clear up the back up. Then things would drain via the weepholes.

That's at least how I'm imagining it. Or, are you using a prefabricated shower pan?
 

Holz

New Member
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Location
Maine
That looks like a clamping style drain, which means it'd be clamped to a PVC liner, no? So any back up would go onto the PVC liner that's imbedded between the preslope and top layer of your mud bed, until you clear up the back up. Then things would drain via the weepholes.

That's at least how I'm imagining it. Or, are you using a prefabricated shower pan?
Thanks for responding. Yes this is for an ALFI prefab pan for linear floor drain (see picture of the linear floor drain). The directions for the linear floor drain pan say: "Shower drain base not included but is required and available as model # ABDB55 in PVC or ABDB55 in Cast Iron." The only way to connect this ALFI "drain base" connector is underneath that pan, and that brings it down into the floor cavity. The mud bed would have to be 10 inches high to accomodate the length (or height) of the connector and the drain pan which is not realistic. So, I cannot see a drain with weep holes like this actually working unless there is some trick to reducing the height. (And even then, with the weep holes below the pan, what good are they if overflow water just goes into any space below the mud bed? It would be best just not to have the weep holes.)
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot 2025-05-25 at 10.16.20 AM.png
    Screenshot 2025-05-25 at 10.16.20 AM.png
    145.7 KB · Views: 101

CENTRALFL

Member
Messages
74
Reaction score
25
Points
18
Location
Central, Florida
Yea I'm not sure how they are consolidating you having to use their drain, and also installing drain without a liner. The first 3 steps of the drain install instructions mention the preslope, the need for a liner, and the need for a 24 hr flood test.


How that would them apply to a prefab pan, I don't know...

Do.you have a link to the shower pan itself. I'm curious how it waterproofs against the linear shower drain you listed.
 

Holz

New Member
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Location
Maine
Yea I'm not sure how they are consolidating you having to use their drain, and also installing drain without a liner. The first 3 steps of the drain install instructions mention the preslope, the need for a liner, and the need for a 24 hr flood test.


How that would them apply to a prefab pan, I don't know...

Do.you have a link to the shower pan itself. I'm curious how it waterproofs against the linear shower drain you listed.
Thanks again @CENTRALFL . The link to the instructions for the linear drain pan are actually the same as those you posted (same for the pan and the drain connector base), but you have to scroll down to page 3 & 4 to get the specific instructions for the linear drain pan and this drain base connector with the weep holes. But those instructions are vague with drawings that are not very readable. So you can double-check if you want, this is the web page for the linear drain pan https://www.homedepot.com/p/ALFI-BR...-in-Brushed-Stainless-Steel-ABLD24D/303820070 and the PDF links are all under the "Product Details" tab. My thinking is that weep holes should "weep" to daylight. If they are buried in mortar, or are in the floor cavity it doesn't make much sense to have them. I was thinking the manufacturer made an error in specifying this connector with weep holes for their linear drain and they had some other connector that should have been used. But the ALFI rep over the phone was insistent that this it was correct, and thousands had been sold with no one ever having a problem. Until me I guess.
 
Top
Hey, wait a minute.

This is awkward, but...

It looks like you're using an ad blocker. We get it, but (1) terrylove.com can't live without ads, and (2) ad blockers can cause issues with videos and comments. If you'd like to support the site, please allow ads.

If any particular ad is your REASON for blocking ads, please let us know. We might be able to do something about it. Thanks.
I've Disabled AdBlock    No Thanks