The Shower: Bathroom Plumbing Centerpiece

The shower can be a hotspot for plumbing troubles, such as leaks, low water pressure and clogs. This can be inconvenient, as most people rely on their shower for everyday use. The shower is essential to cleanliness, grooming and even relaxation. 

As the centerpiece of the bathroom, it's crucial to understand how shower plumbing works to be better prepared to deal with any issues.

Your Home's Plumbing System

Before understanding shower plumbing specifically, it's useful to zoom out and consider the home's entire plumbing system. This system consists of a network of pipes, mostly hidden behind walls and under floors, that deliver water to fixtures and remove waste.

It all starts with the water main, a plastic or copper pipe usually ½" to 1 ½" in diameter that delivers clean water from the city or town treatment facility. There, water channels through pipes to the kitchen, bathroom, laundry area and hot water tank. Plastic or copper supply lines deliver the water to sinks, toilets, tubs, washing machines, dishwashers, water heater and even the garden hose.

Many of the fixtures in a house also have drains, including sinks, the bathtub, toilets, the washing machine and the dishwasher. All drain pipes lead down to the sewer main beneath the home, which conducts waste and wastewater to the city sewer main under the street. The supply pipes and the drain pipes work together to keep water circulating through the home on demand.

Introduction To Bathroom Plumbing

All bathrooms have at least a sink and a toilet, and many also have a bathtub or shower stall. The drains for all three fixtures deposit waste and wastewater into a larger drain pipe underneath the bathroom floor. This drain pipe connects to a vertical ventilation stack in the wall, which allows the necessary airflow for the waste to flow downward. The other end of the drain pipe leads down to the sewer main.

The toilet has only one supply line, as it uses only cold water. The sink has two water supply lines, one for hot and one for cold. The shower stall or bathtub connects to two water supply pipes as well. Each of these supply lines has its own shutoff valve regardless of shower or bathtub type.

The Specifics of Shower Plumbing

It's hard to see most of the plumbing for the shower, as it hides inside the wall and under the floor. The only visible things are the showerhead, a handle or two, a drain and perhaps a bathtub spout.

With x-ray vision, it would be possible to see the two supply lines running under the shower's floor. These twin pipes are usually made of copper or plastic. One leads directly from the water main and delivers cold water while the other comes from the water heater and delivers hot water. Both arrive at a spot behind the shower handles.

Turning the handle opens a valve that controls water flow, letting through a combination of hot and cold water. The handle adjusts the water flow to a suitable temperature. This water is then sent up a single copper pipe to the showerhead, where it rains down in a pleasant spray.

After use, the water goes down the drain, through a plastic P-shaped trap and the bathroom sewer pipe. From there, it travels via the sewer main out of the house.

Some problems that might happen with shower or bathtub plumbing include a clogged drain, leaky faucet, sputtering showerhead or low water pressure. A professional plumber can diagnose and repair any of these issues.

About B & D Plumbing, Heating, & Air Conditioning

B & D has been St. Michael, MN's trusted plumbing company since 1982. Their plumbers are continuously training to provide the best residential and commercial heating, cooling and plumbing services. Contact them today for all shower plumbing needs.

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