It is a great safety net for those that have a hectic and busy schedule yet still want to enjoy their bathtub. Whenever possible, fish out hair clumps and obstructions with a snake to prevent your pipes from being clogged or obstructed.Īn overflow drain is a valuable asset to have in any bathroom.Be mindful of the material that flows through your pipes, please refrain from pouring heavy chemicals, oils or viscous material down the drain.Maintaining an overflow drain is fairly straightforward and proper maintenance of it will save you from a good deal of problems down the road. Leaks will result in lower water pressure and eventually water damage to your other pipes and housing material, so it is best to inspect your plumbing regularly. Leaks can occur over time due to the natural erosion of the pipe material. This is why its important to clean or repair your clogged pipes on an annual basis. Clogs will result in lower water pressure over time and may lead to damages in the future if left unattended. This is most commonly hair and other debris, but will ultimately disrupt water flow and create obstructions in your piping. ClogsĬlogs can easily occur in any household that sees extensive use.

Please keep in mind that while an overflow drain is a great addition, it is also installing a secondary pipe system that can corrode or leak. There are a few issues that can occur with an overflow drain. Issues that can occur with a problematic overflow drain That being said, it is essentially a safety precaution and is recommended for all bathtubs just to prevent overflow and flooding if you ever decide to fill your bathtub and walk away. Installing an overflow drain is also a bit more involved than installing a standard drain. If your bathtub is a shower/bathtub combo or if your bathtub is a smaller model, then having an overflow drain isn’t necessary. Photo Source Does a bathtub need to have an overflow drain?ĭepending on the style of bathtub and its use, having an overflow drain is not always necessary. This leads to the bottom of the drain, which contains a separate cover that is sealed by a gasket and a stopper. The washer seals the top of the overflow. Overflow drain diagramĪn overflow drain consists of an overflow cover which protects the top of the overflow and usually contains the switch that engages and disengages the trap. The trap locks and unlocks the drain, allowing water to flow in and out. Here is how an overflow drain works:Ģ.If the main drain is plugged or sealed by a mechanical stopper, water will begin to build up.ģ.When the main drain fills, water will begin to reach the overflow stopper instead, allowing it to drainĤ.As long as there is decent pipe flow, your overflow will prevent water from building beyond a certain point, preventing your bathtub from overflowing.ĥ.The overflow drain contains two parts-an overflow drain and a trap. Parts of a overflow drain:Īn overflow drain may seem complicated at first, but the actual mechanics are fairly straightforward.

This style is popular for those that don’t want to deal with exposed piping as the overflow channel is built in the tub’s inner wall. An opening is cut along the interior of the bathtub and the excess water is then diverted between the walls of the tub drain. Whereas the traditional overflow is made with an exterior pipe and drain system, an integral overflow is similar to a sink overflow. IntegralĪn Integral overflow is designed a little differently than the traditional style. This style is perhaps the most common in older homes and requires some flexibility in cutting and installing the pipe system. TraditionalĪ traditional overflow consists of a hole cut into the tub to accommodate a drain that installs on the inside and outside walls which collect excess water and sends it down a tub drain to a P-trap. Which one you have in your home will largely depend on the age of your house or bathtub. With overflow drains, there are two primary types available: Traditional and Integral. Beyond just creature comfort, it also ensures that water won’t spill out and flood your bathroom if the faucet is left running. This is important if you don’t want to wait by your bathtub while it slowly fills with water for your bath. As stated previously, an overflow drain helps to ensure that your bathtub does not overflow if you leave the faucet on.

Tub overflow gasket