Tub Plumbing - The Workaround

Bottom left: old water supply line
Top right: new water supply line

In my last bathroom remodel post, I showed you how we'd gotten the refurbished tub back in, plus the next problem we ran into: the old and new water supply lines to the tub weren't the same. Pictured left, you can see that the new one (top) juts out farther than the old one. This was a problem because there wasn't enough room between the tub and the wall to accommodate it. On top of that, the two lines were different sizes, so we couldn't simply switch them out.

After trying every solution he could think of, including calling the manufacturer, Dan finally decided he needed to order a couple of elbows, to come up with his own solution.

He cut the new pipe and attached it to the elbows, and ....

... they fit! Whether or not this will work will have to wait to be tested, because the lines still have to be hooked up in the crawl space.

You can see that the plumbing is a tight fit, but this was the best option. The dryer is on the other side of that wall, so putting the plumbing in the wall with an access cover was not a likely solution.

We still have to install the shower riser kit, but that should be more straightforward because the faucet was a part of the kit.

The other thing he got in was the toilet, although it, too, still needs the water supply connected.

It's definitely starting to look like a bathroom!

It's the same make and low water flush model that we installed in the kitchen bathroom. It isn't the cheapest toilet on the market, but unlike some low flush jobs, we know it does what it's supposed to. Happily, I found it for a really good deal at Home Depot.

Once Dan gets the water hooked up, we can actually start using this bathroom! After he gets the shower riser installed, the sink and vanity will go in next. Then it's almost done except for towel racks and a door.

Tub Plumbing - The Workaround © May 2013 

by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com/