Tub Installation and Traps - Differences Between Regions

May 17, 2023

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There's this saying, “to know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge.” These powerful words embody themselves in all realms of life, including the most fundamental ones. Learning the ins and outs of your house, and in this case, your bathtub, is especially crucial. With only a little help, it will be comfortable learning the unknown and a reassuring experience for you, as you will know how and where to spend money when necessary.

We will be providing coverage over two regions. One is Europe, which can be a guide with respect to “international” standards, and the second is North America, primarily Canada and the USA. This additional information on other areas, we hope, will accentuate your knowledge and allow you to grasp your local installation process further, as you will see tub plumbing in the whole world’s picture.

This article could also be seen as a homage to international plumbers and the tireless travellers of the world who constantly seek new experiences and environments for those with ever-changing boundaries, which inevitably pursue the comfort of a cozy bathtub.

Remember, when installing or doing any plumbing work, refer to a professional's help. It is advised not only for your safety but also for your plumbing assembly’s sustainability and efficiency. Keep in mind all listed measurements are in outside dimensions. Proceed with the following information cautiously:

Dimensions and Piping:

There are no differences in functionality, and overall performance - both International and North American pressure pipe systems are precisely equal and utilize the same PVC raw materials. The biggest, most significant challenge and the most well-known distinction between plumbing in different regions is the conversion of piping from Metric to Imperial and vice versa. Because both systems use whole numbers in their pipe sizes, there is rarely an exact fit, which becomes an issue when you want water-tight connections. Despite their differences, the good news is some sizes pair up well with other standards, like the similarities between 15 mm metric and 1/2" imperial tubing.

Still, the pain and agony that prevails when converting from one standard to another can be a severe issue. Even getting the needed-sized fittings in your region may be hard to find or nonexistent. Suppose this is the case, and you are attempting to make a plumbing connection. In that case, you can try the following: Using the different dimensions, get the closest possible sized components, and if they don't fit exactly, get some flexible hosing between the two pipes with the help of pipe clamps. When connecting to a product’s threads, an adapter could be necessary if it is not made for that country.

Pro tip: Connecting two regions using threaded PVC fittings is more straightforward, as they have no imperial or metric preference.

Certification:

Each region has its own certification process and standards, which can lead to complications with your products and parts. Ensure your products and components have certifications in your area, as they can be vital ineffectiveness. Perhaps unanticipated, please double-check your home’s power configurations compared to your bathtub’s, as the bathtub and home may not be compatible. You can read more in our voltage guide here .

Installation Process

When installing a new bathtub , we recommend using entirely new parts for your plumbing assembly. Getting new parts has a lower price than most expect, and it is better to ensure the integrity of your tub, as they are usually a long-term investment that will take on their fair share of usage.

US/Canada:

Especially prominent in the US/Canada are hole alignment-related issues. Because you need to connect a brass tailpiece straight from the floor (the waste pipe) and align it with a heavy tub, it becomes easy to understand how problems can arise. If installing your tub is done incorrectly, cracking your brass tailpiece is almost certain. Breaking this tube is not good as they are not cheap, and getting a new one could be more complicated than expected, especially if it is not done by a professional. Another unwanted possibility is damaging your tub, adding to the many reasons for hiring a specialist.

Unfortunately, only in some circumstances can the drain installation be in more than a one-piece aparatus in the US and Canada.

Europe/International:

In Europe, it’s easy. You do not need to align anything because the connection is flexible - simply screw the piece to the tub, and you’re set. Europeans also have another advantage. Their parts are easily replaceable and cheap in the odd case that they break them, such as the flexible hosing piece used for the drain connection itself.

Bonus - North American Installation Made Easy:

Aquatica’s US and Canada installation kits ( for sale here ) make the installation process incredibly easy and save costs on hiring a plumber. After you have a floor cutout with proper access to your P-trap (as instructed in the manual), it becomes straightforward from there. You would simply Insert the Freestanding Bath Installer™ assembly into the floor opening and connect it to the waste pipe below. From there, it would be just aligning and connecting the bathtub.

Plumbing Traps and their Significance

Plumbing has two main methods for water draining hygienically: Siphons (loops) and traps like bottle traps (waste holding). Most appliances use one or the other for capturing unwanted debris and smells. Although in the bathroom specifically, bottle traps are more common among sinks , there are still a couple of things to note for bathtubs :

Most regulations in the USA require a P-trap for all showers and bathtubs - a trap that uses a siphon-like mechanism that utilizes the water pressure rather than a (capture) box for debris. Outside of regulations, this is also the primary method that bathtubs use worldwide, as routinely cleaning out a trap with a purposely removable base would be more difficult with a bathtub. Like with installation, it is also more common to find a trap (for this purpose) on the outside of the bathtub in Europe. They can also start to smell if not properly taken care of, which is why these drum, bottle, or other synonymous trap shapes are banned in most US jurisdictions. Outside of these traps, there are plenty of twists and turns throughout your house’s plumbing to prevent the leaking of smells.

Conclusion

No matter where you are in the world, there are bound to be minuscule differences in a bathtub’s installation - even at a provincial or state level. From the metric and imperial systems that differ from region to region or establishing the primary drain connection (from waste pipe to bathtub drain), it can be somewhat challenging to grasp initially. Still, those key setbacks make up the bulk of the issues. The best you can do is comprehend these fundamental distinctions and, when necessary, use your knowledge of these discrepancies accordingly.

Practical suggestions,

Installation,

Materials and composition