Thus, do not solely rely on the overflow to drain any excess water.

They do drain directly into the tub’s main drain pipe, but if there are any clogs, it will affect the main pipe which will subsequently affect the overflow drain. The overflow drain system will work most efficiently when the pipe system is de-clogged to prevent spillage onto the floor. The overflow does not prevent the flow of water as it does not have a mechanism to stop it, so water will be continuously drained when it reaches that level. The overflow drain’s design is to prevent an overflow before it happens, but it is best to not let it get that far as it is a waste of precious water. This is ideal if you do not want exposed pipes, as the overflow channel is now in the tub’s inner wall and less detectable. Along the interior of the bathtub is an opening that diverts extra water between the walls, allowing excess water to drain. This style of overflow drain has the same design as a sink overflow. In this instance, a hole is made into the tub and fitted with a drain that installs on the inside and outside walls where it collects any excess water, and allows it to flow down the tub drain. There are two primary types of overflow drains available: A traditional overflow and an integral overflow. With a well-functioning overflow drain, excess water will flow out the overflow hole, through the pipe and into the drain so as not to cause any damage to your bathroom or anything under or around the tub. The water that enters the overflow hole, goes down a pipe which is connected to the tub floor drain. The two drains are connected by several tubes that go from the bathtub and merge into one main pipe line. The overflow component is located several inches under the rim of the tub. Usually the drain is situated at the bottom of the bathtub. The overflow drain consists of two basic parts: The overflow drain and the overflow trap. Let us take a look at the anatomy of an overflow drain as well as how it works. The reason for its location is to allow water to rise to a level where most of your body can be submerged under water. The bathtub overflow can be found a few inches below the rim of the tub. That’s why in this article we hope to help you learn everything you need to know about bathtub overflow drains so you can be prepared. Even if you try to soak everything up, mold can grow in areas that still remain damp. This can damage the floor, baseboards, vanity, cupboards or anything that is in the bathroom.

If the tub does not have an overflow drain, water can spill everywhere. If you have experienced an overflow in the past, you will know that it is quite disastrous as it causes a mess and damage. It is very likely that you can turn on the faucet and continue with another task while the bath fills, only to forget about it later. The drain collects the water which prevents it from overflowing should you accidentally leave the bathroom or tub faucet on. The purpose of an overflow drain, such as the one in your bathtub, is to collect excess water before it overflows.

Misaligned tub overflow drain