Bathtub Installation in West Valley City, UT
The plumbing side of a tub job is drain, overflow, valve and support. Get those right and the tub lasts as long as the house.
Most bathtub problems are not the tub. They are the waste and overflow assembly underneath it — the drain, the overflow tube that stops the tub flooding, and the trap they join into below the floor. That assembly has gaskets that harden, connections that loosen when a tub flexes, and an overflow plate whose gasket is the single most common source of a mystery leak in a bathroom.
The tell is that the leak only appears when the tub is filled past a certain point, or only during a shower over the tub. Water running down the outside of the overflow tube ends up on the ceiling below, and people spend a long time looking for a pipe leak that does not exist.
For installation, the plumbing considerations are drain location, whether the tub is properly supported and set in mortar where the manufacturer calls for it, and getting the waste and overflow accessible before the surround goes on. Tubs installed without access to the drain connection are a problem the first time anything needs attention.
Tub types
What we install
Alcove tubs
The standard three-wall install. Straightforward drain connection, and the type most often replaced like for like in West Valley City homes.
Drop-in and undermount
Set into a tiled or built deck. More flexibility on drain location, and access panels matter enormously for future service.
Freestanding tubs
Floor-mounted or wall-mounted filler, drain through the floor at a precise location. Positioning has to be right before the floor goes in, because it cannot be adjusted afterwards.
Tub to shower conversions
Removing the tub, relocating the drain, and roughing in a shower. See shower plumbing.
Waste and overflow repair
The most common tub call. Replacing the drain shoe, overflow gasket and trip lever assembly.
Tub filler and valve work
Replacing an old two-handle valve with a modern pressure-balancing unit, or fitting a freestanding filler.
Leaks
Where a leaking tub is actually leaking
Overflow gasket. The rubber gasket behind the overflow plate hardens with age. Water running down the wall of the tub during a shower, or a tub filled above the overflow, gets past it and runs down the outside of the pipe. This is the most common tub leak and the cheapest to fix.
Drain shoe gasket. The seal between the tub and the drain assembly underneath. Leaks whenever there is water in the tub.
Trap connections. Below the floor, and often loosened by a tub that flexes because it was never properly supported.
Grout and caulk. Not a plumbing leak at all, but it produces exactly the same symptom. Water getting behind the surround at the tub-to-tile joint runs down the outside of the tub and onto the framing.
Telling these apart is straightforward with a bit of testing: filling the tub without running water on the walls isolates the drain and overflow, while running the shower without filling the tub isolates the surround.
Installation
How a tub replacement runs
Remove and inspect
Old tub out, and we look at the framing, subfloor and drain underneath. Rot found here is much cheaper to deal with now.
Prepare the base
Level, supported, and set in mortar bed where the tub calls for it. An unsupported tub flexes and loosens its own drain.
Set and connect
Tub set, new waste and overflow fitted, trap connected, and access provided for future service.
Test before closing
Filled to the overflow and held, drained under observation, and the connections checked from below before anything is boarded over.
Costs
Bathtub costs in West Valley City
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Overflow gasket and drain repair | $220 – $480 | The fix for most tub leaks. |
| Waste and overflow replacement | $350 – $750 | Full assembly, more if access is poor. |
| Tub filler valve replacement | $650 – $1,500 | Depends on wall access. |
| Alcove tub replacement, plumbing | $1,400 – $3,200 | Removal, install, waste and overflow. Tile separate. |
| Freestanding tub install | $1,800 – $4,500 | Includes floor drain relocation and filler. |
| Tub to shower conversion, plumbing | $1,800 – $4,500 | Drain relocation and shower rough-in. |
| Subfloor repair, if found | $500 – $2,500 | Only quoted once the extent is visible. |
Tile, surround and finishing usually handled separately. Typical local ranges, not quotes.
Worth knowing
Things that make a tub install last
- Proper support under the tub. A mortar bed or the manufacturer's specified support stops flexing, which is what loosens drain connections over time.
- Access to the waste and overflow. An access panel behind the tub, or through an adjacent closet, turns future repairs from a demolition job into an hour's work.
- Fill and hold before closing up. Testing a tub before the surround goes on is standard practice and it catches problems while they are still cheap.
- Check the subfloor while it is exposed. Old tubs frequently hide slow leaks. This is the only opportunity you will get to look.
- Re-caulk the tub-to-tile joint annually. Not glamorous, but it is what stops water getting behind the surround.
- Match drain location before ordering. Especially with freestanding tubs, where the drain has to come through the floor at an exact point.
FAQ
Bathtub Installation & Repair: your questions answered
Why does my bathtub leak only when I take a shower?
Almost always the overflow gasket or the tub-to-tile caulk joint. Water running down the tub wall gets past a hardened overflow gasket, or behind the surround where the caulk has failed, and ends up on the ceiling below. Filling the tub without running the shower is a quick way to distinguish them.
Can you replace a tub without removing the tile?
Usually not entirely. An alcove tub sits behind the surround, so at least the lower course of tile has to come off to get the old one out and the new one in. We keep the removal as tight as we can, but plan for some tile work.
How long does a bathtub replacement take?
The plumbing side is generally one to two days. If tile, surround or waterproofing is being replaced too, the overall project is usually three to five days with the other trades.
Is a freestanding tub harder to install?
The plumbing is more demanding because the drain has to come up through the floor at an exact location, and it cannot be adjusted once the floor is finished. It needs to be set out precisely before flooring, which means coordinating with your other trades.
My tub drains slowly. Is that the tub or the drain line?
Usually hair and soap in the trap or the first few feet of the branch line, which is a straightforward clean. Occasionally it is the trip lever assembly in the overflow not opening the stopper fully, which is an adjustment rather than a blockage.
Should I refinish or replace an old tub?
Refinishing is cheaper and avoids opening the surround, and it works well on a structurally sound tub with a worn finish. Replace if the tub is cracked, if it flexes underfoot because it was never supported properly, or if you are changing the layout anyway.
Related plumbing services
Tub leaking or ready to be replaced?
Most tub leaks are the overflow gasket, not the tub. Call and we will find out which before anybody starts removing tile.