Plumbing question (Robinhood supertub)

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dpw

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#138355 31-Dec-2013 12:47

Hey folks, I'm hoping there're some plumbing enthusiasts (?!) amongst us. I just bought an older model Robinhood supertub from Trade Me and would like to replace our ancient one. Unfortunately I neglected to check what size drain connection it had. My old one has the usual 40mm pipe connected to the S trap. It looks like this:

Here's the new one, and it appears to have a 50mm pipe at the bottom of the tub! I've had a look in Bunnings and Mitre10 but they don't seem to have any adapters that can reduce the 50mm pipe down to 40mm so I can connect my old S trap. Has anyone encountered this before?

Cheers,
D.

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#959553 31-Dec-2013 12:47

Hmmmm. Here we go.

I am the Geekzone Robot and I am here to help. I am from the Internet. I do not interact. Do not expect other replies from me.

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DarthKermit

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#959603 31-Dec-2013 15:29

Hi, what you need is a PVC fitting with a 50 mm female thread, a 50 - 40 mm reducing bush and a fitting with a 40 mm male thread.

Bunnings sell all three of these, Mitre 10 don't seem to have nearly the range of PVC fittings.

Whatifthespacekeyhadneverbeeninvented?

DarthKermit

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#959622 31-Dec-2013 16:13

You'll also need a short length of 40 mm pipe to join the above parts together.

Do you know what that smaller pipe does, that joins into your S-trap?

Whatifthespacekeyhadneverbeeninvented?

dpw

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#959636 31-Dec-2013 16:17

DarthKermit: Hi, what you need is a PVC fitting with a 50 mm female thread, a 50 - 40 mm reducing bush and a fitting with a 40 mm male thread.

Bunnings sell all three of these, Mitre 10 don't seem to have nearly the range of PVC fittings.

Brilliant! Thank you! So these 3 pieces should just thread together?

As you can tell I am a plumbing noob and I rely on those in the know to hopefully let me know what bits are available to me. Usually Bunnings has been awesome for this purpose... until this week! There're a couple of old guys in the Shirley Home Depot shop in ChCh who are cranky old curmudgeons. His response to this, and I paraphrase very closely, was: "... well, that bit from your new tub is missing. We don't have that and you can't buy it. If you can't get it from who you bought it from then tough luck, you're done for!".

This came very soon after his response to my question about the new tub. I asked which of the pipes go to mains, and which go to the washing machine. I showed him a photo of the back of the tub. His response was, and I quote, "Oh come on... if you don't know that you should be doing this!", after which he jabbed at my phone screen curtly stating which ones go to mains and which go to washing machine.

Helpful, eh?

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dpw

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#959637 31-Dec-2013 16:27

DarthKermit: You'll also need a short length of 40 mm pipe to join the above parts together.

Do you know what that smaller pipe does, that joins into your S-trap?

The one that joins into the side of the old S-trap? That's the drain from the washing machine. With this reducing setup I can keep that old S-trap, right?

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DarthKermit

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#959638 31-Dec-2013 16:34

dpw:
DarthKermit: Hi, what you need is a PVC fitting with a 50 mm female thread, a 50 - 40 mm reducing bush and a fitting with a 40 mm male thread.

Bunnings sell all three of these, Mitre 10 don't seem to have nearly the range of PVC fittings.

Brilliant! Thank you! So these 3 pieces should just thread together?

As you can tell I am a plumbing noob and I rely on those in the know to hopefully let me know what bits are available to me. Usually Bunnings has been awesome for this purpose... until this week! There're a couple of old guys in the Shirley Home Depot shop in ChCh who are cranky old curmudgeons. His response to this, and I paraphrase very closely, was: "... well, that bit from your new tub is missing. We don't have that and you can't buy it. If you can't get it from who you bought it from then tough luck, you're done for!".

This came very soon after his response to my question about the new tub. I asked which of the pipes go to mains, and which go to the washing machine. I showed him a photo of the back of the tub. His response was, and I quote, "Oh come on... if you don't know that you should be doing this!", after which he jabbed at my phone screen curtly stating which ones go to mains and which go to washing machine.

Helpful, eh?

No, the ones that I mentioned need to be solvent bonded with PVC solvent cement. You'll also need some thread seal tape to stop the outlet of the tub from leaking.

As for the crusty old geezers at that place. Grrrr.

Whatifthespacekeyhadneverbeeninvented?

dpw

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#959642 31-Dec-2013 16:45

DarthKermit:
No, the ones that I mentioned need to be solvent bonded with PVC solvent cement. You'll also need some thread seal tape to stop the outlet of the tub from leaking.

As for the crusty old geezers at that place. Grrrr.

I struggled to imagine what a "reducing bush" looks like, especially since I mostly associate the word "bush" with car parts. I just googled it... now I know what I'm looking for. Thanks again! Will report back with my efforts.

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DarthKermit

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#959719 31-Dec-2013 21:01

dpw:
DarthKermit: You'll also need a short length of 40 mm pipe to join the above parts together.

Do you know what that smaller pipe does, that joins into your S-trap?

The one that joins into the side of the old S-trap? That's the drain from the washing machine. With this reducing setup I can keep that old S-trap, right?

Yes, you should be able to just fine. The copper trap will end up being lowered by the fittings installed above it.

You might want to cap off the old side pipe, as your new tub will have its own washing machine drain inlet.

Good luck with your installation and please post any more Qs if you need to.

Whatifthespacekeyhadneverbeeninvented?

Zippity

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#959797 1-Jan-2014 09:43

I guess this post only goes to prove why you should use a certified or licensed plumber :)

dpw

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#959801 1-Jan-2014 09:49

Zippity: I guess this post only goes to prove why you should use a certified or licensed plumber :)

You don't work in Bunnings Home Depot in Christchurch, do ya??

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#960017 1-Jan-2014 17:51

dpw:
Zippity: I guess this post only goes to prove why you should use a certified or licensed plumber :)

You don't work in Bunnings Home Depot in Christchurch, do ya??

LOL No!!

But I do understand the current Plumbing, Gasfitting and Drainlaying licensing Regulations and Rules etc

Niel

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#960094 1-Jan-2014 20:18

I've done it before. Bunnings sells a universal, telescopic adapter. I think I had to remove half of the s-trap though, else the copper pipe was too high. Sorry, it was a few years ago. Next time I'm at Bunnings I'll check what they call it.

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dpw

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#960095 1-Jan-2014 20:25

Niel: I've done it before. Bunnings sells a universal, telescopic adapter. I think I had to remove half of the s-trap though, else the copper pipe was too high. Sorry, it was a few years ago. Next time I'm at Bunnings I'll check what they call it.

Ok, sounds like I've just struck a particularly nasty shop assistant. I think I will check out the other Bunnings in ChCh. Hopefully he/she can point me to exactly the part I'm after. Failing that I can assemble a part like mentioned earlier in the thread.

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dpw

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#960527 3-Jan-2014 09:13

I have found all the parts I needed... 50mm pipe with female thread, 50x40mm reducing bush, 40mm pipe with male thread, and a wee pot of PVC cement. But then... it occurred to me that this is a Robinhood tub. It's a reasonably common brand. Went to their website, found this: http://www.robinhood.co.nz/obsolete_product_downloads/Robinhood_ST4000_Supertub_Parts_services.pdf

The part I needed was numbered 750638, cost $35, and shall be here next week! Hey ho hey ho.. off back to Bunnings we go...

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Jeeves

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#960720 3-Jan-2014 14:30

Random thought. Does this drain have a venting pipe? It'll be a pipe that comes off the drain somewhere between what you have in the photo and the trap (The grill looking thing somewhere outside that possibly multiple drainpipes drain into) that goes to the roof and has a vent on top?

If not, you might want to consider throwing in an air admittance valve. It'll help the sink drain heaaaaps quick as bro choice.

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