Floor Drain Types

Floor drains are used to remove excess water from any room in which water may flow along the floor. They can vary greatly, both in terms of the material they are made from and their general design. Several different types of floor drains are available, intended for different types of rooms. Before attempting a home improvement project that will involve a floor drain, it's best to learn about what types are available and which will fit your needs the best.

Among the materials used for making floor drains are steel, iron, or high density polyethylene (HDPE). Steel drains are very strong and difficult to break. Iron floor drains are even stronger than steel and are usually used in industrial settings. HDPE is also very durable and can also tolerate exposure to acids and extreme temperatures.

A shower room drain is probably the most common type. They can come in a variety of shapes, such as squares, rectangles, and circles. This can affect the capacity of the drain. Shower drains usually come with a collar connected around the bottom and a membrane to protect from water leakage.

A universal floor drain has a larger capacity. It can be used in a shower as well as any other finished floor area. They come with either round or square grates.

Indirect waste drains are very different from other types. They are designed to connect to lines carrying waste material. Instead of a grate, these drains have a large funnel, either circular or oblong. The oblong funnel is intended to receive multiple waste lines.

An integral trap floor drain consists of two openings, a standard drain as well as another opening, called a floor level cleanout. Water flows down the drain, but runs beneath the floor level cleanout before running through the pipe. This is useful in floors built on a grade or drains connected to a shallow sewer line.

Flushing rim floor drains are used in institutional settings, where the floor drain is an integral part of the cleaning process for the room. The interior of these drains is coated, so waste will not stick to it and another pipe is connected to the body of the drain which flushes water into it, to wash off any lingering waste.