What is a Linear Shower Drain
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Meet the wonder drain that has revolutionized shower design. The linear drain is sleek and versatile and can virtually disappear! Here’s why your shower needs one.
Shower drains are usually not spared a second thought, but the right or wrong drain has the power to make or break your shower. One incredible option that’s revolutionized the shower drain industry (betcha didn’t know there was a shower drain industry!) is the linear drain.
For those who’d prefer to avoid a center drain, a linear drain is a must-have. As its name suggests, a linear drain has a long and narrow “line” shape, so it can be installed in a one-directional-pitched shower.
Installation
Linear drains work by allowing the water to flow through the drain and into a trough, or channel, beneath the shower floor, where it enters the regular drainage system.
Leading linear drain manufacturer Infinity Drain supplies drains that will work with any size shower. Their fixed-length drains, available in standard sizes, are installed as-is; revolutionary site sizable drains may be cut down by the installer to fit exactly.
Infinity Drain’s unique fixed flange drains feature a flange around the edge of the drain; water runs through the top of the drain and the trough, bypassing the sub-floor and eliminating the need for the second layer of mortar required by most drain installations.
If the existing plumbing presents an issue in installation, a side outlet drain directs the water through a horizontal outlet (underneath the floor) to the drainage system.
Placement
The linear drain may be installed practically anywhere in your shower: at the threshold (whether there is a barrier – a door or curb – or not), along the wall, under a shower bench… the possibilities are practically endless.
Think out of the box: linear drains are incredibly versatile and can be used to create custom drainage solutions in showers as well as other wet environments: spas, pools, driveways, balconies… if it needs drainage, a linear drain may be your best option.
Design
Linear drains are available in a wide variety of styles to complement any shower’s design. If you’re not wild about the look of a linear drain, despite its many decorative grate options, you may want an invisible linear drain. Choose a tile-ready linear drain: a drain that all but vanishes into your shower floor while giving you practically unlimited configuration options.
Linear vs. center drain
The main advantage of linear drains over center drains is that the linear drain simplifies the installation of the floor and the drain. A center drain requires the shower floor to be sloped from each of the four ends so that water runs into the drain; a linear drain requires the floor to slope in only one direction toward the drain.
Linear drains also allow for more freedom in placement within the shower while center drains must – by definition – be centered in the shower. A linear drain may be placed virtually anywhere, including the entrance to the shower, which allows one to install a curbless or doorless shower without flooding the bathroom.
Cleaning and maintenance
A linear drain does not require more complex cleaning or maintenance than traditional drains. Regular cleaning with soap and water or your preferred cleaning solution will keep your drain free of soap scum and dirt; an occasional scrub with a toothbrush will keep the grate clean and allow for unimpeded drainage.
Many linear drains feature a removable basket to catch hair and other debris from traveling down the pipes and causing clogs; empty your drain’s basket on a regular basis for optimal performance.