Install waste drain in new onsuite bathroom?

[li001]

I am organising and renovating a new ensuite bathroom. It is only a 3m (L) x 1m (W) small area in ACT. It didn't have a waste drain before the renovation, and I plan to resell it after completing the renovation.

I understand that a waste drain is not required if the shower area is enclosed, which will be. My plumber insists that I should install a waste drain in case the flexi tubes (before the sink tap mixer) burst, to prepare for the rare but worst-case scenario in future. I wonder if it is too much precaution, or if it is better to have one installed?

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

[EricL]

Hello @li001 

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about your ensuite bathroom.

Your plumber is offering very sound advice. Aside from the rules of the NCC and local plumbing regulations that extra waste is your fail safe should any form of leak or flooding occur. It is difficult to predict the future and the best I would advise is to be prepared. An extra waste will add to the cost of your renovation, but the benefits it offers to the safety of your bathroom is immense. You can imagine if a flood did occur and the water has nowhere to drain, and it works its way outside of your bathroom into the hallway and into the bedrooms. A larger area would be damaged, but if the waste was present the flood would have been contained in the bathroom.

Let me call on our experienced members @Dave-1 and @Nailbag for their recommendations.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

[Nailbag]

Hi @li001 

Since you’re renovating to sell and there is no legal requirement, then it’s your call. Personally I wouldn’t be spending the extra unless there was a living space below. Plus I wouldn’t like the look of a drain grate in the middle of my bathroom. And as the plumber stated the chance of any new hose or tap fittings bursting is highly unlikely. 

Nailbag

[Dave-1]

Good afternoon @li001 

Id go with the recomendation of the plumber. Mostly because if I look at the job (Any job that I do then I would do the job to what I would be happy with as a customer) and think how I would feel if there was a worst case instance in my own place. I know you are going to onsell the house so it comes down to your call. If a customer sees a house with no drain and one with a drain it may be enough for them to make a decision.

Dave