Want to know more about overflow tub drains and why they are so important in a bathtub? The questions below will help add to your knowledge of this topic. 

How does overflow drain in tub work?

The mechanism of an overflow drain in your bathtub is actually quite simple. The drain – or overflow hole – is located high up on the side of the bathtub wall. If the water reaches this level in the tub, it will flow into the overflow drain, which is connected to the regular drain and the water can be carried away. This way, if you forget to turn off the water while filling the tub, you won’t wind up with a mess all over the floor and potential water damage to your home. 

Do bathtubs need an overflow drain?

Not all tubs need to have an overflow drain installed, but this is a nice feature to have in place, especially on larger tubs that hold a lot of water. The overflow drain is basically a backup plan – if you forget to turn the water off, the overflow drain will protect you and avoid a flood in your bathroom. Even if you don’t think you would make that kind of mistake, it’s worth adding this feature to a large soaking tub just as insurance. 

How do you stop an overflow bathtub drain?

The overflow drain is a nice safety feature to have in a bathtub, but you might not always want to use it. For example, if you want to set up a particularly deep soak and you need to get the level of the water above the position of the overflow drain, you’ll need to stop that drain temporarily. While you can get a cover to put over the drain, it’s better to pick a drain model that comes with that capability built into its design. For instance, at CopperSmith, we have overflow bathtub drains that feature a soft-touch push button drain cover. This way, you’ll always have the option to stop the overflow drain and make the water as deep as you’d like. 

Where does the overflow drain go?

If you use an overflow drain in your bathtub, that drain will be connected to the main drain at the bottom of the tub. This way, no matter which drain the water uses to escape the tub, it will be carried away in the same pipe. It’s important to buy a quality overflow drain, like those offered here at CopperSmith, so you don’t have to worry about leaks developing in a low-end drain that isn’t built to demanding specifications. 

Do bathtub overflow drains work?

Yes – overflow drains work to stop the level of water from flowing over the top of the tub. If you forget to turn the water off in time, having an open overflow drain waiting near the top of the tub will divert the water down the drain and help you avoid a bathroom flood. With that said, the water will just continue to flow until you turn off the faucet, so you don’t want to wander away for long. Instead of relying on your overflow drain to control the level of the water, do your best to monitor it and consider the overflow drain as a nice backup plan. 

How do you fix a rusty overflow tub drain?

If the overflow drain on your current tub has developed visible rust, that rust might be coming off into your bathwater – which is less than ideal. Also, the rust may degrade the performance of the drain and lead to leaks down the line. While you might be able to fix this issue by cleaning up the corrosion and reinstalling the drain, it’s also worth considering buying a new overflow drain to start fresh. Buying from CopperSmith will allow you to pick up a quality metal drain at a competitive price, and you won’t have to worry about any rust issues moving forward. 

Does homeowners insurance cover bathtub overflow?

An overflowing bathtub can do significant damage to not only the bathroom, but to other parts of the home, as well. If this happens in your house, there is a good chance that the damage will be covered by your homeowners insurance policy, but check the specifics of your coverage to be sure. To avoid needing to make a claim for such an unwanted event, add a reliable overflow drain to your bathtub to prevent this from happening in the first place.