Installing a sink can be challenging, especially if you don’t know how high the kitchen sink drain should be from the floor.
There are no one-fits-all standard measurements for kitchen sink drains because how high one home places its kitchen sink has a lot to do with how tall its household members are. So, how high should the kitchen sink drain be from the floor?
Here’s how high should kitchen sink drain be from the floor
A kitchen sink drain’s standard height is usually between 20″ and 24″. This is determined by the depth of the sink bowl and the height of the counter. During the installation process, you can adjust the height and depth of the sink drain.
Are There Any Codes For The Kitchen Sink Drain?
Yes, there are regulations put in place by the International Building Code. The drain slope pipe should, on average, be 1/4 inches per foot, according to the code.
The code ensures the functionality and safety of the drainage system in regards to the safety of the house and that of its occupants.
But as much as these regulations have to be adhered to, most homeowners break them every so often, and when they do, water backing up the drain and leaks and water contamination as some of the repercussions that come with it.
Some of the regulations that should be adhered to but mostly flaunted are as follows;
Proper Drain Pipe Slope
The kitchen sink drain pipe has a major function: to drain water, dirty or otherwise, out of the sink and down to the main drainage system.
For these to happen, the drainpipe should be angled properly to ensure good drainage pressure and prevent backflows.
For example, the International Building Code states that a 3” wide pipe or larger than that is required to have a sloping pitch of ⅛ inches. A proper pitch prevents leaks which is the cause of clogging or slowed-down draining.
However, most drains do not have the right slope as some have a higher inclination, while the vice-versa is also true.
Enough Clean-Outs (Why You Need Them)
Because the drainage pipe has angles in every turn, clean-outs are installed where the drain pipe changes direction at an angle more than 45 degrees.
What do they look like? The p-trap in the sink drain acts as the clean-out.
Normally, the larger the drain pipes, the more the clean-outs, but in the case of the kitchen sink, the p-trap is enough. A clean-outs enable easier rooting or snaking of drainage pipes when unclogging them of dirt and debris.
Code For People With Disabilities
These regulations, or in other words “codes,” ensure that normal people, children as well as people with disabilities each get to use the sink without straining.
Most of the building codes are international and affect the manufacturing of different parts of the kitchen sink drainage for these pieces to be universal.
When putting into consideration disabled members of its community, for example, the USA through the Americans with Disability (ADA) insists that a kitchen sink which puts into consideration people with disabilities must be between 28”- 34” high with knee clearance of 27” high, 30” wide 19” deep beneath the sink to accommodate the wheelchair.
How Far Drain Should Be From The Sink?
The lowest part of the kitchen sink drain is normally 12”-18” in height which could be one foot or slightly higher. This is to allow enough room installation and all but again not too low to cause problems in functionality.
Many households have their kitchen sinks placed at the height of 36” while the rest place them between 29”-39”. The sinks basin depth is normally 8” deep, meaning the space between the floor and the bottom of the sink is 28” high.
This is because the sink and its drain are conjoined. After all, they work as one. While the sink basin holds water from the faucet and prevents it from pouring on the flow, the drain pipe leads the water from underneath the sink and out into the main drainage outside.
However, the height the sink drain should be from the floor fully depends on how high the sink is placed in the first place. This is because the many different parts of the drain pipes come in measured height, which forms the height of around 13-15 inches when joined together.
When you calculate these measurements, you will arrive at 15”, which falls correctly on the initial 12”-18” measurements.
Are Kitchen Sink Drains A Standard Size?
Yes, most kitchen sink drain pipes are universal and come in the size of 3½ inches big with a diameter of 1½ inches wide on the inside, which is sufficient to accommodate the speed and the amount of water that flows out of the kitchen sink at-a-go.
Still, there are a lot of misconceptions perceived by builders and homeowners alike concerning these two measurements.
While the 3½ inches are the outer measurements related to the PVC pipe as a whole, the 1½ inches are the internal measurements of the pipe that are surrounded by the PVC material.
The kitchen drain, unlike the bathroom sink drain which is 1½ inches, is larger because of the workload of day-to-day cleaning, which lowers the risk of the drainpipe getting clogged.
For one, a drain pipe of those measurements is enough to drain water of a normal size family unit and the second is because 1¼ inch and 1½ inch pipes are easily available in all forms because they are in high demand.
This is regardless of the sink’s design, its drainage system or the manufacturer responsible as most manufacturers mostly design drain pipe parts that are compatible with the ones already in the market.
What Size Is The Kitchen Sink Drain Pipe?
The standard in size kitchen sink drain is between 1¼ – 1½. However, these sizes will somehow vary based on the workload, design of the drainage system, and the manufacturer company.
Most institutions or hotels will have more extensive drainage pipes than households.
Of the above measurements, many older homes are fitted with 1¼ inch drain pipes while modern homes have 1½ inch drain pipes.
The wider the drainpipe is, the faster the water will drain, and the faster one can cook or clean. This is especially true and more practical, especially if the dishwasher is connected to the drain.
Before, dishwashers were not available, but because more and more homes now have dishwashers, the kitchen sink drainage pipe was enlarged to accommodate water draining from the sink and the dishwasher.
Many homes now have their laundry machines placed in the kitchen, so this is one more reason for the need for a wider drainage pipe in the kitchen.
Final Thoughts
It is concluded that drain pipes have a standard of either height or size because the perceived measurements are what most households have adopted changing market dimensions as whatever is consumed most will be available widely.
When deciding the height for the kitchen sink, considering the height and needs of family members are paramount. Couple that up with good body posture, and the result is a sink that is not only high enough but one that ensures the members’ health.
However, when the relevant regulations put across for manufacturers and homeowners are not adhered to, there could potentially be major problems and safety or health hazards that will negatively affect the building as well the occupants.
Sources:
https://everythingwhat.com/how-high-off-the-floor-should-a-kitchen-sink-drain-be
https://www.hunker.com/13722989/kitchen-sink-plumbing-code-what-you-need-to-know
https://upgradedhome.com/what-is-the-rough-in-height-for-sink-drains/
