Bathroom plumbing · Conway, SC
Bathroom Plumbing in Conway, SC: Shower Pans, Tub Valves and Remodel Plumbing
Bathroom plumbing covers a handful of fixtures packed into a small, wet room. This page covers the plumbing side of repairing and remodeling a bathroom, from a leaking shower pan to moving a vanity. We do the plumbing. Tile, cabinets and framing are other trades.
What we do in a bathroom and what we leave to others
We handle every water supply and drain connection in the room: shower and tub valves, spouts and drains, vanity faucets and drains, toilet connections, bidets and any new or relocated lines. We repair leaks, replace worn parts and rough in new fixtures for a remodel. We do not tile, build or finish cabinets, hang drywall or do general carpentry, so a full remodel is a plumbing job inside a larger project. Tell us what the remodel includes and we will coordinate the plumbing steps with whoever is doing the rest.
Shower pan and shower floor leaks
A shower pan is the waterproof base under the tile. When the membrane or the drain seal fails, water seeps into the subfloor or the ceiling below. Signs include a musty smell, a stain on the ceiling under the bathroom, loose or discolored tile, soft flooring near the shower and a water bill that rises with no other explanation. A flood test, which fills the pan with water for several hours and watches the level, shows whether the pan holds. A failed pan usually needs to be rebuilt, because patching the surface does not stop water getting beneath it.
If you see water damage already, read the water damage removal and drying page. If the leak source is not clear, the leak detection page explains how it is traced.
Bathtub valve and spout problems
A bathtub valve that will not shut off, a spout that drips, a diverter that sends water to both the tub and the shower head, and handles that do not control temperature are all valve problems. Most can be repaired by replacing the cartridge or stem through the wall opening. A leak behind the wall where the spout enters needs access, and if the valve is corroded or discontinued, replacement means opening the wall. Anti-scald protection is part of a modern valve, and an older valve without it can be upgraded during the work. Simple fixture-level fixes are also on the faucet and sink repair page.
Remodeling a bathroom? Call (833) 571-0120 with the fixture list and the layout plan.
Bathroom rough-in for a remodel: supply and drain locations
Rough-in is the plumbing set inside the wall and floor before the finished surfaces go up. Getting it right matters because it is expensive to change afterward. It includes setting the supply and drain locations for the vanity, toilet, tub and shower; sizing and venting the drains; setting valve depth to suit the tile thickness; and pressure testing the new lines before walls close. A remodel that moves a toilet, adds a second sink or converts a tub to a walk-in shower will change those locations.
Plan the layout with the fixtures in hand. A shower valve, a freestanding tub and a wall-mounted faucet each have specific rough-in dimensions, and the plumber needs the model numbers before the walls are opened.
Moving fixtures, adding a bathroom and code questions
Moving a toilet or adding a bathroom changes drain and vent runs and typically requires a permit and inspection. Horry County's code treats replacing concealed pipe as new work that needs a permit, and the City of Conway's 2026 to 2027 fee schedule lists plumbing and sewer permit types. In the city, contact Construction Services at 843-488-9888. Outside the city, contact Horry County Code Enforcement at 843-915-5090. South Carolina's 2021 plumbing and residential codes are the ones in force now, with the 2024 editions applying to local jurisdictions from January 1, 2027.
South Carolina requires a license for residential plumbing work over $500, and many bathroom remodels exceed that. You can check any plumber at verify.llronline.com before signing. Ask whether the plumber will pull the permit, and who is responsible for inspections.
Slab or crawl space: what it means for bathroom plumbing
How your house is built changes the work. On a crawl space, drain and supply lines are reached from below and moving fixtures is easier. On a slab, new drain lines may require cutting concrete, and some remodels route supply lines overhead to avoid it. We have not found a published count of slab versus crawl-space homes in Conway, so we ask about your foundation before planning. If a bathroom is on an upper floor, drains run through the floor framing, and access from below may be through a ceiling.
Drains, traps and venting in a small room
Every fixture needs a trap, which holds a plug of water to block sewer gas, and a vent, which lets air in so the drain flows. A gurgling sink, a slow shower that clears when another fixture runs or a sewer smell in the bathroom often points at a vent or trap problem rather than a clog. A remodel that adds a fixture usually needs the drain and vent sized for it. A walk-in shower with a linear drain, for example, has different slope and trap needs than a standard center drain. Slow drains in an otherwise working bathroom are covered on the drain cleaning page.
Water quality, pressure and fixtures
Low pressure at a single fixture is usually a clogged aerator or cartridge, and low pressure everywhere points at a regulator, a partly closed valve or a leak. Newer fixtures with small flow openings are more sensitive to scale and sediment. We did not find a published hardness figure for Conway's water, so we do not guess, and a home test is the better guide. New fixtures should be sized to the pipes that serve them.
We work in Conway and nearby places such as Aquila Estates, Hillsborough and Red Hill. See the areas we serve page. For toilet-specific problems, go to toilet repair.
Planning bathroom plumbing? Call and describe the project
Tell us whether you are fixing a leak or remodeling, which fixtures are involved and how the house is built. We will explain the plumbing steps.