"downsizing pipes can get tricky real fast. Even if it's working okay now, you might run into drainage or clogging issues later."
True, but honestly, I've downsized a couple of drain lines myself (from 2" to 1.5") to fit water-saving fixtures, and haven't had any issues yet—going on three years now. The key is proper slope and venting. If you get those right, smaller pipes can handle the reduced flow just fine. Not saying it's foolproof, but with careful planning, it can definitely work out without headaches down the road...
I've been thinking about downsizing a pipe for a bathroom remodel I'm doing soon, but honestly, the potential clogging issue worries me a bit. Your point about slope and venting makes sense—I've read elsewhere that proper venting is crucial to prevent slow drainage or airlock issues.
"The key is proper slope and venting. If you get those right, smaller pipes can handle the reduced flow just fine."
I'm curious though, did you have to adjust your venting setup significantly when you downsized? My current vent stack seems adequate for the existing pipes, but I'm not sure if smaller pipes would need more frequent vent connections or if the existing layout is sufficient. Would hate to finish everything up nicely and then realize I overlooked something important...
When I downsized the pipes in my bathroom, I didn't have to overhaul the venting completely, but I did end up adding one extra vent connection closer to the sink. My original setup was pretty standard and seemed fine at first glance, but after talking to a plumber friend, he pointed out that smaller pipes can sometimes need more frequent venting points to avoid slow drainage or gurgling issues. He suggested adding a vent closer to fixtures that drain slowly or have longer horizontal runs.
Honestly, it wasn't a huge hassle—just a bit of extra planning and a few more fittings. If your current vent stack is already solid, you might be okay, but I'd double-check the distances between fixtures and vents against local plumbing codes or guidelines. Better safe than sorry...especially if you're sealing everything up behind drywall or tile. Learned that one the hard way on my first remodel, haha.
Good call on double-checking fixture-to-vent distances. A lot of DIYers overlook that step, and it can really bite you later when things start gurgling or draining slow. Adding an extra vent closer to the sink was smart—smaller diameter pipes definitely need more frequent venting points to keep airflow balanced. Sounds like you saved yourself a headache down the line, especially since drywall's already going up. Small adjustments early on always beat tearing stuff out later...been there myself, haha.
"Small adjustments early on always beat tearing stuff out later...been there myself, haha."
Yeah, can't argue with that. I've learned the hard way too many times—thinking I knew better than the code book or ignoring water-saving fixtures to save a few bucks upfront. Had a rental once where I skimped on low-flow faucets and toilets because I figured tenants wouldn't notice. Boy, did they notice when their water bills shot up! Lesson learned: saving water usually saves money in the long run, even if it seems trivial at first.
