My plumber ran into a dilemma when installing rough plumbing for a new basement bathroom. After already laying the pvc piping in place under the broken up concrete floor we found the pvc to cast iron Tee connections leaking. This was discovered after I had filled the opening with a base of gravel under the pipe and covered the pipe with sand. I noticed the leaking by the existence of wet sand... luckily prior to my pouring cement to finish. The plumber came back and found that the no hub bands he used were slightly off. He replaced them with appropriate size and the leak is fixed. In doing the band replacement he had to cut the 2" pvc drain pipe about 2ft before the tee connection, wiggle off the Tee connection from the cast iron and put on the new bands. When he reconnected the cut 2" pvc which leads back to the tub drain he used another no hub band to connect 2" pvc to 2" pvc. I wasn't home when this work was done, but my guess is that he used the band instead of a pvc connector because he couldn't fit it on without undoing my gravel/sand work. My question is: is the band OK for the pvc to pvc connection underground? Or should I dig up the pipe and have it relaid with all pvc to the Tee?


Also when I do the cement work, is there a reason to avoid having cement directly in contact with pvc pipe and/or bands?


Thanks
Jim

Pvc and cast iron are not the same size. Cast iron is smaller. No hub bands are not to be used on dissimilar size piping. A fernco type connection must be used. It is a black rubber fitting with hose clamps. Using no hub bands on similar sized piping is OK.

Thanks doug238...

Anyone have info as far as proper pipe wrap to use in order to keep cement off pvc?

thanks doug238...

anyone have info as far as proper pipe wrap to use in order to keep cement off of pvc?

If you are talking about vertical piping coming up through the slab, then 'sill seal' is what is commonly used.

If you are talking about horizontal piping that is above your back fill, then covering it with visqueen should be fine.

If the horizontal pipe is too shallow then cover it with dirt. If the vertical pipe is straight then pour to it. pvc does not require protection unless passing through or under a footer.

if the horizontal pipe is too shallow then cover it with dirt. if the vertical pipe is straight then pour to it., pvc does not require protection unless passing through or under a footer.

You are so lucky -- Our inspectors require that all vertical plumbing penetrations be wrapped.

Growler, what actual code requires this?

There are no specific requirement to do so in the UPC -- It was an amendment added by the adopting authority several years ago.

I believe the concerns were in regards to a building settling over time.

Oh, the I W I code