The setting:

The drain from my kitchen sink travels approximately eight feet horizontally (pitched of course) then there is a "T" with a short 1-1/2" diameter tubing "nipple" which is corked with a piece of wood and then wrapped up in what appears to be plaster cast-material. A foot later it takes a 90. About ten feet from there the run from our washing machine "T's in". In fifteen feet it takes another 90 and runs fourteen feet does a forty-five into a "Y" which is at a sharp angle (a virtual U-turn) into the stack. I have lived here 18 years and not had any drain problems.

I am trying to make the basement "presentable". The plaster cast plugged nipple is hideous. I want to remove the ". The plaster cast plugged nipple is hideous. I want to remove the " by cutting on either side and fill with two couplers and a length of new 1-1/2" copper. I am being told this is a jerry rigged clean-out. Is that true? I think this was the dish washer drain which has been removed a long time ago.

Can I eliminate the eyesore?

If I need a clean- out, what is the right way to do that?

Thanks for sticking with me this far and any advice.

Steve

Hi Steve

I'd remove the "hideous tee" and install a new PROPER CLEANOUT (called a test tee) and a SLIP COUPLING.

The slip coupling will allow you to insert the last piece of pipe into the copper drain and then "slip" the coupling down and over the new pipe.

Sound good?

Mark

I don't understand the slip coupling part. Are talking about the whole house stack? Mine is cast iron.

Steve.

Hi Steve and welcome to The Plumbing Page on AskMeHelpDesk.com.

The drain from my kitchen sink travels approximately eight feet horizontally (pitched of course) then there is a "T" with a short 1-1/2" diameter tubing "nipple" which is corked with a piece of wood and then wrapped up in what appears to be plaster cast-materialThis "Tee". Is it upright or laying on its side? Is the nipple coming out of the branch or the run?

About ten feet from there the run from our washing machine "T's in".Again, upright or on its side?

does a forty-five into a "Y" which is at a sharp angle (a virtual U-turn) into the stack.This I don't understand at all. Can you take a picture or clarify it?
What I'm getting is a drain serving two unvented fixtures. At no point in your post was a vent mentioned. All codes mandate that if there's a trap it has to be vented. Did I miss something here? Back to you, Tom

Dr Fuzzy

You said, " I want to remove the "T" by cutting on either side and fill with two couplers and a length of new 1-1/2" copper"

Since it seems we are talking about copper tubing then the copper slip coupling is the only way you will slide a piece of copper pipe (and the new cleanout) into a ridgid copper drain pipe... make sense now?

Massplumber2008

Yes.

Thanks.

speedball1

The first "T" is upright and then the plug.

The "T" to the washer is upward but angled 45 then parallel to floor, disappears into drywall ceiling, then reappears in laundry room. I do not believe it has a vent (no vent on roof on that part of house).

The kitchen sink goes: two wells, drain baskets, "T" to trap ,horizontal, disappears into the exterior wall, inside the wall it must "T" to roof vent (visible) and down through plate/floor to the sill area which is where my description starts.

I don't have my camera today so I will try to clarify the sewage exit. The drain is running from West to East, it takes a 45 to the South East for about 3" then it enters the "Y" which enters the cast iron North North East, This forms a " which enters the cast iron North North East, This forms a " with the main cast iron drain from the two bathrooms above and roof vent AND drops a foot and a half then 45's to the North for about a foot and a half, 90's now about level to the North through the block wall to the Septic tank. The other leg of last Y runs over to the mainfloor shower.

So I guess the short version is travels east, southwest, north east, drops, angles - down north-levels north to septic system.

I got dizzy just reading this. Mark gave you good advice. A slip coupling is simply a regular coupling without a ridge in the center, This allows the coupling to slide over the pip[e without any obstructions. Good luck, Tom