Hi, I gutted the bathroom in my basement to do a remodel. This is a photo of the drain for the upstairs shower, it just doesn't look right to me. Is it OK to put a 45 degree elbow up? Also the horazontal pipe is level. And should it have a tee fitting connecting to main drain. The upstairs shower drains real slow and the trap is clear have not tried to snake the pipe yet, any thoughts??

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Hi David

Good observations by you... most that you mention are direct code violations, but bear with me here.

The 45s are wrong, for sure. Here, when that pipe 45s up like that it negates the contribution of the shower vent. A vent needs to roll above the centerline of the drain line, but the drain can't jump up once that vent fitting is installed. Dropping that trap to horizontal (eliminating the 45s) right after the vent tee is the fix.

The drain should be pitched at 1/4" pitch per foot of pipe, but the trap arm (pipe over to the trap) needs to be level so the trap can be set level to the shower.

The sanitary tee fitting is not correct as you cannot use sanitary tee fittings for horizontal drainage... MUST BE WYE FITTINGS (OR COMBINATION WYE FITTINGS). Would I change the fitting to a wye? No...not at this point !

I would remove the cleanout from the end of the copper pipe (at end of sanitary tee fitting) and I would bet you that you have the major issue in the drain where the galvanized wye and the copper male adapter meet. Here, dissimilar metals create an electrolytic effect that can cause metals/minerals to deposit at this junction. Work this area... should be the issue!

If the drain(s) continue to be slow after all this then you would be best to cut out the galvi. Wye and copper and replace with new PVC.

Anything else, let me know, OK?

Mark

Mark, thanks for the great info, I will have to rework this drain. I know they did this to keep the trap above the level of the ceiling but I don't see any onther way to keep it up higher, unless I rework the entire system, would you have any idea of the cost to replace all to pvc if I hire a pro to do this job?

Nope... no idea as every city/town has completely different pricing schemes.

Get 3 estimates from local guys... shouldn't be too big a deal!

Mark