We are finishing our basement and there is rough in plumbing. We are confused about what pipe goes with what? What size (round) are the toilet, bath/shower and clean out pipes supposed to be??

Hi Goneshoppin':

The toilet pipe is about 12"-13" off the stud wall to center of the pipe. The toilet pipe is either 3" (about 3.5" diameter) or 4" (about 4.5" diameter) pipe.

If roughed in for a shower stall, you will find a 2" (about 2.5" diameter) pipe sticking into or out of a DAPOUT box (box in the concrete). The shower needs to have a 2" PTRAP installed if it is not already piped in... will be underground.

If roughed in for a tub you will see a tub dapout (box in the ground) with 1.5" (2" diameter) pipe installed. You will need to install an 1.5" PTRAP here as most tubs are not roughed in with a PTRAP.

The sink drain is usually 1.5" or 2" pipe with a cleanout installed right before it ggoes into the ground. It all depends on if the toilet has its own vent or if the sink WET VENTS the toilet and vents itself... ;) If that didn't make sense it's cause it is a liitle involved from here.

I would need you to take a couple pictures of your pipes so I could tell you more. If you can post some pics. I'll pop back and draw up the venting you need to do... UNLESS THE VENT WORK IS ALL DONE... HMMMM? Let me know...

MARK

I just love pictures,, please send us one. If you could post a pic of your basement rough in, it would give us a lot to go on. Lee.

Dear massplumber2008'

Thank you so much for your response, we are still not sure what is what because the measurements are off on our pipes. I have attached some pics. Let me know if this helps. We really appreciate your advice

Thanks,
Tina

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Hi Tina...

The largest pipe looks to be a Backwater valve (see 1st and 2nd image. The first image is most likely EXACTLY what you have. The second image is PVC plastic, but shows the flapper). Here, that cap in the ground should spin out counterclockwise and it should reveal a flapper. Basically, this is a backflow preventer that keeps sewage from backing up and out the toilet/sink if there is a clogged main drain pipe. It is a good thing! If it is not a backwater valve or the flapper is missing then it can be used as a cleanout in the future. Either way, you will need to install a CLEANOUT COVER PLATE (see 3rd image... usually only available at a plumbing supply store) when the finish floor gets tiled (your tile man should know how to set these).

The 3" pipe is for the toilet. The cardboard is around it to allow you to pull it out and still have the ability to install an ABS closet flange (see 4th image... connects toilet to pipe). The closet flange gets set AFTER the tile floor is finished and the hub of the fitting fits just below the floor... hence the space from the cardboard around the pipe. You will need an inside cutter wheel (see 5th image) to cut the pipe to the correct height for the flange.

Lastly, the smaller pipe appears to WET VENT the toilet and act as the sink drain and sink vent all in one. Here, the 2" pipe will pick up the 1.5" sink drain at about 18" off the floor and then the 2" pipe will continue up to a FUTURE VENT (look around on pipes in basement for FV on a capped pipe if house is newer home) or upstairs to connect into another 2" or larger vent.

As you can see..a bit to it! I can offer some more suggestions if you need them. For example, the 2" pipe is intended to be included in the rough stud wall. This pipe should be laid out such that it gets included in the planned bathroom wall AND allows the toilet pipe to be about 12" or so from the front of the rough stud wall to the center of that 3" pipe... ;)

Are there any other pipes/boxouts in the ground (for tub or shower)? Finally, what is under the white plastic duct taped to the floor?

Back to you...

MARK

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I agree with Mark 100%. Only thing is, I don't see any plumbing for tub/shower. 'Whats under the white plastic bag duct taped to floor?

Lee... funny you asked that.. was the last question I asked Tina in the BOOK I wrote above! Hopefully, it's a tub/shower boxout (dapout)!

Hard to believe someone would do all the underground work and not include a tub or shower. Depends on space, of course.

Good night!

Wow, I really have to learn to read all the way to the bottom.lol.

I do believe that BOOK would be a best seller in the plumbing industry.

For some reason I see a round pit under the plastic. Im thinking a sump pit, or possibly a sewer ejecter pit. Ive never seen a round dapout, but I've never seen a lot of things. And good night to you Mark, and all. Lee.

Your not "OFF" on your pipe dimensions. You need to use the following table: PVC Pipe | Standard & Custom Extrusions | Schedule 40 & 80 Dimensions

There you will see that a 3" Schedule 40 pipe is 3.5" in outside diameter.

Aside:
Copper plumbing for water is actually "tubing" and tubes are different from pipes and thus have different dimensions. Things get really weird sometimes. If you walk into a HVAC distributer and ask for a 7/8" elbow and compare it to a 3/4 plumbing elbow they will be identical fittings.

Hey KISS,
And things really gvet confusng when the big box stores start marking plumbing fittings OD like the AC guys do.
There's a reason the two trades size the same fitting differently. AC guys figure what copper pipes and fittings will radiate on the outside while plumbers figure what a copper pipe will contain and move on the inside. Hence, two measures for the same fitting. And now you know the rest of the story. Cheers, Tom

Yea, I did notice that the big box stores were doing that. Kind of confuses people, like me, the first time when you KNOW that there are differences.

Pipe is one thing, but 1/4" tubing and 1/4" refrigeration tubing are entirely two different animals

1/4" refrigeration line checks out a 1/8th" ID. Weird huh? Tom

Hey Mark,

Thank you so much for the info, bummer that we don't have a pipe for shower/tub though. That should take a whole lot of work to install:( Any short cut ideas for us??
About that question "what is under the white plastic cover?", we think it is supposed to be the sump pump. There is a pipe sticking out of it and I was hoping you could identify it and possibly confirm this as a sump pump hole?? I have attached photo:)

Thanks so much,
Tina

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Hi Tina:

You will be glad to hear that I think that pipe is setup for a tub or shower. I can't be 100% sure, however, yet!

Can you pull the dirt back and take another pic. Of that pipe in the hole? While you are at it, take a few steps back from all of the pipes and give me a better picture of the whole bathroom. With that I should be able to tell you how they planned to lay your future bathroom out... O.K.?

MARK

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Ok, I'm with Mark on this one. Looks like a "home made dap out" for tub or shower. Dig down till you hit solid dirt,(looks like pee gravel) if its only a few inches deep, its for a tub or shower, if its over 18 inches deep, it may be a sump pit, but I've never seen a sump pit filled with gravel. I think you may have lucked out. Hope to hear more on this. Lee.

Hi Mark,

We took some more photos like you requested. I think you you are right about that hole, it is not deep at all. Photo #1 cardboard ring stops below concrete and under the rocks is dirt/mud. Photo #2 overall pictures of bath layout, w/ 2x4's indicating where wall will run. Photo #3 yellow level standing on end indicates where bathtub drain should be (14 1/2 inches from wall, 8 11/32 inches from wall). Photo #4 overall w/ yellow tape line indicating side of tub, leaves 15 inches to center of toilet. Center of toilet drain is 12 1/2 -12 3/4 inches from wall, is that enough clearance? I hope this helps:) appreciate your help

Thanks,
Tina

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Hi Tina...

Looks like you guys have this nailed down! You should just need to install a PTRAP at the tub and then connect that to the tub waste and overflow assembly.

The toilet at 12.5" to 12.75" to center of the drain is fine. You would order a 12" rough in toilet here.

The 2" waste/vent will pick up the sink off a 2"x1.5" sanitary tee fitting and then continue full size 2" until you can connect into another 2" or larger vent to finish this off.

Any more questions, let us know!

MARK