Ask Me Help Desk - Hooking into main line

Quote:

Originally Posted by mickeyrory

Tom,
I didn't quite think this through. The toilet is five feet from the main drain and the top of the main drain is about 8 inches below the floor level.There won't be much of a difference after connecting the fittings to the flange. A 1/4 in. drop would just about do it but say there is an inch more of a drop; would I add that to the drop at the toilet or to the slope of the pipe? This brings up another question though. Do I use a 90 degree bend from the flange or two 45's or is it just a matter of preference or how much drop is available? Thanks.

Mickey

Good questions Mickey,
For a 5 foot toilet drain it won't make much difference. However on a longer run It might depending upon how long the run was. Too little slope and you won't get drainage, too much slope and the water will run so fast solids will drop and build up. We try to just crack the bubble on a level when running drainage. You may use a 90 degree elbo for the vertical drop from the flange.
If it were a horizontal run I would suggest a short or long sweep or 45's.
Regards, Tom

Tom,
I've put the no-hub on but the slow leak remains; I'm talking about one drip about every five seconds. I'm thinking a plummer would bury everything regardless. I can't see it being much of a problem but you can tell me if I'm wrong. I will be moving ahead with the water supply pipe installation soon and have tried my hand at soldering. Good seals but sloppy work with the solder. The pre soldered fittings seem great; no mess by this novice. What do you think of them? Should I start a new post for this?

Good morning Mickey,
A small drainage leak will heal itself in time, while a pressure leak will only get worse. Myself? I'd let it go but if it disturbs you undo the clamp and run a small rope of putty on the side that leaks and retighten.
If you are having a little trouble with soldering why not just use cold solder:
http://www.justforcopper.com/
Let me know, Tom

Tom,
When I originally located my main drain under my cement I put a torpedo level on it and it indicated the slope of the pipe to be the opposite of what it is. Since I had rented a jack hammer I broke through leaving more room on one side to accommodate the whye so it would be lined up with my intended drain. Before I began the tie in I got the local water and sewer people out to make sure and that's when I found out it flowed the opposite way. My house is situated so that it could have been in either direction to go out to a street. I have installed my 3in. Pipe for my toilet and it is exactly 1 1/4 in. rise over the five feet from the main line to where the toilet will be. I hadn't connected the flange and 90 degree to the line but left the drain leading up to it uncapped. There is evidence that what is flowing through my main line backs up through this new line. Would this be happening because I left the end uncapped and it draws this waste up? I would think that everything would just go on past the line. I don't have or have I ever had any problem with any blockage. Since I don't quite know what is normal with any of this I want to make sure it's correct before anything is buried. I know with the buildup of sludge in the main drain that the wye not having this buildup would be slightly lower. Appreciate your input.

Mickey

Mickey,
Would it be possible to make a drawing of what you have done so far showing the direction of flow and attach it to your next post? Thanks, tom

Tom,
I'll send a drawing when I can find someone to scan it. In the meantime if you can picture this. Draw a line from left to right to illustrate my main line. The flow is from left to right. My wye is fitted into the main line so that the drainage coming from the branch of the wye goes with the flow of the main line. My new line is downstream of all discharges in my house except my floor drain in my basement which is about two feet downstream of where I'm working. When I had the main line open I poured some water down this floor drain and even though the flow goes away from this opening I did have some water back up and out the opening. Is what I did with the keyboard enough to illustrate? When posted the slanted line that illustrated the wye is displaced, it should be with the other dash marks and show the direction the wye enters the main line.

Flow from left to right wye
------------------------------/-----------------------------------
l
l
l
l
O toilet

Quote:

Originally Posted by mickeyrory

Tom,
I'll send a drawing when I can find someone to scan it. In the meantime if you can picture this. Draw a line from left to right to illustrate my main line. The flow is from left to right. My wye is fitted into the main line so that the drainage coming from the branch of the wye goes with the flow of the main line. My new line is downstream of all discharges in my house except my floor drain in my basement which is about two feet downstream of where I'm working. When I had the main line open I poured some water down this floor drain and even though the flow goes away from this opening I did have some water back up and out the opening. Is what I did with the keyboard enough to illustrate? When posted the slanted line that illustrated the wye is displaced, it should be with the other dash marks and show the direction the wye enters the main line.

flow from left to right wye
------------------------------/-----------------------------------
l
l
l
l
O toilet

"When I had the main line open I poured some water down this floor drain and even though the flow goes away from this opening I did have some water back up and out the opening." This tells me that you have back fall in your drainage and that should be addressed first.
On your drawing I don't see a vent and is the toilet all that you're installing?
Scan me a drawing and check out that back fall before you add anything more. Regards, Tom

Tom,
Again, I'll send a drawing as soon as my daughter gets home and shows me how to operate the scanner. Would back fall mean that there is a buildup in my main line that would cause the drainage to flow back when it gets to that point?

Quote:

Originally Posted by mickeyrory

Tom,
Again, I'll send a drawing as soon as my daughter gets home and shows me how to operate the scanner. Would back fall mean that there is a buildup in my main line that would cause the drainage to flow back when it gets to that point?

Backfall simply means that the drain line is sloping backwards. When you have backfall gravity can no longer do its job and the fl,ow will slow down and drop solids. They will build up,and cause a clog. The drainage systen should slope uniformly twards the esit point to operate efficiently. If you have backfall I advise you to fix it before you go any farther. Regards, tom

Tom
What does this entail? Sounds like something for a professional which of course I've been hoping to avoid.

Mickey

Quote:

Originally Posted by mickeyrory

Tom
What does this entail? Sounds like something for a professional which of course I've been hoping to avoid.

Mickey

Not really Mickey,

You just open up the cement and track the backfall back to the "bell/dip" in the pipe that caused it. You then block the line back up until the correct slope is reached. Regards, Tom

Tom,
I can't get my scanner working. I'll attempt to describe what I have finished here so maybe in your mind's eye you can picture it. If you drew a vertical line on paper this would be my main line under my basement. The flow would be from top to bottom. My toilet drain extends five feet to the left at the correct slope. My shower is located three feet beyond this but at a 45 degree angle from the toilet, that is, upwards from the toilet. My shower drain is vented near the toilet, about three feet from the shower trap. After the venting the drain continues down the trench towards the main drain. About two feet from the main drain it ties into the toilet drain. I think you told me this would be a wet vent for the toilet. I think it's o.k but if you spot anything you think is not correct, let me know. One thing I had second thoughts about is that the shower drain is vented after taking the 45 degree turn towards the main drain. Thanks again Tom.

Mickey