Can anyone help me identify the plumbing in my basement. I am assuming the 4" white pipe is for the toilet drain with the vent behind it. The black pipe has a 4" white pipe inside it and about 5" deep with a cap on it. Is this a floor drain? I have dug down into the hole on the left about 8" and can not find a drain for a shower, which is what I thought it was. What could this be for? If this is not a shower drain, is there anyway to put one in without tearing up the concrete? Any help would be great.
Nic

Hi Nic:

Keep digging at that box... there should be pipe under there somewhere. If pipe is 1.5" then that box out is for a tub. If you find a 2" pipe then it is for a shower. Either way you will need to add a ptrap.

The large white pipe must be the toilet. It should measure about 11.5" to 12" from the face of the stud wall you will be installing to the center of the drain pipe. You will do best here to cut the pipe flush with the finish floor and install a twist and set closet flange (goes inside the pipe).

The pipe in the wall (small pipe) is the vent for the entire bathroom group... unless there are more pipes not shown in the picture. You will need to install a 2" x 1.5" sanitary tee fiting into this vent to pick up the lavatory drain. You will cut the sanitary tee fitting in at a height that will allow about 1/4" pitch per foot of pipe so the lavatory drain pipe sticks out of the wall at about 18" for a vanity base/sink or 20" for a pedestal sink to the center of the pipe OFF the finished floor. You would then run the 2" vent up to another 2" vent and connect into that vent to complete the venting work (vents pitch back toward drain). I would also like to see a 2" dandy cleanout installed in that 2" pipe just as it comes out of the ground... up to you.

Finally, that black pipe with the cleanout in it. It may just be a cleanout for the bathroom or the cleanout for the entire house so you will need to keep it easily accessible. They sell cleanout cover for exactly this situation, but usually found only at a plumbing supply house or online.

Let me know if you want to discuss more or if you have more questions...

MARK

Thanks for the help! I dug a little deeper and did find the shower drain I was looking for. It was not quite centered in the hole so it was a little hard to find. It will be really fun trying to put the P trap in. Now that I know what all of the plumbing is, I can move forward in designing my bathroom.
Thanks again,
Nic