Hello! I live in a split-level ranch house. There is a half bath downstairs (which is on concrete) which has a toilet, sink, and washer and dryer. We would like to put in a shower but I believe the sewer pipe is higher than the floor, which is where the shower drain would be. If installed, will the water drain properly? Would backflow be an issue? What about venting and such? Any and all information would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!

If you would show us a diagram of the way that your bath room area would be laid out we might be able to show you a way.

If you have a toilet in the basement, then you will be able to tie into the drain from the toilet(after the toilet vent, if applicable) You say the drain is higher than the floor. Do you have a sewer ejector pump? Just stick around and see what massplumber has to say. If you could post some pics of your layout, I almost guarantee that mass(mark) will help you work this out.

Here is a quick diagram. I'm not artist or a professional, but my brother-in-law can handle this stuff, but we weren't sure how to handle the plumping issue. As far as I know, there is no pump for the toilet. There is currently no pump here. The pipe he wants to tap into is a couple feet off the floor, so we need to get the water from the shower floor up and out.
Thanks for the help!

I agree, you should be Ok unless you have a sewer ejector pit. A macerating toilet would be used if the sewer exit where in the wall but you'd still need a pit to handle the sink and washer. Check to see if you have a pit, don't confuse a sump poump with and ejector pit.

Since where I live in Texas we don't have basements except in commercial buildings I will leave you in the good the hands of ballenger1, he is the best in the plumbing department.

Good luck. I hope it all works out for you.

Letme, is this pretty much statewide or just in certain parts and why?

Magel, we still need to know how your toilet can flush if your sewer pipe exist through the wall. Are you talking about just the sink drain into the wall or can you see a 4" PVC or cast sewer drain in the wall?

[QUOTE=ballengerb1;1661492]Letme, is this pretty much statewide or just in certain parts and why?

This is more in my part of the state. I think the main reason is that we have plenty of land and most of our houses are single story houses anywhere from 2400 to 5000 sq feet, so we are not in need of space either up or down. Lately we are getting some houses with upstairs and some with basement play rooms, but they are not popular.

In the southern part of the state we have a moisture problem and they are not very feasible there.

I think there is a better way of connecting it. You could build a 2x8 platform and connect new shower drain into sink drain ( 1 1/2" or 2" ) or into w/m drain (2")in the wall and right above the floor. There also may be 3" or 4" pipe going up the wall behind the toilet or another 2" vent from toilet which could be used to connect shower drain.

Is there a bathroom directly above this 1/2 bath ?

If you are committed into doing it than open up the walls and you will see right away which way you'll connect.