Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help !
Ask
    jemmyd's Avatar
    jemmyd Posts: 7, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #1

    Oct 12, 2008, 06:39 PM
    Possible to connect every drain to the soilstack/ septic?
    Hello, I live in a very old 2 family house with my husband and 2 dogs. Most of the house is empty and we only live in and heat the downstairs. Our sinks (2) and tub (1) all run into a "dry well" or "seepage pit " by way of a PVC pipe. That pipe has now broken ( and is buried); as a result our sinks and tub almost always have standing water in them. I wanted to hire a plumber to connect these into the main sewer line for the toilets, and have everything drain into the septic tank. Is this possible? And if it is how much would the average plumber charge? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated as we are desperate.:confused:
    Milo Dolezal's Avatar
    Milo Dolezal Posts: 7,192, Reputation: 523
    Plumbing Expert
    		  
    #2

    Oct 12, 2008, 07:58 PM

    It is relatively easy to connect your tub and sink drains to your septic and / or to the drain leading to septic... Excavation is the hard part...

    First, locate tub and sink drains on the exterior. Then, locate main sewer pipe that runs to the septic. Excavate trench between these two and connect.

    Once you have both drains exposed, come back. One of us will lead you through actual connection details.
    jemmyd's Avatar
    jemmyd Posts: 7, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #3

    Oct 12, 2008, 08:11 PM
    Can't the waste pipe be connected into the sewage line in the basement? I live in an old village lots of old houses set close together, any digging would be very disruptive.
    Milo Dolezal's Avatar
    Milo Dolezal Posts: 7,192, Reputation: 523
    Plumbing Expert
    		  
    #4

    Oct 12, 2008, 08:14 PM

    Oh sure, that would be the easiest way ! Locate the tub and sink drains and locate the main drain that leads to your septic. Connect them in your basement.

    If you post a drawing of your basement showing location of subject sewer lines, we can tell you exactly what to do. Photos would help, too...
    jemmyd's Avatar
    jemmyd Posts: 7, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #5

    Oct 12, 2008, 08:20 PM
    How much do you think a plumber would charge for this job?
    Milo Dolezal's Avatar
    Milo Dolezal Posts: 7,192, Reputation: 523
    Plumbing Expert
    		  
    #6

    Oct 12, 2008, 08:27 PM

    You can call plumber or even have a handy person to do it. All fittings, glue, and pipe can be purchased in Home Depot / Lowe's.

    I don't know where you are located. Cost of labor differs with your location. But figure not more than $75.00 for parts and 2 - 3 hours of labor. The labor / time depends how far are these pipe away from each other. But I think total charge for L/M should not exceed $350.00 to $400.00, tops
    jemmyd's Avatar
    jemmyd Posts: 7, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #7

    Oct 12, 2008, 08:29 PM

    My husband doubts we could do this job ourselves.


    We are in rural upstate NY, the pipes are all located within 2-3 feet of each other. Thank you or your estimates.
    Milo Dolezal's Avatar
    Milo Dolezal Posts: 7,192, Reputation: 523
    Plumbing Expert
    		  
    #8

    Oct 12, 2008, 08:32 PM

    Ok, get 2 or 3 free estimates. With three prices in hand you will get good idea how much it will cost you.

    Quote Originally Posted by jemmyd View Post
    We are in rural upstate NY, the pipes are all located within 2-3 feet of each other. Thank you or your estimates.
    Oh, he should be done in no time ! Price could be even cheaper than I originally stated.
    jemmyd's Avatar
    jemmyd Posts: 7, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #9

    Oct 12, 2008, 08:36 PM

    Thanks A Lot! Now I can convince my husband we can afford this!
    Milo Dolezal's Avatar
    Milo Dolezal Posts: 7,192, Reputation: 523
    Plumbing Expert
    		  
    #10

    Oct 12, 2008, 08:38 PM

    Glad to be of help ! Let us know how you did !
    Flying Blue Eagle's Avatar
    Flying Blue Eagle Posts: 2,056, Reputation: 225
    Ultra Member
    		  
    #11

    Oct 12, 2008, 08:52 PM

    Jemmyd - There is one factor not memtioned in this thread. That has to be thought about :: ( First of all your SEPTIC TANK ,works on one princlable and that IS ( BACTERIA ) Continuous bacteria Grouth in the septic tank in order for it to do its proper job all the time, ) Once soap is introduced to the tank it will start to kill all the bacteria that is in your tank , IF YOU CAN AT ALL POSSIBLE <REPAIR THE LINE THAT IS NOT HOOKED TO YOUR SEPTIC TANK <IT WILL SAVE YOU MONEY IN THE LONG RUN OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS< Good luck and GOD BLESS:: F.B.E.

    P.S. - This is why they try not to connect drains that will have SOAP Comeing out of them to go into the septic tank . F.B.E.
    Milo Dolezal's Avatar
    Milo Dolezal Posts: 7,192, Reputation: 523
    Plumbing Expert
    		  
    #12

    Oct 12, 2008, 08:59 PM

    Good point, FBE... From my experience, people don't connect tub, washer, and sinks to their septic so they don't fill it up to fast. If they have slow percolation than it may call for more frequent waste disposal service. Also, presence of bacteria can be easily controlled...

    Moreover, there are some "green" people who use gray water for irrigation purposes...
Not your question? Ask your question View similar questions
 

Question Tools Search this Question
Search this Question:

Advanced Search

Add your answer here.


Check out some similar questions!

Add a Drain to my septic [ 1 Answers ]

My Kitchen Sink has been draining to a dry well for over 40+ years, well before we bought the house. The drain is backing up and I would believe the dry well is shot. I want to run a drain line to our septic. Can I attach another Tee to the clean out and run the drain line to that?:rolleyes:

Is it correct to connect the washer's drain and the bathroom drain all together? [ 1 Answers ]

I was wondering if it's correct to connect the washer drain and the bathroom drain all together. I connected the washer's drain, the sink's drain and the bathroom's drain all together in the same line. When I started to use my washing machine, I noticed that when it was draining the water the...

Septic drain add-on question. [ 3 Answers ]

Want to add drain line to a septic tank at the point outside the house where a vertical above ground cleanout and a below ground 'Y' or sanitary tee connects to the main house drain and is then outputted to the septic tank. Material is ABS and was wondering what the best way is to add the...

Septic smell from shower drain [ 1 Answers ]

I recently moved into a new custom home and began noticing a smell from the septic system. The smell is not that of raw sewage, but rather that of the system. I've shined a light down the drain to see if the shower drain has a p-trap, I was not able to see a visible waterline in the drain. I'm...

View more questions Search