[Evelyn11]

Hi! Glad to have found someone who is so knowledgeable about all things Plumbing.

My question is this: Yesterday our plumber installed the sewer drain in our stone. It will be for Kitchen/ bath/ utility which rests on a 4" slab. We are in Western New York, so it is all below the frost line. One of the drains to the kitchen sink was just a little off level because we moved the whole works a few inches and the plumber CUT the PVC 40 and put in a rubber & stainless couple. Then he used another of these transition pieces between the shower and the utility.

Is this rubber transition really a good idea?

It will be in stone, not concrete where it lies. He said there may still be ground water that gets past the tie-- so the trap box near the shower will later need to be filled with concrete too.

Will this stuff break down through contact with ground water or stone or the heat from the 1/2" radiant tubing I plan on running through the slab?

Am I too obsessive? It's my first house and I'm acting as GC. I have about two weeks to correct this if the rubber is too weird. Then it will sit there for the next 200 years.

Thanks in advance for your reply.

[speedball1]

Hi! Glad to have found someone who is so knowledgeable about all things Plumbing.

My question is this: Yesterday our plumber installed the sewer drain in our stone. It will be for Kitchen/ bath/ utility which rests on a 4" slab. We are in Western New York, so it is all below the frost line. One of the drains to the kitchen sink was just a little off level because we moved the whole works a few inches and the plumber CUT the PVC 40 and put in a rubber & stainless couple. Then he used another of these transition pieces between the shower and the utility.

Is this rubber transition really a good idea?

It will be in stone, not concrete where it lies. He said there may still be ground water that gets past the tie-- so the trap box near the shower will later need to be filled with concrete too.

Will this stuff break down through contact with ground water or stone or the heat from the 1/2" radiant tubing I plan on running through the slab?

Am I too obsessive? It's my first house and I'm acting as GC. I have about two weeks to correct this if the rubber is too weird. Then it will sit there for the next 200 years.

Thanks in advance for your reply.

Hi Evelyn,

First off it's not rubber, rubber will indeed break down, I'm familiar with Fernco Couplings and their couplinge are made of neoprene that won't break down. I would have preferred a solid connection between the two pipes but sometimes that's not possible. By "stone" do you mean a patio that's paved with stone or stone over the slab?

You said."He said there may still be ground water that gets past the tie-- so the trap box near the shower will later need to be filled with concrete too."

What's a tie--? And why would ground water get by it? If ground water is high enough to fill a tubs dap out (trap box) then your man should dig in a french drain around your house to control it. Do you have a flooding problem in your area? As a rule we don't dap out the traps in a shower installation. Were you roughed in for a tub? Since I assume the slab hasn't been poured as yet and the pipes still have some play in them I see no reason, (except that's it's easier to use a Fernco) that he couldn't spring the pipes far apart enough to couple with PVC fittings. Of course I'm not there to see what difficulties he might encounter to do so. Good luck, Tom

[Evelyn11]

Thanks for the info about the neoprene. That makes much more sense to me now.

I should have proofread better. He said TILE- sorry. I have perforated drain tile on the outside perimeter of the foundation and he thinks something may still get it. It's just a corner shower on top of the slab- that's the trap box area. (all of this is nearly 8' from the foundation wall)

The stone is part of the foundation- 6" stone and the drain is embedded in the stone. On top of that will be the 4" concrete slab. I was concerned that with his comment about water seepage (we are on a hill I don't expect much seepage actually). He said there was a good runn and it looks like it is to me too. No mechanicals will be needed to our main sewer line (yes! And no sump either... )

I didn't see a reason to use the transition either- especially since I designed it as a fairly straight run through the rooms. I'd much rather the PVC solid- but at least I know now that it will last. Thanks!

[speedball1]

Thanks for the info about the neoprene. That makes much more sense to me now.

I should have proofread better. He said TILE- sorry. I have perforated drain tile on the outside perimeter of the foundation and he thinks something may still get it. It's just a corner shower on top of the slab- that's the trap box area. (all of this is nearly 8' from the foundation wall)

The stone is part of the foundation- 6" stone and the drain is embedded in the stone. On top of that will be the 4" concrete slab. I was concerned that with his comment about water seepage (we are on a hill I don't expect much seepage actually). He said there was a good runn and it looks like it is to me too. No mechanicals will be needed to our main sewer line (yes! and no sump either...)

I didn't see a reason to use the transition either- especially since I designed it as a fairly straight run through the rooms. I'd much rather the PVC solid- but at least I know now that it will last. Thanks!

It's not too late to change to a solid connection if the floor hasn't been poured. I live on the West Coast of Florida, (you know, where all the hurricanes hang out) In my area we don't have "stone", just a lot of sand. Cheers, Tom