[inthemudd]

My house was built in the 60's using clay sewer piping. I want to move an existing shower and lavatory and would rather use PVC if allowed. Is there a specific type to be used for drains on either the shower and lavatory and will I be able to tie into existing piping?

Thank you
Dwayne

[massplumber2008]

Hey ITM:

So you THINK there is clay pipe underground... or you KNOW there is clay pipe underground?

Clay pipe can be very intersting to work with... I am sure you will find out soon... ;)

They make rubber fernco couplings for this situation(see pic.). The idea here will be to install a similar sized PVC wye between ends of clay pipe... just like you thought. You will want that wye to have a 2" minimum branch for shower and sink. The clay pipe will appear larger than the PVC you will need to hook to it...that is because clay pipe needed to be thick to prevent/reduce breakage of pipes. The 4 inch clay that looks 5 inch outside is really 4 inch and mates to a 4" pvc pipe... therefore, the coupling ordered must agree with that...

For example, here, the ferncos ordered will be something like 2- 5"x4" fernco coupling if 4" clay to 4"pvc... (you will need to measure pipe diameter of course). Then need 4 inch pvc pipe, cement, primer, AND a 4" x 2" (minimum) wye fitting and associated 2" PVC fittings and pipe. Let us know if we can help with layout.. ok?

Anyway... something to get you started... let me know thoughts... Mark

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[ballengerb1]

You may have clay pipes outisde but , if you inspect carefully, I think you will find that your drain pipe in the basement and the vent stack are cast iron. 4" DWV PVC can be joined to cast iron with a coupler.

[massplumber2008]

Hey Bob... dying to see where ITM is from... in some areas in Massachusetts and in some areas of Maine all underground piping is clay piping interior as well as exterior.. then above ground over to cast iron... very messy stuff though.. usually filled with junk... *yuck*.

I am with Bob though, ITM... like I asked in my first post... you sureeeee..? Underground is clay?

Let us know... ;)

[speedball1]

Clay pipes (Terra-Cotta) were used in the 60's for sewer linnes from the house to the street. I've been out in the field in Wisconsin, Illinois and Florida since the 40's and have never found terra-cotta used inside the house. These must be very old houses up there to have clay pipes under the slab. But ,as Mark pointed out, they can be converted to Schedule#40 PVC. Good luck, Tom

[inthemudd]

Thank you all for the information. I will be cutting up the floor this week to get a better picture. The reason as to thinking I have clay is at my clean-out (4 ft under) I found a terrra cota/clay tee that I added an upspout too so I didn't have to dig down every time I needed to clear the drains. I naturally asumed the whole drainage was the same stuff.
Thank you
Dwayne