Underslab Plumbing

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes

It was only because my daughter and son-in-law asked me to do this work for their ADU that I agreed to take on this work, but I was pleasantly surprised that at my age, I was still able to do it.

Shower in the back, then the toilet followed by the lavatory and then the sink drain off to the left.

Mad Dog_2

Looks great Alan. I like the wyes and 1/8th bends...Mad Dog

Intplm.

ABS DWV piping and it looks great, I especially like how you piped the shower drain and vent.

Nice job.

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes

I left out an end of line cleanout. They will have to pull the toilet if it ever clogs.

Jamie Hall

Very nice work. Not to worry about the cleanout — pulling the toilet is no big deal.

MikeL_2

Very neat, looks great. A toilet connection is an acceptable clean out.

We prefer to " wash " vents to prevent dry horizontal vents below a fixtures flood level.

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1802732#Comment_1802732

Tell me more.

MikeL_2

Dry horizontal vents below a fixtures flood level can become blocked if there's a soilage back - up, with no easy way to clear the vent. Connecting the lavatory drain ( 1.25" ) to the shower vent allows for washing & snaking; not a wet vent, but a combination waste & vent......

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes

Thanks, @MikeL_2. That makes a lot of sense and seems like a practical thing to do.
As you can see, I installed a 2” drain for the lav because I’ve had to snake too many clogged lav drains before.

MikeL_2

Alan,

I've discovered 100's of dry horizontal vents below fixture flood levels in my 50 plus year career; mostly on tub & shower drains. And more than half of those vents were plugged with hair, soap scum, & other organic matter.

In my experience there are way more less than ideal vent connections on tubs & showers; only about 10% are ideal. It's so interesting because there's always a way to be code compliant. I don't asign fault or blame because the installers were probably taught to do it that way......

leonz

A toilet with a bidet and 3 inch trap would reduce clogging. I don't remember which brand it is but it has a 4 inch water port in the tank above the 3 inch trap.

Mad Dog_2

On High Rise buildings We'll use a Drinking fountain waste stack to "wash" the multi-story vent stack . Mad Dog

Intplm.

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1802741#Comment_1802741

Either way is good. I often do it the way you did @Alan (California Radiant) Forbes upping the diameter of the drain pipe is a great way to go.

ChrisJ

@Alan (California Radiant) Forbes

Curious why the toilet has it's own 2" vent when the shower vent is right there?

California is under UPC code no?

mikedo

is the shower vent a wet vent with a sink connected to it. if not it is against code.

Charlie from wmass

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1802886#Comment_1802886

What code says that?

Charlie from wmass

@Alan (California Radiant) Forbes Is it standard procedure in your area to install the piping so high then back fill? We need to leave as much in the trench as we can in Mass. I also have seen nightmares when GCs back fill so I always show up on back fill day.

mikedo

international plumbing code

Charlie from wmass

@mikedo I haven't seen that in IPC I only have Massachusetts code on hand right now. Could you show me where in IPC it says that? I love learning about other areas codes.

ChrisJ

I think a new rule or decorum here should be if you're going to cite code you should post a screenshot of the actual code or copy and paste the text and the location it applies to.

This avoids any confusion and helps others learn.

This is common in electrical groups and honestly I feel it's very beneficial to everyone.

Charlie from wmass

mikedo

ill try to find it and post it. maybe some one can show me in a code book its legal

mikedo

mikedo

its not just for floor drains its any vent.

Charlie from wmass

@mikedo did you read the IPC screenshot I posted?

mikedo

yes where does it say it can go horizontal before tying in bestto post pictures from a codebook

mikedo

tying into vent sorry about the typo

Mad Dog_2

I like to indivually vent fixtures, but Wet Venting get very creative and fun. When I began in the mid 1980s, I did my apprenticeship in NYC code. "All fixtures shall individually vented within two feet of the trap. It was simple and worked perfectly. After Stony Brook, I worked for R.S. English on Long Island, so then I learned Wet Venting. My Master Plumbers Exam was on NYS Code...tons of Wet venting.

Now, even NYC code allows limited Wet venting. It's all good. Mad Dog

mikedo

nothing wrong with indivually venting every fixture fixture guaranteed to work. vents is probally one of the most misunderstood chapters in the code book. it can just save so much time if you vent a 3 piece bath with a single vent instead of 3. im not as good as i used to be with the venting i dont do it as much anymore. really helps if you get a code book with the commentary but there expensive. nyc has their own way of doing things and im not familiar wiyh there codes

Mad Dog_2

I've found the most roughing mistakes are made by guys that don't understand the principles of venting. Yes, Code with Commentary is an excellent study guide. When I sat for my Master Plumber exam in 1998, I took that thin typing paper you could see through and traced out ALL the venting diagrams: Circuit, Loop, Island, unit, local, backvent, trombone vent, stack vent, wet vent.

That helped me memorize how they were piped. Then I just mimicked them over & over until it was burned in my brain. Mad Dog

Charlie from wmass

@Mad Dog_2 we both took our master exams the same year lol. Do you wish you took yours earlier? I know I wish I took it the first year I was eligible instead of procrastinating.

MikeL_2

I took & passed the unlimited Plumbing license test in 1980; a lot more learning has taken place since then.

pedmec

in Massachusetts you could have wet vented the whole bathroom. Most bathrooms are wet vent in Boston and the surrounding areas and its saves a lot of time. it's the preferred method as old construction is very prohibited. a lot of these old homes on the east coast are not easy to get the piping in.

mikedo

what code book does mass use for residental single family homes

ChrisJ

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1802951#Comment_1802951

California code is more forgiving than Mass as well.

ChrisJ

@mikedo

Slightly modified IPC.

Mad Dog_2

I took the exam just as I had the 7 yrs W-2s, under a Licensed Master Plumber. I took a 5 year detour for College after my 4 yr apprenticeship. I free-lanced for plumbers, ran a PT Sewer & Drain business during College. I was 31 was I got my Plate. Mad Dog

mikedo

i live in connecticut and have a p1 and s1 the s1 is for hvac they are both unlimited contractors. the state of connecticut does virtually nothing to enforce the need for a licencse. you cant get a permit without it but that doesnt stop the hundreds of thousands of people working without one. my friend just left californa only the owner needs a licencse so the unions are slow because unskilled people are willing to work for alot less. so not sure it was worth the time and effort to get it.

Mad Dog_2

Unfortunately, licensing only puts the burden on the legit guys, financially, and punitive. Unlicensed & Ininsured guys run amok with impunity. There's nothing to take away from them..Mad Dog

EBEBRATT-Ed

Just think about this. Go to HD or Lowe's and look around at all the plumbing and electrical material sold in their stores.

How much of that material is installed on jobs that have permits and inspections?

1%, 5%, 10%???????

mikedo

probally 5%. although i do shop there one is 3 minutes from my house and on certain items they have better pricing. its 20 plus minutes to the nearest supply house so even if there a little more time is money.