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Can this main drain cleanout be tied into?

tracs
tracs Member Posts: 6
in Plumbing

I am going to call a plumber, but in the meantime I thought I would ask here.

I am installing a electric furnace in a house that has never had forced air. Along with the furnace will be air conditioning. I am going to need somewhere to connect the condensate line to.

Other plans are the relocated the washer/dryer to this same room.

Could a plumber tie into this main drain/cleanout and install a washing machine drain and a spot for the AC condensate drain?

IMG_20240807_195344.jpg

Comments

  • Ironman
    Ironman Member Posts: 7,603

    Practically speaking, probably so. But to meet code the clean out would still have to be re-installed and w/m drain properly vented.

    Bob Boan
    You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 25,191

    It would depend on what else was tied into that drain and where, and how things were vented —and the local plumbing code and the building inspector's interpretation of it.

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • DCContrarian
    DCContrarian Member Posts: 793

    In a heartbeat I would unscrew that cap, screw in a threaded adapter, then glue in a short section of pipe and another tee with a 2" pipe coming out the side. Put a new female threaded adapter in the top of the tee and screw the cap back in. On the 2" pipe put an air admittance valve and a trap, then a standpipe that is shared by the washing machine and the condensate hose.

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 25,191
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1807656#Comment_1807656

    That's what I would do, too — but not all codes or inspectors would allow it.

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • DCContrarian
    DCContrarian Member Posts: 793
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1807668#Comment_1807668

    I can only think of two possible objections. First, the area doesn't allow air admittance valves at all. Second, it's actually a vent not a drain and a downstream fixture is using it for a vent and by tying in you've created a wet vent. But that seems unlikely, from the picture it looks like this is the last stop before leaving the building.

  • tracs
    tracs Member Posts: 6
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1807672#Comment_1807672

    I talked to the plumber today, he can't have someone out until next week. In the meantime he wants me to do some investigation. He said to take off the cleanout cap and flush the furthest upstairs toilet and wait for the water to come and go. Then do the next toilet and move on to the third. He wants to know what is draining into it. There is nothing downstream of the cleanout, and after it goes back into the floor it would continue on for about 20' or so until it exits the building.

    He said if there is enough pipe in the wall he could rework it, it wouldn't "be the right way" but would probably work. His concern would be what the flushes of the toilet would do to the laundry standpipe.

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