The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California

How To Design And Install Plumbing

Installation of a Cast-Iron and Clay House Drain. After the plumber has completed the necessary details, such as size, grade, change of direction, and location of soil and waste terminals, he may begin to lay the pipe of the house drain. The pipe must be laid in trenches having solid foundation to prevent sagging of the completed drain. Digging of the trench usually is done by unskilled labor.

The general practice is to begin the house drain installation (from the connection with the house sewer outside of the foundation wall) by calking a Y fitting into a length of cast-iron pipe to be used as a cleanout for the finished house drain. It is necessary to test all house drain installations, hence a fitting of the tee pattern must be placed in the drain.

This fitting is generally calked into the Y with its side opening facing upward. The Y, tee, and length of pipe may now be joined to the house sewer, using care not to exceed or diminish the grade, which was established previously. This much of every house drain installation is identical.

Fig. 55 gives a layout of a house drain which may be installed in the following manner. It is advisable to run the main line of the drain, from its beginning as shown at A to the waste pipe terminal B, leaving connections for the various branches at properly determined intervals. The pipe may be laid in the trench in separate lengths, or a number of lengths may be calked together on the surface and then put in place. Each branch connection must be planned beforehand, and may be made in many ways. When the main run of drain is moderately deep in the ground, connection may be made by placing a Y or sanitary tee on its back and using a 1/4 bend as a riser to the level of the branch as shown in Figs. 56 and 57. For deeper drains a Y, or tee having pipe extension pieces between it and the fitting becomes necessary. This practice eliminates deep digging and therefore effects a saving. The branches of the house drain which are not deep in the ground may be connected to the main run by laying a Y fitting on its side, using a 1/8 bend to make the right angle, as shown in Fig. 58.