|
|
 Building Drains & Sewer Line Piping
|
InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.
Sewer piping: this article series describes how to diagnose problems with building drain, waste, and vent piping (DWV), main building drains, and sewer connection or private septic system piping. We include information about the proper inspection, installation, diagnosis, and repair of building drains including clogged or slow drains, damaged or broken drains, and improperly-constructed DWV piping.
Green links show where you are. © Copyright 2013 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Author Daniel Friedman.
How to Diagnose & Repair Problems in Building Drain Waste Piping & Sewer or Septic Connecting Pipes
Our page top photo shows a sewer line cleanout under and building exit piping under construction at a New York Home, courtesy Galow Homes. Citation of this article by reference to this website and brief quotation for the sole purpose of review are permitted. Use of this information at other websites, in books or pamphlets for sale is reserved
to the author.
Definition of building drain
Plumbing codes define a building drain as "that part of the lowest piping of a building drainage system that receives the discharge from soil, waste, and other drainage pipes inside the walls [or upper floors] of the building and conveys it to the building sewer [or septic system] beginning two feet (0.6m) outside the building wall." This piping and its horizontal branches are required to have cleanouts, however no cleanout is required for any pipe or piping above the first floor of the building.
 Our photo (below-left) illustrates terra cotta sewer piping described in more detail at PIPING IN buildings, Clogs Leaks Types.
In our list of plumbing piping articles below you will find description of inspection, installation, diagnosis, and repair articles concerning building drain waste vent (DWV) piping. Types of building supply piping and supply piping problems are described and listed at PIPING IN buildings, Clogs Leaks Types.
PIPING IN buildings, Clogs Leaks Types - Illustrated guide to different types of Water Supply Piping, & Drain Piping, Water Supply Equipment, other Building Pipes and Plumbing materials; guide to supply and drain pipe problem diagnosis, repair.
AGE OF PIPING - How to determine the age of building plumbing piping, drains, materials, & fixtures
AIR DISCHARGE at FAUCETS, FIXTURES - how to diagnose & repair air discharge from water supply piping or plumbing fixtures
BRASS WATER PIPES - Brass water supply piping inspection, diagnosis, repair, replacement, life expectancy
CAST IRON DRAIN PIPING Cast iron drain piping inspection, diagnosis, repair, life, leaks
CAST IRON DRAIN LEAK, ODOR, REPAIR - troubleshooting cast iron drain piping
CHECK VALVES, WATER SUPPLY - water system check valves on municipal water supply or on private well piping: inspection, diagnosis, repair
CHINESE DRYWALL HAZARDS - Chinese drywall outgassing can damage copper piping in buildings
COMPRESSION FITTINGS - identifying & using compression fittings for flexible copper tubing connections
COPPER PIPING in buildings - types of copper pipes used in buildings, inspection, diagnosis, repair, life expectancy of copper supply or drain piping
CLEANOUTS, PLUMBING DRAIN - where plumbing cleanouts should be located, how to open & use the cleanout to de-clog a drain
CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR - how to diagnose and repair blocked, slow, or clogged plumbing drain traps and pipes
CLOGGED SUPPLY PIPES, DIAGNOSIS - troubleshooting clogged water supply piping in buildings or between water main or well and building
CLOGGED SUPPLY PIPES, REPAIR - how to repair clogged supply piping
CLOGGED SUPPLY PIPES, HOT WATER - how to diagnose & repair clogged hot water supply pipes
CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS - what is the cause and cure of sweating supply or drain pipes in buildings
CROSS CONNECTIONS, PLUMBING - definition of plumbing cross connection, inspection, diagnosis, problem cures
DEBRIS in WATER SUPPLY, Water Heater - what is the cause and cure of particles of debris found in building water supply
DIAELECTRIC PIPE FITTINGS - definition, use, requirements to avoid corroded metal piping
DRAIN & SEWER PIPING - building drain waste piping inspection, diagnosis, repair articles & procedures
DRAIN LINE DEPTH - how deep should building drains be buried outdoors?
DRAIN NOISES - how to diagnose and cure noises at building drains
FLARE FITTINGS - how to identify & use & avoid problems with flare fittings used on copper tubing or pipes
FLOOR DRAIN / TRAP ODORS - building floor drains: odors, noises, backups, check valves, smells, problem diagnosis & cure
FREEZE-PROOF PIPES - how to prevent frozen pipes in buildings; how to fix frozen pipe damage
GAS PIPING, VALVES, CONTROLS - requirements for safe gas piping in buildings
GALVANIZED STEEL WATER PIPING - properties of galvanized steel water pipes: inspection, life expectancy, fittings, corrosion, leaks, repair procedures
LEAD PIPES in buildings - how to identify lead water supply or drain pipes in buildings, how to correct health hazards from lead water pipes
LEAD IN DRINKING WATER, HOW to REDUCE - what to do about lead water pipes
LEAK TYPES, Water Supply/Drain Pipe - how to find and fix different types of leaks in building water supply or drain pipes
NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE - troubleshooting plumbing system and other building noises
ODORS & SMELLS DIAGNOSIS & CURE - troubleshooting building smells or odors and tracking them down to plumbing system problems
PLASTIC PIPING ABS CPVC PB PEX PVC - what are the different types of plastic pipes used in buildings, their properties, how they are installed, special connecting fittings, problems, repairs
ABS PLASTIC PIPE FAILURES
Polybutylene Plumbing Plastic Pipes
Cross-Linked Polyethylene (PEX) Pipe
Polybutylene (PB) Pipes
CPVC Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride Pipe
PB Polybutylene Pipe Failure Claims
PLASTIC PIPE LEAK CAUSES - why do some plastic piping systems leak?
PLUMBING DRAIN NOISES - why are plumbing vents needed, where and how are they installed, inspected, diagnosed, repaired; plumbing vents and slow or noisy drains
REPAIR BURST LEAKY PIPES - what to do about a burst or leaky water pipe in buildings
SEPTIC BACKUP PREVENTION - how to avoid septic or building sewer line backups and sewage contamination
SEPTIC BACKUP REPAIR - what to do about a septic or sewer backup into a building, cleanup procedures, priorities, health risks
SEWER GAS ODORS - how to track down and fix odors from building drain piping
SOUND CONTROL for PLUMBING - how to prevent noisy pipes or drain noises or supply piping noises in buildings
SUPPLY PIPING - types of water supply pipes in buildings; water supply pipe inspection, diagnosis, repair;
Transite Pipe Water Supply Piping - cement asbestos pipes used for piping at buildings; hazards, inspection, diagnosis, repair or replacement
TRAPS on DRAINS - how to install, inspect, diagnose, repair plumbing traps; why are traps needed on building drains; trap odors, leaky traps;
VALVES, PLUMBING - types of plumbing valves and controls; inspection, diagnosis, repair, replacement of valves on pipes and fixtures in buildings
VENT PIPING - what are plumbing vents, why are vents needed on plumbing drains; plumbing vent and drain noise, slow drain diagnosis and cure; plumbing odors
WATER HAMMER NOISE DIAGNOSE & CURE - what causes noisy banging water pipes; how to prevent or cure banging water pipes
WATER PIPES, Clogs Leaks Types - how to diagnose and repair all thypes of leaks and clogs in building piping
WELL PIPING LEAK DIAGNOSIS - how to find and fix problems in well piping; leaks, loss of pump prime, loss of water pressure
WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR - how to diagnose and repair poor water pressure or complete loss of water supply or pressure in buildings
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Building Drain Pipes & Sewer Lines
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
...
Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia
Use the search box below to ask a question or to search the InspectApedia.com website.
Ask a Question or Enter Search Terms in the InspectApedia search box just below.
Technical Reviewers & References
Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.
- Eric Galow, Galow Homes, Lagrangeville, NY. Mr. Galow can be reached by email: ericgalow@gmail.com or by telephone: 914-474-6613. Mr. Galow specializes in residential construction including both new homes and repairs, renovations, and additions.
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
- Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
er- Plumbing Diagnosis & Repair: Water supply, drainage, septic systems, water testing, water contamination, defective plumbing materials & products.
 The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
Or choose the The Home Reference eBook for PCs, Macs, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, or Android Smart Phones. Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAEHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
|
- Carbon Monoxide Gas Toxicity, exposure limits, poisoning symptoms, and inspecting buildings for CO hazards
- Cheating on water tests: Testing Water for Real Estate Transactions - make sure your water test is valid
- Don't Flush these things into a septic system
- Drain Noises: may indicate defective or clogged plumbing: how to diagnose and cure drain sounds
- Drinking Water Testing Advice for home buyers home owners home inspectors
- Interpreting Drinking Water Test Results and Correcting Unsatisfactory Water
- Drinking Water Contaminant Levels - Maximum Allowed
- HOT WATER HEATERS - a detailed guide to all types of hot water sources, problems, inspection, repair
- Lead Contamination in Drinking Water: Testing & Correction - Advice (This Article)
- Lead Testing & Correcting Contamination from Lead Water Supply Lines/Entry Mains - Lead Pipe Problems/Advice
- SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR The Septic Systems Information Website
- Sewage Odors in Wet or Cold Weather - Septic Odors or Sewage Odor Diagnosis & Repair Guide for diagnosing and eliminating cold weather sewer gas odors
- Sewage Levels in Septic Tanks - what are normal and abnormal sewage levels in septic tanks and what do they mean about tank condition, leaks, etc.
- Sewer Line Replacement diagnosing a clogged drain leads to drain line replacement - step by step photo-illustrated guide to drain replacement
- Water Pressure Loss - Diagnosis how to determine why water pressure has been lost or why there is no water at all in a building
- Water testing for Pesticides: comprehensive and pesticides-example parameters
- Water Testing: background comments on classes of water contaminants, & links to home buyer advice about water testing, drinking water, water supply
- When and How to Shock or Chlorinate a Well - Procedure for Shocking a Well to (temporarily or maybe longer) "Correct" Bacterial Contamination
- Water Requirements, Home & Outdoor Living
- Typical Water Tests & Fees this water test fee schedule applies when testing is combined with other onsite building inspection services
- Water pump and pressure tank repair diagnosis & cost an specific case offers an example of diagnosis of loss of water pressure, loss of water, and analyzes the actual repair cost
- Water pressure tank failures & water pump short cycling diagnosis and repair
- ...
|
