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Laying on your back- Plumbing Tees, Wyes and why nots

By
Home Inspector with NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Laying on your back- Plumbing Tees, Wyes and why nots. Chelan Home Inspection

Well there are times to be laying on your back but when you are doing plumbing knowing what fitting can go where is very important in how the system will perform over a long period of time.

There is much more to plumbing than just having it run downhill.

During a home inspection I come upon this little configuration.

                             Improper sanitary tee installation Chelan Home Inspection

(Note: There was an improper grade also.)

When using sanitary tees they may not be installed on its back with the side opening in a vertical position.

The purpose for why this is not good is that when the waste hits the bottom of the horizontal pipe it will splash back upstream in the horizontal pipe. This in turn can lead to waste solids being collecting on the upstream side and potentially causing a clog in the line.

                                    Proper tee placement Wenatchee Home Inspection

When connecting any vertical waste drop to a horizontal run the proper way to do it is to either use a Wye & 1/8 bend (45 deg), or a Sanitary combo. A sanitary combo is a combination Wye & 1/8 bend already made in one fitting.

                        Wye with eighth bend Chelan Home Inspection                       Sanitary Combo Wenatchee Home Inspection


The reason to form a long radius bend to insure the waste is directed in the downstream direction as it enters the horizontal run.

A sanitary tee should be used when connecting a horizontal run, such as a waste arm to a vent stack or vertical riser.

“If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur.”

Red Adair


NCW Home Inspections, LLC  is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Oroville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…  

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Debb Janes
Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA
Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

It's those little things - not apparent to the untrained eye, that make a good inspector so invaluable. I appreciate you Don. 

Feb 24, 2013 11:41 PM
Donald Hester
NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA
NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Debb, Thank you so much. Appreciate that. I know it is a bit of minutia, but sometimes the devil is in the details.

Feb 24, 2013 11:50 PM
Steven Cook
No Longer Processing Mortgages. - Tacoma, WA

Donald -- what do you mean "sometimes"  - it seems anymore the devil is ALWAYS in the details.

Feb 25, 2013 05:31 AM
Donald Hester
NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA
NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Steven, You got me there ;) Depending on the system the details are more crucial than with others.

Feb 25, 2013 05:36 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

I'm not so sure Don.  There surely appears to be enough chewing gum on that interior joint to make sure there is no leaking.  I think you're alright.

Actually, good post, as usual.  Your diagrams rock.  Really!

Feb 25, 2013 08:31 AM
Donald Hester
NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA
NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Jay, I have always wondered where al lthe gum goes ; ) Probably over the socks ;)

Thanks Buddy for the kind words.

Feb 25, 2013 09:26 AM
Clint Mckie
Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM
Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Donald,

I have seen this before. I have wrote it up just to be shot down by a PRO PLUMBER, saying it was fine. Then the Realtor said it was not right to have it in the report.

I'm in a no win situation.

Have a good day in The great Northwest.

Best, Clint McKie

Feb 25, 2013 09:03 PM
Donald Hester
NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA
NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Clint, Then you should send him the code and ask him how long he has been in the profession.

P3005.1 Drainage fittings and connections.

Changes in direction in drainage piping shall be made by the appropriate use of sanitary tees, wyes, sweeps, bends or by a combination of these drainage fittings in accordance with Table P3005.1. Change in direction by combination fittings, heel or side inlets or increasers shall be installed in accordance with Table P3005.1 and Sections P3005.1.1 through P3005.1.4. based on the pattern of flow created by the fitting.

The IPC says the same thing- IPC 706.3

 

Here is a nice little chart showing the fitting types in sanitarty drainage.

Feb 25, 2013 09:22 PM
Joshua Frederick
Home Inspector for ASPEC Residential Services, LLC - Defiance, OH
Home Inspector in Defiance & all of Northwest Ohio

Good info, thanks for sharing. 

Mar 01, 2013 12:58 AM
Donald Hester
NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA
NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Joshua, You are very welcome.

Mar 01, 2013 01:37 AM
Anonymous
Joseph

Could you please show a picture of how both drain pipes would be connected properly?

Sep 07, 2019 01:40 PM
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