Dealing with Home Drain Pipe

Drain pipe serves a purpose in many areas of a home, both inside and out, some of which is visible but most of which is hidden from view. Drain pipe is the primary component in the drain-waste-vent (DWV) portion of the plumbing system. (Other portions are service lines that connect utility mains to the home and supply lines that distribute incoming potable water throughout the home to various plumbing fixtures.) When plumbing leaks and similar problems arise, they need to be addressed. This article focuses on the types of issues associated with drainage that homeowners encounter from time to time and on how to deal with them.

Drain pipe terminology applies not only to DWV plumbing inside the house, but also to outside functionality. The broad use of the term causes confusion. Indoors, it is what empties plumbing fixtures, funneling waste with the help of gravity through the DWV system into a shared exit point, growing in diameter along the way. (There was time when the term waste pipe meant that it carried solids and the term drain pipe meant that it didn't, but that distinction has all but fallen away.) The purpose of vent piping is strictly to equalize atmospheric pressure in the system; however, one sometimes finds the old improper practice known as wet venting, which means that vent piping for a low story doubles as drain pipe for an upper story.

Drainage is of course a vital functionality outdoors as well, and any of the various conduits serving that functionality go by the generic name of drain pipe. This includes connectors taking house waste to septic systems and sewers. It also includes the many channels for removing storm water from roof, yard, and foundation, such as footing drains and French drains. The term even encompasses culverts installed under roads and driveways.

Except for installation, having to deal with inside drain pipe usually implies that it is clogged or leaking. (Occasionally the presence of odors falsely leads one to believe there is a leak.) The piping material is commonly plastic (ABS or PVC) nowadays, but cast iron, galvanized steel, and some other materials have been used in the past. Clogs mean that drainage slope is insufficient (or even negative), the trap design is wrong (it should be a P-type), or the vent system isn't doing its job.

Sometimes a homeowner has difficulty with leak detection and needs to get professional help. But keep in mind that leaks at fittings and junctures are much more frequent than those from cracked pipes. The trick is that leaks are often hidden behind walls or in spots difficult to reach. Plumbers are expert in this department. If you smell sewage fumes, it may be due to a trap having lost its water seal from evaporation or some other cause. Floor drains are notorious for this because they tend to be rarely used. A trap primer can be installed to remedy the problem without having to fiddle with pipes at all.

Dealing with drain pipe outside the home could mean a lot of different things, as there are several kinds of issues with storm water drainage. Gutters and downspouts funnel rainwater off the roof, but it is crucial that there be some system to carry it away from the foundation. Saturated soil creates extreme hydrostatic pressure that can result in bowed, cracked, or buckled foundation walls. The most commonly employed system is a closed loop of footing drains surrounding the house with the exit point leading to a retention pit, rain garden, or out to daylight.

The yard itself may collect water due to terrain, high water table, springs, or runoff from higher ground. French drains use perforated drain pipe to deal with such problems. Typically the pipe lies in a gravel-filled ditch with sufficient slope to ameliorate the pooling.

As one can see, this versatile component is used for many applications both inside and outside the home. Dealing with it can be daunting, but with a little study most homeowners are capable of handling basic problems. Most plumbing issues occur in the bathroom; visit here for some bathroom plumbing inspection tips.