Are you a certified DIY enthusiast? Then you may have performed several plumbing tasks in your household. It could be building your drainage system or perhaps installing a water source for toilets, showers and kitchen sinks.
And if you want to learn how to connect a waste pipe to a soil pile, then you’re on the right track. Through our detailed guide, you’ll learn about exhaust pipes and ground pipes in general, as well as the key processes of connecting the two.
Why is choosing the right pipe essential?
There are many types and sizes of pipes on the market and each one is designed specifically for a specific need. In this guide, we’ll discuss the two relevant pipes—the exhaust pipe and the ground pipe—so you can easily understand how to connect and tie them effectively to the main drainage.
From the name itself, a downspout refers to the tubes that carry all the gray water from the various water-using equipment in your household. These include bathroom, sink, shower, washing machine and dishwasher. Note that the waste pipe needs a tray connector to connect it to the ground pipe.
Generally, waste pipes are smaller in diameter because they are only contoured to carry water away from the house. Some of the common sizes include 32mm for small sinks, 40mm for bathrooms and sinks and 50mm for commercial properties. In the meantime, plastic waste pipes are the best option.
The floor pipe, on the other hand, is the tube designated to carry the sewage or black water from the urinal, toilet, bidet, sink and others. This special pipe then carries the waste water to the sewer or drain. Distinguishing the soil pipe from other pipes is quite easy, since it is mainly located outside.
Also called a soil stack pipe, you can find this tube running vertically from the top of the property or the area near where the bathroom is located. The main reason it is located next to or above the gutter is to ensure safe venting to the atmosphere.
It then passes through the underground drainage system and into the sewage treatment plant. Soil pipes are generally made of plastic and are usually larger than waste pipes. Connecting the waste pipe to the soil stack and then to the main drain covers the entire soil stack system.
What materials should you prepare beforehand?
Considering that you understood the process of connecting the exhaust pipe to the soil stackyou can now purchase the materials in advance.
- Earth pile
- Exhaust pipe
- Short boss or strap-on boss
- Boss adapter
- Solvent, push or compression fit
- Diamond twist drill
- Marker
- Abrasive paper
Also, don’t forget the pipe sizes. If you are unsure, you can ask your local hardware dealer for assistance.
How is the waste pipe connected to the soil stack?
Now that you discover the key features of both waste stacks and soil, it’s time to understand the process of connecting these two pivot pipes. But before that, you need to understand that in addition to the variety of pipe sizes, you also need to consider the connection types.
And by connection types, we mean the materials used to connect the exhaust pipe and soil stack. The most popular connection types include push fit, compression fit and solvent. Consequently, you need to choose the one that suits the needs of your pipe.
1. Be consistent with your household’s plumbing system.
With an extensive selection of pipe sizes and styles, you may be overwhelmed by the options available. Therefore, it is essential to know the major features as well as the differences between each piping system. And when we say consistency, we don’t mean having just one type of pipe.
It mainly focuses on how the pipes are connected to each other. Once you recognize the system in your household, it is best to follow this throughout. Below are three general ways to connect pipes.
- Solvent welding – this uses a specific solvent that is diffused at the joint interface. As the solvent pipes connect to each other, they become non-removable.
- Compression fit – this utilizes a twist threaded lock to bond the two pipes together. And to remove this, you need to open the lock.
- Push-fit – this uses a rubber O-ring to push the pipes together. It can be easily disassembled if you need to make adjustments.
2. Make sure the exhaust pipe is well connected to the drain or required areas.
It is essential that the pipe connection from the toilet, kitchen and the like is properly installed so that it passes smoothly through the waste pipe and into the soil pile. From the excretion of waste water comes from various sections in the house, then there should also be systematized line.
This is essential because all black water and sewage must go through a single ground pipe and into the sewer system. It is highly recommended to have a single soil stack to eliminate transient pressure problems as well as to improve the efficiency of the drainage system. In addition, this saves space and material and labor costs.
3. Identify where the ground pipe must pass through the walls.
Once you’ve made sure your household waste pipes are properly connected, it’s time to determine where the ground pipe should run. And since it is best to have only one soil pipe, you should have it properly select the location where it is convenient for everyone.
In choosing the area to put the soil pile, there should be no obstacles along the way. If possible, choose a part of your house that does not have other pipes or cables. And ideally, this should be a floor vent to allow waste gases to be released naturally into the air and limit unpleasant odors.
A soil vent pipe has an uncapped tip, meaning it is open to the air. It serves as a neutral pressure system, where the pressure inside the pipe becomes one with the pressure outside. As a result, both gases and solids move in different directions without generating a suction effect.
4. Start drilling from the inside.
Once you’ve chosen the location, use a diamond core drill bit to make sure you drill the holes smoothly. This is the perfect tool used by plumbers. So if you don’t have one, you might as well invest as you can use it for other plumbing jobs and home renovations.
Care must be taken when drilling the hole as too large an opening may be created. To avoid this, you can trace the circumference of the pipe and drill small holes starting from the center. Try to leave some margin so that you can still make adjustments in case of problems.
You can then take a cold hammer and chisel to remove the surface from the center. Moreover, it is quite common that the wall is not so attractive after this step, so you have to prepare for re-plastering and repainting.
5. Prepare the ground pipe for installation.
The next step would be to keep the soil pipe stack outside. Then, prepare the boss connector and connect the exhaust pipe to the boss connection of the ground stack. And if there are multiple boss connections, it is highly recommended to add an access connector.
Access plus serves as a cleaning eye of the health system because it gives you access to the waste system. This is significant for plumbing inspections, especially if there is a blockage in the pipe. It helps you determine the problem so you can remove unwanted items without destroying the pipe.
Apart from the regular boss pipe fitting, you can opt for a belted boss pipe. Whichever you choose, you will need to create a hole in the soil pile. Therefore, you will again need the diamond twist drill. You can use a marker for guidance. Next, use sandpaper to smooth the edges of the hole.
6. Add a boss adapter.
If the ground pipe and boss pipe are connected, now you can add the boss adapter, which is used so that the size of the boss connector matches the size of the exhaust pipe. And to make sure the boss fitting is securely connected to the exhaust pipe, you’ll need to choose a piping system.
As mentioned earlier, there are three ways to attach the pipes and connect them to the main sewer. Depending on your preference, you can choose solvent welding, compression fitting or push fitting. As long as the pipe connections are the same, there will be no compatibility issues along the way.
Conclusion
As a property owner, it is essential to know your plumbing fixtures and processes. And one of the most important things you should know about is the soil stack system, which is a must in residential properties and even small commercial shops.
So, if you decided to do the soil stack connection yourself, prepare all the tools and materials in advance. Finally, follow the steps carefully and make sure that all pipe connections are secured to avoid future inconveniences.
