Readers ask: When to use a wye or sanitary tee?

What is the difference between a sanitary tee and a Wye?

Connections to horizontal drain lines should be made with wye (Y) fittings. The fitting called a “Sanitary Tee” looks like it could do the job, but it doesn’t. A sanitary tee cannot be laid on its back, horizontally: It is shaped differently than the wye and should only be aligned vertically, or it may block up.

When can you use a sanitary tee?

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.”

What is a wye used for?

A standard wye is a Y-shaped fitting which allows one pipe to be joined to another at a 45° angle. A wye may also be used to split a branch line equally in two directions, such as the splitting of a main line into two smaller branches.

Can you use a sanitary tee for toilet?

You can‘t use a tee, and you must have a vent between the connection and the toilet. Otherwise when another toilet is flushed, and you are sitting on the toilet, the “whoosh” may go the other way and give you a wet surprise.

Can you put a 90 in a vent pipe?

You can install 90-degree bends in vent pipes.

Can you put a 90 in a sewer line?

You should design your wastewater pipes in a similar manner, for the most part. It’s a bad plumbing practice to have a hard 90-degree bend in a horizontal drain line that’s buried in a slab or otherwise hidden. All drain lines should have a minimum fall of an eighth of an inch per foot of horizontal run.

Can a sanitary tee be used horizontally for venting?

Sanitary tees may only be used on drainage piping when transitioning from horizontal (1/4” per foot) to vertical. All others must sweep in direction of flow with proper drainage fittings.

Does a vent stack have to go straight up?

Tips for Installing Vent Pipes

Vent pipes must be installed so they stay dry. This means that they should emerge from the top of the drainpipe, either straight vertically or at no less than a 45-degree angle from horizontal, so that water cannot back up into them.

Can you use a wye for venting?

Absolutely! Most any fitting is perfectly acceptable and legal, just don’t use any reducers, caps or traps in the venting. Though, check with your local Codes, Building, Zoning, Permit or Inspection Department (whatever they’re called around you).

Can a wye be used vertically?

They are only used to go from the horizontal to vertical plane. If used flat (horizontal) they are prone to clogging. You must use a long sweep or wye+⅛ for horizontal DWV.

Can sink and toilet shared vent?

Can a toilet and sink share a vent? (Sinks, tubs, showers all have 1.5 fixtures units each). As a general rule, you will just be able to vent 2 fixtures on a toilet wet vent. The toilet drain should be 3″, the sink drain is 1.5″, the shared sink drain/toilet vent area should be 2″, and the vent going up should be 1.5″.

Can a wye be installed on its side?

A wye can lay on its side as long as it provides the proper grade or slope – 97 UPC 708, 97 IPC table 704.1. 1997 UPC section 706.3 specifically states that horizontal drainage lines connecting with other horizontal drainage lines shall enter through 45 degree wye branches.

Can a shower and toilet share the same drain?

Your shower drain can connect to the toilet drain, but it cannot connect to the toilet trap arm. This means that the shower connection will need to be made downstream from the toilet vent. The vent must also come off the 2″ pipe vertically, can‘t come off the side unless you have a lavatory draining into the vent.

Can a double wye be installed horizontally?

The double fixture fitting can‘t be used on the horizontal. On the vertical, the new toilets tend to skip across that fitting, so while it had been a good fitting for the old toilets that took forever to clear a bowl, the new toilets with 3″ flush valves don’t work well.

How many elbows can be in a toilet drain?

if you were to be inside the drain a 90 elbow would take you 24″ towards the foundation wall..then another 90 would be attached to send you down about 28″ and to the right about 38″, then another 90 would send you straight towards the foundation wall for the last 60 inches.the run from the foundation wall to the