All drain pipes must be vented, for sinks to function properly.
Laundry sinks are connected to a drain line that is part of the drain, waste and vent (DWV) system of the house. The DWV system uses gravity to carry waste water out of the house. The main house stack provides a connection from the sewer line through the roof to drain and vent the system. A poorly-vented drain pipe can create a siphon affect, capable of emptying the the laundry sink trap of water and letting sewer gas into the house.
Instructions
1. Drains must always have access to the main stack, to provide ventilation.
Shut off the water to the laundry room. Using a pipe wrench, disconnect the existing p-trap and water connections. Use a screwdriver to loosen any screws holding the laundry sink in place. Move the sink aside. Locate the main house stack. If the laundry room is on the first floor of a one story building, the main house stack should be accessible through the attic. It will be a three- to four-inch vertical pipe that goes from the insulation through the roof.
2. Hole saw drill bits are needed to install PVC pipe through a wall.
Remove a section of the gypsum board to open a stud cavity from the floor to the ceiling, using a six-inch drywall saw. Gently set the gypsum board aside. Using the drill and the two-inch hole saw drill bit, drill a two-inch hole into the top plate. Clean the burrs from the hole using a utility knife.
3. A cable saw works in tight spaces when normal saws do not fit.
Cut below the connector where the p-trap entered the drain pipe, using a PVC pipe cable saw. Smooth any burrs or ridges using a utility knife. Dry-fit a one and a half-inch waste tee connector to the pipe. Measure the distance from the tee connector to the attic, allowing for the thickness of insulation for the one and a half-inch vent pipe. Insert the vent pipe through the two-inch top plate hole, and dry-fit to the tee connector.
4. Use a level to check that the pipes maintain the proper slope.
Find the new one and a half-inch pipe, in the attic, and measure the distance to the main DWV stack. Measure the stack and use a waste tee connector that will fit the stack. Usually, main DWV stacks are three or four inches in diameter. Measure the inside of the tee connector to determine the amount of pipe to remove from the main stack. Mark the top and bottom cuts on the stack pipe. With a hacksaw, cut the top mark and then the bottom mark. Hold the pipe in place, while cutting, to prevent excessive vibration from damaging the pipe. Cut all sections of pipe for the attic. Use the utility knife to clean any rough edges off the pipe. Dry-fit all of the pipes and connectors. For any horizontal runs, keep a one-fourth-inch per foot slope to the pipe to allow any condensation to run down the pipe. If the horizontal run is over four feet, install supports to the pipe.
5. Apply primer to the inside and outside of each connection, starting in the laundry room. Apply PVC pipe cement to the outside connections, and fit them together. The horizontal waste tee connector in the laundry room will need a stub out adapter to connect to the p-trap. When fitting the connection together, gently twist the pipe slightly to ensure the cement creates a strong bond. Replace the gypsum board. Move the laundry sink back in place, securing it with the screws. Reconnect the p-trap to the pipe and sink, using a pipe wrench.
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