How to Plumb a Basement Bathroom

Adding a basement bathroom is a big, complicated project. But that doesn’t mean you can’t do it. Thousands of DIYers successfully tackle the job every year, and so can you.

We will focus on installing the “DWV” system (drain, waste and vent), which is the most difficult part of plumbing a basement bathroom. The DWV system requires some hard labor—breaking up concrete—and enough know-how to construct it so that waste will be carried away without problems. You supply the labor and the basement bathroom ideas; this article will supply the know-how.

The materials for the DWV system shown here cost about $250. Plumbers’ labor rates vary a lot by region, but a basement bathroom cost would run between $1,200 to $2,000 for a pro job similar to the one shown here.

Here’s a sample floorplan and project plan, to give you an idea of the scope of this job:

Connect the basement bathroom plumbing to the existing drain and vent lines in the floor and ceiling to complete the rough-in plumbing.

Locate the Main Drain

• Locate the “main stack,” the large (3 or 4 inch-diameter) vertical pipe that runs into the basement floor.
• Look for a cleanout plug along the street-facing wall of the basement.
  • Note: If you find one, that’s most likely the spot where the line exits your home. The line usually runs straight from the main stack to the cleanout, but it may be diagonal.
• Break through the concrete to verify that the main line is where you think it is.
• Make sure it’s deep enough to allow adequate downhill slope in the new drain lines.

Article source here: How to Plumb a Basement Bathroom